My coven wouldn’t. I’d learned a long time ago what silence at a table meant. I envied Abram and his family. I didn’t know what that was like. I could feel the years of being unwanted bubbling up, so I shoved them deep inside of me. I dished up a plate and sat on the couch so I didn’t have to look at Abram.
I shoved a vegetable in my mouth as I stared at the flames in the fireplace. Abram’s heavy footsteps came from behind me a moment later.
Please just leave.
“I should be home in a few hours,” he said.
I nodded. I could feel his heavy gaze on me, but I didn’t turn.
“Alright, have fun.” I ate a bite of steak.
He didn't leave. I turned and saw that he was watching me with an expression I couldn’t read. He opened his mouth to say something but shut it. His eyes bounced between mine before looking away. He stared at the food I had made for him.
“I’ll see you later,” he said.
He disappeared, leaving the house unnervingly quiet. The silence pressed in, achingly familiar. At the coven, I’d learned not to linger at the table, learned how quickly people found reasons to leave. I set my plate down and let out a tired breath.
Another home that felt lonely. Another place I wasn’t meant to stay.
I glanced at the extra food on the counter and stood up so I could plate it. I needed out of this house that mocked me. My walk toward the village of Dinam was fairly short. The sun was starting to set as I made my way through the tree line, hoping that the vendors weren’t gone. My gaze immediately swept across the crowd for blond hair.
I smiled when I spotted Nate packing up. His hair fell in soft curls over bright blue eyes that always seemed to notice me. The tightness in my chest eased as I moved closer. Nate had been my only friend for years.
“Elowyn.” He smiled as his gaze fell to the plate of food.
“Hi, Nate.” I handed him the plate, and he grinned. “I thought you might be hungry.”
He looked over the food before glancing up at me with a questioning gaze.
“I thought you were making food for your friend?” He leaned against his vendor stand.
“They had other plans, and I didn’t want the food to go to waste."
He nodded and took a bite. I studied him as he tried it, hoping it tasted good. He groaned as he took a bite of steak.
“This is great, better than last time.” He nodded his approval.
“You say that every time.” I laughed. “But does it actually taste good? I cooked the steak exactly like you told me to.”
Nate had been teaching me how to cook for about a year, and when he’d seen the steaks earlier, he’d given me his usual careful instructions. I watched his face, holding my breath. He nodded enthusiastically.
“It’s perfect, El.” He must not have been lying because his plate was nearly empty. “Your friend missed out, but I’m not complaining. I’ll take any leftovers you want to share with me.”
His gaze moved toward me, lingering for a long moment. The urge to look away from his attention was overwhelming, but I held his gaze anyway, even when it made my skin prickle.
“Well I’m glad it was good.”
I glanced around the darkening town.
“You want to go get a drink?” he asked. “You can tell me why you look so sad.”
I turned back toward him.
“I’m not sad.”
He gave me a pointed look and cocked his head to the side, accusing me of being a liar without saying a word.
“You can tell me over a drink.”
