Bear Protector - Bella Love-Wins Page 0,23

beer mugs on the top level. The other shelves were filled with jars and bags of grain, herbs and spices, and other food supplies. On her right, directly beside the door was a small, narrow table with a washbasin filled with clean water on top. A closed, two-door mahogany garment wardrobe was beside it. A long, wide bed was up against the side wall, with a mahogany headboard that matched the wardrobe just below a small window. The foot of the bed had a wooden bench the same width as the bed, and three feet away from that was the fireplace.

Kiera took a seat at the kitchen table, and wished she had taken the time to have lunch before storming out of the fortress earlier. She had not had a thing to eat or drink since morning.

Xander came inside just then. “I am sorry about the unexpected guest. I did not know Liam was here.”

“No problem. He left as soon as I got in.”

He nodded from his spot at the center of the room. “Yes. He is a trusted friend, so you do not need to worry about…anything.”

“All right.”

“Are you hungry?” he asked, stepping around to the other side of the table. “Thirsty?”

“Yes,” she admitted, looking up at his face now that he was closer. “Both, but I’d love some water, please.”

He filled the cup with water from the pitcher beside it. Passing her the cup, he took a seat in the chair.

“Thank you.” Now that the water was in front of her, Kiera could not ignore her thirst. She lifted the cup to her lips, holding it with both hands to gulp it down.

Xander raised his eyebrows and smiled. “Okay, so you are very thirsty.” He turned his chair slightly, reaching his arm backward for the pitcher. “Here you go. When was the last time you had something to eat or drink?”

Self-conscious now, she placed the cup on the table. “This morning…before we met at the Great Hall.”

“I did not know they starved you witches at the fortress,” Xander said, refilling her cup.

“They do not. I meant to eat, but…well, time flew by during my walk, and then I saw you.”

“It sounds like you had quite a day.” He got to his feet. “Wait here. The cook staff just served supper in the main dining hall. I will bring us some.”

Kiera got up and made herself useful after he left. She set the table with two place settings using what she could find on the kitchen shelves. The only thing she could not find was napkins, so she set the cutlery in small saucers, then filled her glass with more water and waited. Xander was back within less than ten minutes, carrying three covered wooden bowls stacked one on top of the other.

“Lucky for you, there is beef stew tonight,” he announced. Setting the top bowl between them, he lifted the flat lid and revealed several pieces of bread. He carefully placed the next bowl on her plate, then the last one on his. Xander was about to take a seat when Kiera noticed him peering down into the empty water pitcher. He returned to the door. “Go ahead and eat. I’ll get us more water.”

Kiera would have waited if she could, but God, she was starving. She wolfed down one spoonful of stew after the other, dipping the bread in the savory liquid for each bite until her bowl was empty and the bread was all gone. Still hungry, she eyes Xander’s plate, but thought against devouring his meal. She sat back in her chair then, closing her eyes as she waited for Xander to return.

7

Kiera

Kiera awoke to the sound of a crackling fire. The covers and blankets around her were perfect, not too warm and not too stuffy. The bed she stretched out on was so soft and snug, she could probably go right back to sleep. She rolled to her side, breathing in the sweet citrus and pine scent of the pillow below her head.

“Mmmm,” she moaned, nuzzling the side her face into it to get into a comfortable position. Except, how did she get home?

Her eyes snapped open.

Oh my God!

She was not in her room.

This was not the fortress.

She jack-knifed up into a sitting position, and it all came back.

Xander’s cabin.

At least he was not in the bed too. Where was he?

“You are safe,” said a voice.

“Xander?”

“Who else?” he asked, then he sat up from his spot on the bench at the foot of the