There was nothing special about the door, it was a polished, amber-colored wood like the rest of them, but something behind it called to me in the strangest way… I stopped before it, glancing at it, confused. Lifting my free hand to it, I let myselffeelit.The energy inside reminded me of Dante’s in a way—not in a “they were the same”, but more like in a “they were interconnected” way, complimenting each other.
Vanessa and Dante exchanged another enigmatic look beside me. “That’s D’s room,” he informed, waiting for my response.
“Oh…” I let my hand fall from the door, but the thriving energy still tingled over my palm.
Following Vanessa, we finally made it to the kitchen, but I heard someone’s presence there before I even saw them. The room looked completely different in the light of day, soft, open, and inviting, filled with life as a man sang at the top of his lungs—something about single ladies getting a ring on it.
I had no idea.
His back was to us, while he cooked what seemed like ten different meals. The large hood of the turquoise sweater he wore covered his head, so I couldn’t see his face, but I saw him flip a pancake in the air, and then catch it with a plate that held a tall stack of them already. I only knew it was a pancake because Isis had snuck human food into the cabin a few times—mostly things that didn’t have strong smells, so it wouldn’t alert the shifters.
The scent of freshly made bread immediately hit my nose, making my mouth water.
“Morning, Bjørn!” Vanessa called over his singing, heading for the assortment of plates that covered the entire length of the counter table at the center.
How many people was he feeding in this apartment?
“Morning, lovely!” he replied without missing a step, moving so smoothly that it was hard to keep track of what he was doing.
Taking a deep breath, I let go of the Dark Witch and approached Bjørn, wanting to thank him for what he was doing. I remembered him being at the mountain when I awoke from D’s compulsion sleep, but due to all the chaos, I had never really met him.
“Hi,” I called, stopping behind him, but he was too engulfed in his song and cooking to hear me. So, I tapped a finger on his shoulder to call his attention.
He instantly paused, turning.
“Goddess,” I gasped at the sight of him, from true, unashamed astonishment, taking a step back.
He was the most beautiful being I had ever met.
Bjørn smiled like it was endearing of me to look at him with such appreciation, but he lowered his hood, revealing his true self to me.
Sleek, long, blond hair spilled over his shoulders and chest, the top half held back in a knot to keep it off his face, I assumed. The soft yellowish hue was so bright and pure that it resembled gold itself. It was not only his hair, but eyebrows, and short beard as well, the strands lustrous under the ceiling lamps.
Light amber eyes that might as well have been molten honey looked back at me with kindness, wisdom, and amusement as I admired him. His skin was so fair and smooth that it almost seemed like he was made of porcelain.
“You are gorgeous,” I whispered, taking in his unusual features, so refined and delicate. I’d never seen anyone like him…
“Thank you.” His eyes widened the next second as I continued to drool over how handsome he was, unable to stop myself.
How was he even real?
A bit of concern clouded his gaze. “Oh, this is awkward. I’m not one of yours, dearie. I’m already spoken for.”
Not one of mine? What the hell did that mean?
Perplexed, I glanced at the others, only to see the Vampire girl and the Dark Witch repressing a chuckle.
When my gaze returned to the golden man, he winked cheekily, turning back to the stove.
And then I saw it.
“Your ears!” I gasped yet again, stopping him. “They are pointy.”
That brought a chuckle out of everyone present.
“Yeah, it’s a trait of the Fae,” Bjørn admitted. “You are not the first one to be surprised, I’m afraid… Humans never think I’m real. It’s a whole thing,” he whispered the last part, then returned to his cooking.
“Fae, as in from another world?” Isis had told me about the Fae. She met them in her search for beings like her after her pack was slaughtered in Egypt, and the one thing I knew for sure was they had their own world.
