Page 104 of The Bone Season

‘How romantic.’

‘Not especially.’

‘You didn’t have to feed on an unreadable, of all people,’ I said coldly.

‘I will not justify myself to you, Paige. Think what you will of me,’ he said. ‘I am content.’ He nodded to the platter. ‘Do eat.’

‘I’m looking at an accomplice in my own murder. I might well lose my appetite.’

‘If so, you will have let your anger overcome your good sense yet again.’

Just to prove him wrong, I moved the platter to my lap and took off the cloche.

The sight was torture. A basket of wholegrain bread with butter. A bowl of pearl barley, tossed with pine nuts and field beans. A pair of poached eggs, split open to spill hot gold yolks, served on a bed of chopped potatoes and tomatoes.

Warden gave me a nod. Now I wanted to throw the plate on the floor, for the sheer pleasure of defying him.

Except that I was losing weight. Stress and hunger were taking their toll. I could see more and more of my hip bones and ribs. I was tired and short of breath. In London, I had been fit as a fox.

Liss had made me promise to survive, and I owed her that much, for the dark secret I was hiding from her. I had to get my old strength back, or I would stand no chance.

I used the spoon to scoop up some barley. From the first mouthful, relief flooded my body. The beans were soft and warm, the nuts sweet.

Warden left me to savour the meal. When I was finished, my stomach ached, fuller than it had been in weeks.

Six weeks in this place. Already my old life felt like a distant memory.

‘You are learning,’ Warden said from his desk.

‘I’m not going to thank you for the bare minimum,’ I said. ‘I do hope you’re not expecting it, Warden.’

‘Michael is the one you should thank. I do not eat, but I understand he is a talented cook. Should I give him your compliments?’

I laid the cutlery down.

‘You can,’ I said. ‘It was very good.’

‘Hm.’

Warden sat on the daybed, so we faced each other across the table.

‘You are a prisoner in this city,’ he said, ‘but you have a choice. You can train with me in good faith, or you can resist at every turn, hindering your own progress. I ask you to give careful thought to this decision, Paige.’

‘Fine,’ I said shortly. ‘Is that all?’

‘Not quite.’

Rephs were supposed to avoid eye contact with humans, yet his gaze had come straight to mine, as it always did. I raised my eyebrows.

‘You said that you would never be in the frame of mind to spend time in my company. Since we live together, that will not do,’ he said. ‘If you choose to commit to training, I have a condition.’

‘You’d better not be asking me to like you, Warden.’

‘No. I am asking you to tolerate me, as I must tolerate you. To that end, once a month, I would like you to join me for supper.’

‘Absolutely not,’ I said.

‘If we are to cohabit in peace, we must attempt to reconcile our differences. A shared meal seems a reasonable setting.’

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