Obsidian - Miranda Bridges Page 0,22
has something that’s similar to food on Earth. There’s no way I’m eating something that could possibly be a rodent. Gross.
He tilts his head. “I was unsure of which delicacy you enjoyed, so I ordered everything off the menu.”
“You what?” I blink up at him as if I didn’t hear correctly. “Why would you do that?”
“To give you a variety to choose from,” he says. His tone shifts from perplexed to exasperated, and he narrows his gaze. “Why are you acting as if I’ve done something offensive when all I’ve done is try to be considerate?”
I bow my head and let my hair shield my face when it falls forward. “It’s a waste.” My voice is soft, quiet, but I know he can hear me. “We were starving, my friends and I. So this… It’s just wasteful and like a slap in the face.”
When his fingers glide over my hands, I suck in a breath, not having heard him move from the bed. He gazes up from his crouched position, but because of his height, we are nearly eye level.
“It was not my intention,” he says quietly. “And you shall never thirst or hunger for the rest of your days. I give you my word.”
I stare at him, surprised by this declaration. It has my mind spinning as I consider all the possible reasons he’s acting this way toward me, but none of them hold any weight. I guess I’ll just have to ask him.
When he’s not looking at me as if he wants to feed and fuck me. And not necessarily in that order either.
“Thank you,” I say. “It’s hard for me to accept charity.”
Because I’ve been doing it all my life, but in the form of people controlling me, making me feel helpless and inept.
“That is very apparent.”
He runs his thumb over my joined hands before cupping my face. Unlike in the foyer earlier, I don’t stiffen. And from the flash of silver that streaks through his dark eyes, I think he realizes it too.
“Would it please you if I were to ask for your input from now on?” he asks, still holding my cheek.
I have the strangest urge to lean into his touch, so to avoid acting on it, I nod and then turn my head, shifting my gaze. For the third time tonight, I have to remind myself that we are not married.
Suddenly he drops his hold on me and stands erect before striding to the door. I squint in confusion, thinking he’s leaving because I kind of rejected him. My breathing halts at the idea of his leaving me all alone, but then a chime goes off.
Of course he heard someone approaching.
Castien greets the individual outside, and even though he’s smiling and his tone is friendly, I don’t miss the way Castien looks over the bellhop, assessing him for potential threats. But then Castien steps back and allows the male inside to guide the miniature hovercraft that’s laden with food.
Despite the fact I have no idea what any of it is, I find myself salivating as the aromas waft across my nose. I inhale deep and almost groan in anticipation. When the door is shut and locked and our visitor gone, Castien joins me on the edge of the bed. Even his nearness is not enough to detract my attention from the bounty before me.
“Which one is the safest to eat?” I ask.
He chuckles and gestures to the array. “All of it. I have not traveled to this filthy place just to rescue you only to end up poisoning you. Rest assured, it is all safe to eat.”
I bite my lip, feeling foolish, and drop my head. It wasn’t my intention to insult him, but I didn’t convey my thoughts correctly. I’m not as loud as Kayla or intentional like Hazel, so communicating my innermost needs and wants has always been a challenge. But I’ve found that even when I do, I’m not very good at it. This has only contributed to me becoming more and more quiet over the years.
I clear my throat, still unable to meet his gaze. “What I meant to ask was, Which of these foods come from an animal and which are a fruit or vegetable? I’m a little nervous to eat something I’m unfamiliar with.”
He shifts beside me and then places his index finger under my chin to slowly tilt it up until our gazes lock. “You needn’t be shy with me, damsel. My only desire in life is