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I let out an annoyed breath, glancing to the wall behind him. “Where’s your oven?”
“Oven?”
“Yeah. Or a microwave? How do you cook anything?”
He tilts his head to the side, furrowing his brows as though he’s confused by my question. “If I want to heat things, I do it over a flame. The same way everyone does.”
Weird.
Pushing my plate away from me, I lean back in my chair, giving him a slow once-over. “So, if goblins are real… Let me guess, you’re some kind of monster too?” I ask dryly, thinking of his odd behavior last night and again this morning. “Vampire, or something?”
My words are meant as a jab, to get a reaction, but he just sits there, calm and unreadable, before answering, “More than that. I’m an Alken.”
“What does that mean?”
“Pure blood.”
“As opposed to?”
“Any mixed breed.”
Vague answer after vague answer. I tap my heel against the chair’s leg. “That girl moved the air with her mind. Can you do that?”
“Siena and I are from different orders. We don’t share abilities.”
“Different orders?”
He sighs heavily. “You know, for something so small, you’re incredibly annoying.”
And you’re incredibly rude.
“Well, thanks for breakfast. And the bed. I’m not planning on staying though, so the hospitality is no longer needed. Can you tell me where I am? Or point me in the direction of a bus station?” Granted, I have no money for a bus. Thievery isn’t my go-to, but a few bucks off of a random stranger isn’t going to break them. Whereas for me, a few bucks is the difference between going to bed hungry or, more importantly, getting home.
His jaw ticks and he lets out a long breath. “You’re exactly where you’re meant to be.” He stands, not bothering to push his chair in, and starts in the direction of the living room.
What the hell does that mean? I rise to my feet as well, reaching for him.
Rhenn turns, grabbing my hand and squeezing. “Do not touch me.” His body is tense, a look in his eyes like the small contact of my fingers against him was physically revolting. “This is your hell now, Vixen. Wallow in it.”
CHAPTER FOUR
SUMNER
Irub my fingers over my wrist where the asshole had grabbed me harder than he needed to. I left his house immediately after because fuck him. I’ll figure this out myself.
When I’m certain he can no longer see me and his house has faded from sight, I slow my pace, taking in what I’d missed in the night.
Cascading flowers spill from balconies, their soft petals reaching all the way down to the cobblestone streets. Thick moss clings to the rounded stones, filling each crease with the most vibrant green.
Streetlamps stand posted tall at every corner, only, their poles are made from bark and vines, not metal. Nature thrives here, peeking through at every open space. Reds, blues, yellows, teals. It’s all so vivid, so brilliant.
People glance at me as I move through the town, probably because I keep stopping to stare. I can’t help it. A lot of the buildings don’t even look real. Their structures seem to defy gravity, tall and slender, spiraling toward the sky. Some are even built into the trees.
I’ve been to some crazy places, but nowhere has ever been this…beautiful. For a moment, I forget how insane this all is, that I’m lost and alone.
A butterfly flutters past me, its wings catching in the light, glimmering like stained glass beneath the golden sky.
The air is rich with warm spices and something almost buttery. I breathe it in and my mouth instantly waters.
