Page 23 of Unbound By Shadows
Selene jumped back and pointed at the pouch. “What was that? Do you have some kind of animal in there?”
“It’s our dinner.”
“Our dinner is a live animal?”
“No, it’s… ” Sam looked to see if there was a suitable spot for them to stop. “Do you see those fallen logs? We’ll take our meal there.”
Selene’s eyes darted from his face to the pouch. When they reached the clearing, Sam pulled out two bundles. She eyed it skeptically.
“Is it… alive?”
“Not anymore.” Sam said. He heard Selene’s small gasp when he extended a black claw from under his fingernail to slice through cloth wrapping of each package. He thrust a bundle into her hands.
She sat on the ground and gingerly unwrapped the contents. “It’s some kind of sandwich? And is that fruit? But where did it come from?”
“Thema’s kitchens,” Sam said. When he saw the confusion on her face, he tugged on the strap of the brown satchel he wore.
“Aurelians call this a switch pouch. They were created to exchange messages and supplies for the sisters when they travel. Each one has a twin—this one is linked to a pouch at Thema’s castle. What goes in one bag emerges in the other.”
“So, all our meals will just appear?”
“Yes. It will be simple fare, don’t expect a feast.” Sam eased himself to the ground, unnerved by how charming he found her wonder at this most basic of Aurelian tools. “Do they not have things like this in your world?”
“No,” she said. “My sister would kill to have one of these connected to her favorite pizza place.”
Sam considered asking what pizza was, but said, “Do you come from a large family?” He found himself craving to know more about her.
“I’m the oldest of three. I have a sister named Cass and a brother named Evan. They’re twins. What about you?”
“I have no siblings.”That I know of.He had often wondered if his parents had more children after he had been taken. Did they wish to replace their missing son with a new child? The wistful ache he felt every time he thought of his parents turned to dread as another question sprang to his mind.
“Are you mated?”
Selene paused. “Do you mean married?”
He didn’t respond, just studied how she averted her face.
“I live with my boyfriend, sort of, but we’re not married.”
Sharp, jagged envy clawed at him. Of course she had a lover waiting for her in the mortal realm. Why was he so surprised? And inexplicablyenragedby the idea of a faceless man putting his hands on her?
“Are you betrothed to your lover?” he asked.
“My lover? Goodness, that’s quite a term.”
“You share a bed, don’t you?”
“What kind of question is that?”
“Just answer it.”
“It’s complicated,” she mumbled.
The strain in her voice raised Sam’s anger up another notch. This man was clearly unworthy of her. “Is he wealthy? What gifts does he bestow upon you?"
“Are all demons this nosy?”
He gave her an assessing look. Most people he had observed became alight with joy when discussing their mates, not fretful and reluctant. He knew he should drop the subject. But there was a question that made his jealousy simmer with primal intensity. Perhaps it wasn’t appropriate in human customs, but he had to know.
