Without a word, Nia tucked the sleeves of her sweater over her chilled fingers and trudged back into the kitchen. She picked up the cold mug of coffee she’d made earlier from the table and slid it into the microwave.
A door shut.
“That beverage isn’t enough. Humans need food.”
She glanced back and found him near the outer doorway, sweeping back his breeze-blown hair. The urge to step into him, to feel his hard warmth, his hands around her, took hold.
It would mean nothing, Nia. No emotions, remember?
With great effort, she dragged her gaze away and switched on the microwave. She wasn’t the needy sort.
Her spine straightened, she faced him, her composure back in place. “What food?”
He nodded to the corner counter near the sink and a round plastic container with a yellow Post-it on top. She hadn’t noticed anything earlier, and considering her state of mind had been on overload with what she’d learned about herself, she wasn’t surprised.
Before she started hyperventilating again, she rounded the table to the counter and picked up the note.
Food’s in the fridge.
-Hedori
Curious, she opened the fridge and found it stocked with containers ready to be heated. Nia had no idea who Hedori was or when he had come—it must have happened while she was asleep—but she could have hugged him right then.
Nia picked up the top box labeled ‘chicken korma and rice’and paused. She glanced back to find Lore still watching her. “Do you want anything?”
“I don’t require sustenance.”
She blinked. Wow! He’d actually responded with more than a yes or no to something personal? A major improvement from his usual aloof self. Or was it her near-death scare that had caused him to relent? Well, he had to answer to the archangel Michael if she died.
The microwave dinged. She retrieved her mug, set it aside, and popped the food inside.
“What do you mean you weren’t at the edge of the plateau?” he asked.
With one hand braced on the counter, Nia rubbed her hot face with the other as the heat within spiraled from her chest down to her core. Biting off a moan, she clenched her inner muscles.
“Are you all right?”
“Yeah.” His brow furrowed at her clipped response—as if she could ever explain this overwhelming arousal—she answered his earlier question. “My search for you led me up there. Anyone would be a little unhinged after hearing how their life had tilted off course. When I saw the steps, I went up. Yes, I walked around the plateau a bit. A breeze started…”
She frowned. “No, the wind was sudden. It swept me up, like a shove. I stumbled and skidded across to the edge. The ice cracked, and I fell…” Remembering how close to death she had been, her stomach heaved.
Lore’s eyes narrowed. “A shove?”
“Yes. I know it sounds far-fetched, but that’s what it felt like,” she muttered. “Where were you?”
“At the foothills.”
“Is that when you got hurt?”
“It was merely a sparring match with another.” He made his way past the sink, around the table, and sat on a chair against the wall. “It’s something we do.”
Thunder boomed, and she jumped, the sound reminding her of the ice shelf crashing. Her belly heaved as her gaze rushed to the window.
“It’s just a storm,” he said, tone quiet.
Fighting for calm, she nodded. “I-I know… Thank you for…for saving me.”
She pivoted, trying to find her calm center, and frowned at the silent microwave. Darn. She switched it on.
