Page 39 of Bitten & Burned
We walked in silence for a few steps. There was a stiffness to Vael’s shoulders I hadn’t noticed before, a faint tension in the way he kept his gaze forward. I almost asked what was wrong, but the moment passed before I found the words.
We passed rooms I’d seen before—parlors half-lit in the evening light, hallways lined with stern-eyed portraits—and others I hadn’t, their closed doors hiding whatever histories lay inside. My fingers itched for paper and ink already, the thought of Silas’s promised manuscript sitting heavy in my mind. I’d need somewhere quiet to work. Somewhere mine.
Vael slowed in front of a set of tall double doors. “Here,” he said, and pushed one open with the heel of his hand.
I poked into the room, looking into the darkness and waiting for my eyes to adjust. The air smelled faintly of dust and something green beneath it, as though the memory of plants still lingered here. I hadn’t been in this part of the manor before, even on my many solo sojourns through Halemont. I could almost swear the house shifted after me sometimes, the corridors subtlyrearranging themselves—but Cassian had assured me that wasn’t true.
This room was larger than it first appeared in the shadows. As my eyes adjusted, I could make out a long row of windows on the opposite wall, their glass dimmed by grime. Faint morning light leaked through in narrow slants, striping the floor.
“Vael?” I called behind me. “What’s this room?”
“The old conservatory,” Vael said, ducking his head in. His voice seemed to carry farther here, softened by the emptiness. “We don’t really go in it anymore—it’s only of use to us half the time, anyway. Too many windows.”
“Oh…” I stepped further in, raising my lantern. Its warm glow spilled across large shapes draped in white drop cloths, the furniture beneath them casting long, skeletal shadows against the walls.
Vael watched me take it in. “Will this suffice as a workspace while you’re here? Especially if you’re having work sent over. Do you want me to help you clean it out? You could make it your own.”
“I’ll do it,” I said, smiling at him. “It’ll give me something to do during the day.”
He stepped further into the room, glancing around at the draped furniture before speaking again. “So… he’s already written to you?”
“Yes,” I said, adjusting the lantern in my hand. “Twice, in fact.”
“Hmmm.”
Just that, low and thoughtful, before he turned his attention back to the windows, running a gloved hand over the dusty sill. I told myself it was nothing—just a meaningless sound, a filler where other men might nod. But it caught somewhere in my chest all the same, a faint prickle of awareness that made me wish I’d left the number of letters unspoken.
I glanced back toward the draped shapes, letting the quiet settle again. Whatever Vael thought, this room could be mine. I didn’tknow why, but it felt like I should do it myself. Truly carve myself a place. I was pleased to learn they didn’t use this room. No chance of running into anyone here. Read: Quil. And during the day, I’d be alone. Well, Fig would likely be here, so not entirely alone.
“Let me at least help you set up more lanterns.”
“Are there more?” I asked.
“Somewhere,” Vael said. “We should ask Cassian. He’ll know.”
I nodded, turning towards the door.
“Oh, you want to go right now?” Vael asked, looking almost disappointed.
“Well, I was thinking yes… so I could work on the room at night too…”
“Well, alright, but I wanted to discuss something with you,” Vael replied.
“We can do both,” I assured him. “Talk with me while we walk.”
He didn’t look convinced, but I only gave him a small smile and started toward the hall.
“I promise. I can walk and talk at the same time, Vael. The wound hasn’t slowed me down that much.”
“Oh, I know that,” he said with a soft laugh as we started down the hall. “It’s just… I wanted to talk to you about the bonding ceremony. The blood bond ritual.”
He was so endearing when he was nervous.
“Of course, Vael. What about it?”
“Well, I was wondering when we might… You know… have it?”
I raised my brows. “I don’t have a date in mind, but I assumed we’d do it as soon as we could.”
