"May I carry you over the threshold, Mrs. Warren?" he asked.
"Um..." My guts were clenching, and I wasn't sure if my fingers were trembling or not. "Okay."
He scooped me up, took two steps, then kicked the door closed and carefully set me back down. The moment I was stable on my feet, Tobias let out the biggest sigh and flopped back against the wall. His eyes closed and he didn't move for a little too long.
"Tobias?" I asked.
"I hate when they all look at me," he explained. "I also knew someone in this hall would see us. Callah..."
"No, it's fine," I assured him, finally taking the chance to look around. "We have more than one room?"
"This is the greeting area," he said, gesturing around us. "In the corner is a table for our meals, if we choose to have them alone." Then he crossed the room. "This door is for the nursery." Cracking it open, he removed the rod tucked into his belt and set it inside without looking. Then he closed it again, acting as if that had never happened. "In the corner back here is a cooktop and some cabinets. And that door is your bedroom."
"Mine?" I asked, only slightly confused.
He shrugged. "Happily wedded friends, right?"
"I..." My head jumped between him and the door he'd indicated. "Where is your bedroom?"
"I'll sleep here, on the floor."
And I huffed. "Tobias, that's not realistic."
"I couldn't get another bed," he explained. "I tried, but they didn't understand why I'd want two, and the nursery only has a crib."
"And we're married," I reminded him. "I knew we'd have to share a bed. I also willnothave you sleeping on the floor, aching the next day, and getting killed when you hunt again!"
"So what are we going to do?" he asked.
"We will put a roll of sheet between us," I told him. "You will have your side and I will have mine. When it's time to change clothes, the other will come out here. I expected us to need to turn our backs, but this makes it easier."
"Okay," he mumbled as I pushed open the door.
And that was when I finally saw the bedroom. "Is this what they all get?"
"No, we have to bring in the things we want," he said, still holding up the wall while I wandered, examining things. "I tried to get something to make your new life more comfortable. Callah, that's why I wanted to look in your room. I wanted to see what you were used to."
"Is it different from the boy's?"
"A bit," he admitted. "You have places to sit, and your clothes aren't on the floor."
"Because we were punished for such things," I reminded him as I stepped into the bedroom.
It was small, with just enough space to step around the bed. The far wall had an alcove built into it with a bar for hanging clothes. Drawers filled the matching space beside it, and another on the far side, making plenty of space for storage. Then again, it was meant for two.
"There's a new dress on the bed," he called from the other room. "It's my wedding gift to you."
"I didn't get you one."
He finally moved closer, the sound of his steps making me tense - but he stopped at the doorway. "Callah, your gift to me is supposed to be your body. Since we're not doing that, maybe it can be some real conversation?"
And the last bit of fear fled with those words. The air rushed from my lungs and my shoulders actually relaxed. Tobias must've seen, because he moved closer, clasping my arms to make me look at him.
"I told you," he said. "Callah, I don't want to hurt you. You are myfriend, and a real one. I don't want to do that. I've never had it, so I have nothing to miss. We're just friends, married only to keep both of us safe!"
"Yes, but men lie," I said, the words barely a breath.
He moved closer, shifting his arm up to my neck. "I know, and I do lie. Just like Sylis was lying out there when he made his little scene. Just like I do when I say I was fighting up above. I lie, Callah, but there's one difference. I will never lie toyou."
