Page 55 of Her Ivory Flame

“Here are your towels sir.” she heard her say. “I also brought the food you requested.”

“Thank you Raine.” Kaden said. “Please make sure she eats it before she goes to sleep.”

He had Raine bring her food without her asking, a thoughtful gesture she wasn’t expecting.

She pulled her cotton shirt over her head just as the bathroom door shut and she rounded the corner to see Raine sitting at the table.

“I’m supposed to stay until you eat this.” Raine smiled and gestured to the steaming hot bowl of stew sitting across the table.

“Since when did you take orders from Kaden?” she teased

“Kaden has always been kind to me.” Raine chuckled. “Though I have heard he is a hard shell to crack.”

She chuckled back and walked to the table, taking the seat across from Raine. She could see the steam coming from the stew and her mouth watered in response. After everything that happened today, she realized she had not eaten since breakfast and a sudden wave of hunger washed over her.

“What about Kaden’s food?” she asked quietly.

“He took his food in with him.”

She eyed her curiously but started to eat the stew without complaint. It was tasty enough, but nothing like the stew she had at that tavern weeks ago. She really did look forward to going there today, even if she didn’t want to admit it to herself.

“I will get some bedding for the couch before he is done.” Raine cleared her throat and rose from the table, convinced the stew would be eaten quickly.

“Thank you,” she mumbled with a full mouth and watched the closest thing she had to a female friend disappear.

The empty bowl sat on the table while she laid in bed staring at the ceiling a while later.

It was odd to know Kaden was in the bath and wouldn’t be leaving her alone tonight. She had gotten used to the alone time she had at night over the last month, and now she would be with him all the time.

She mostly felt bad for him, having to be stuck with her outside of training and not be able to have his own time.

It wasn’t like when she had a relationship with Silas, who she thought wanted to be here with her all the time. Kaden had no interest in being around her other than his obligation to the king and he made it very obvious.

The main entrance door opened and she saw Raine walking into the room with a handful of blankets and a pillow. She was about to get up to help when the bathroom door opened and she heard Kaden walk into the room.

“You didn’t need to get me these.” His soft voice filled the room and she was intrigued by the unfamiliar tone.

“Nonsense.” Raine scoffed. “Sounds like you will be here a while and you might as well be comfortable.”

She didn’t hear another word from either of them before the main door opened and shut once again, signalling that Raine had left for the night.

Part of her wanted to go say thank you to him for having food brought to her, but she knew he was probably just as exhausted as she was.

Sounds of wood being put on the fire echoed through the silent room and then the glow from the fire was the only light left around them.

It didn’t take long before sleep took her as the sound of the fire crackling lulled her to sleep.

- - - - - - - -

“Alyra!”

Kaden’s voice screamed into her ear as she jerked awake in her sweat soaked sheets, her breathing labored and body convulsing.

His body was hovering over the bed, his maroon eyes full of terror with his hair falling over his brow. She looked around and saw it was still the middle of the night, the fire barely offering any light in the room.

The moonlight was the only reason she could see the expression on his face above her, and the worry fixed on it made her calm slightly with curiosity.

She could feel him watching her as she struggled to focus her mind on the real things around her, like the softness of her sheets or his arms pushing the bed down around her.