Page 49 of Myths and Manuscripts
I could work with that. Maybe I could even get the information we needed without starting a war.
“Sleep well,” I said as I walked out the door. “Cinder will keep you safe.”
The bunny hopped up on the bed with the hero and snuggled closer to him even as he tried to jerk away. After a moment, he pet the bunny’s head with a smile. Yup, this was all going to work out brilliantly. I’d have to congratulate Dain on a job well done. Never in a million years did I think I’d get the chance to talk to the hero.
Now I just had to patiently wait until the morning.
Chapter 20
Thorne
Out of all the things that could have happened while I was gone, Dain kidnapping the hero hadn’t crossed my mind as a possibility. What was the point of a bodyguard if I couldn’t trust him to stay by Willow’s side? Sure, I told him to give her anything she wanted, but the hero probably wouldn’t be any more help than I was with planning the final book.
Neither of us knew how things were supposed to end. That’s how stories worked.
My nose twitched as a delicious scent drifted into my room. I sat up slowly. Was that bacon? I made my way to the kitchen to find Willow by the stove with her hair tied back and Inkheart floating nearby pointing at something on a notebook.
“It’s just eggs,” Willow said. “I can handle bacon and eggs.”
The pen’s feather drooped.
“Oh fine, show me the recipes.” She leaned over to peek at the notes Inkheart had written for her and smiled. “That actually sounds delicious. Maybe we can pick up ingredients in town today and try it?”
The pen leapt up in excitement, splattering ink everywhere. Watching Willow cook while chatting with that magical pen was oddly soothing. I wished every day would start like this from now on. Willow looked so happy, just cooking and laughing withInkheart. Every time she smiled, it was like a balm for my soul. I wanted to do something for her, something that showed how much her being here meant to me.
“Morning, Thorne.” Willow glanced over her shoulder with a smile. “I hope you’re hungry, because we’re making a feast.”
Hearing her call me by my new name felt so right, like I was finally becoming who I was always meant to be. A protector.Herprotector.
“Need any help?” I moved closer to the stove, watching the eggs slowly turn from clear to white in the pan as the bacon sizzled. “You didn’t have to cook breakfast.”
“Oh, were you going to?” She gave me a wicked smile. “I’d pay to see that. We could even get you an apron and everything.”
Inkheart fluttered, excitedly writing something on the page.Ohhh, please make it say “kiss the chef”! I love those aprons.
“Kiss the chef?” Willow laughed softly. “I doubt he’d wear something like that.”
She peeked at me for just a moment before turning back to the pen, but it was long enough to catch the faint rosy hue coloring her cheeks. Like she was picturing what I’d look like in an apron like that. Warmth spread through me as memories of kissing her filled my mind. I’d barely been able to sleep last night, thinking about her in my arms.
I’d never imagined something like that would happen, but it had felt so right. Willow was more than just the woman writing my book, she saw me differently than anyone else. She was the woman I could feel myself falling for. As I moved closer, she reached up into a cabinet that used to be empty and pulled four plates down, lining them up on the counter to pile them high with eggs and crispy bacon.
“Four plates?” I tilted my head, not liking where this was going. “Are you making breakfast for that hero?”
“Well yeah, did you think I’d let him starve?” Willow rolledher eyes, shoving two plates into my hands. “Come on, let’s all eat together.”
She set the plates on the table next to glasses of water and silverware. Dain marched in shortly after with the hero in tow and suddenly my warm and cozy morning disappeared like a dream I could barely remember.
“Hero.” I inclined my head at him as I sat at the head of the table.
He lifted his chin. “Demon Lord.”
Willow gave us both a funny look. “Are you two going to do that every time you see each other?” When neither of us responded, she sighed and took Cinder from the hero’s arms. “Well sit down before the food gets cold. A good meal makes everything better.”
“Unless it’s poisoned.” The hero sat down at the very edge of his chair and sniffed the food. His eyes widened, but he quickly covered it up with a look of indifference. “It smells good, I guess. But I certainly won’t be eating it.”
A hungry grumble echoed in the kitchen, and he slapped a hand over his stomach. Willow hid a smile behind her hair as she bent down to feed Cinder a few carrots and a handful of hay. Her gaze flicked up to mine and she jerked her head at the hero like I should do something.
I blinked at her before slowly turning to him. “Well, that’s your choice, but it’s not like we’re fattening you up for the slaughter or anything.”
