Page 34 of Unbound By Shadows
“Yes,” Sam said.
“She was terrifying!”
“But harmless.”
“I felt like she wanted to bite me or something,” she said, shuddering.
“Perhaps, but I wouldn’t have let her. No vampire will bother us as long we stay in the forest at night. They keep close to towns and villages to feed.”
“Wait, that’s why we always stop at sunset? I thought it was a camping thing.”
“Traveling by daylight is preferred for visibility, yes.”
“Well, obviously,” Selene said, feeling stupid. “But you told me vampires were all old and harmless. She was old, but definitely did not seem harmless. How do youknow her?”
“From long ago,” he said evasively.
“When?”
“A time in my life before I came to Queen Thema’s."
"What were you doing?"
His steps slowed. “I don't wish to say any more on the matter. Let’s stop here and make camp.”
Although Selene had known Sam for about a week, she had learned it was pointless to push when he didn’t want to talk. She let the subject drop, vowing to grill him further another day. Selene shrugged off her backpack and sat on the ground. “Can we just rest for a minute? I’m a bit rattled."
“Certainly. Stay there and relax. I’ll set up camp.”
“I can help, I just need—”
“Rest,” Sam said sternly. “Hand me your pack.”
Selene complied. Sam pulled out her tent and set it to inflate, then he gathered firewood. He refilled their water jugs then set a pot to boil for tea. When the switch pouch expanded with a fish pie, Selene tried to set out their dishes, but Sam wouldn’t hear of it. Instead, he made her a cup of mint tea, handed her one of his blankets, and told her not to get up again.
Normally, she felt guilty if she wasn’t pitching in, but it was actually nice to just surrender. It wasn’t as if he thought she was being lazy or selfish, he was simply giving her a break. She pulled off her boots and stretched her toes. The stress of meeting Margery dissolved as she watched the muscles of Sam’s back shift while he strung up his hammock.
His size had been intimidating at first, but now she marveled at the way he carried himself. It was like he knew exactly what his strengths and weaknesses were and had trained his body to perform.
When he tied the hammock strap into knots, his face clouded with concentration. She sipped her tea, studying him. Although he wasn’t traditionally handsome—wide jaw, deep-set eyes, and cheekbones too sharp to be human—she found his features appealing. Oh, and those horns.Yum.
Yet it wasn’t only his looks she liked. He was so damncapable.There wasn’t anything he didn’t seem to know how to do. Not only could he tell time by the sun and make fire without a match, he could catch a fish, cook it, and do the dishes. All without complaining, needing help, or expecting showers of praise from her. Unlike someone else she knew…
She wasn't being unfair to Kevin, she told her herself. She was just noticing differences. Before the whole “let’s press pause” thing happened, one of the things she liked about Kevin was there was no ambiguity with him. Unlike her parents’ evolving expectations, she knew exactly what Kevin needed from her. The best way to show her love was by supporting whatheloved—his music. It was exciting to date a musician, but before he went on tour, her to-do list for Kevin’s career often felt like a part-time job. She was the brains of the Kevin P. Norton singer/songwriter brand, while he was the heart and soul. Yet now that she was in Aurelia, Selene found she quite liked spending time with a completely self-sufficient man—one who really didn’t need her at all.
She wrapped Sam’s blanket around her shoulders while he dished up their dinner. She studied his beefy forearms and wondered why she had never seen him without the leather bracers covering his wrists or asked him how he received the large scar that ran down his right eyebrow. Actually, she knew very little about him. After he passed her a full plate, Selene said, “May I ask you a personal question?”
Sam narrowed his eyes, suddenly feeling guarded. “You may.”
“Why did you come to Aurelia from the Underworld?”
He blinked. “Queen Thema didn’t tell you?”
“Was it to be special bodyguard for her?”
“No.”
“Then why?”
