The question surprises me. I turn slightly, catching the flicker of hesitation in his golden gaze.
He adds, “I can ask around tomorrow. See if someone has space. Somewhere with a separate room, if you’d rather.”
Anxiety edges his tone, like he anticipates me admitting I don’t feel comfortable here…with him.
It catches me off guard.
Should I feel that way? Is there something I’m missing?
I shake my head before the doubt can settle in too deep. “No…this is fine, Torryn, I promise.”
His gaze lingers on me for a breath longer, as if weighing the truth of my answer, then he gives a slight nod and looks away. A muscle jumps in his jawas he scratches the back of his neck with the edge of his thumb.
“There’s only one bed,” he mutters. “Didn’t think it’d be a problem until now. It’s big, but still, I figured that we could, uh…”
I glance past him as he trails off, eyes landing on the bed in question. It’s massive. Built into a low wooden frame pushed against the far wall, with a quilt and two pillows. Easily enough room for three people, let alone two.
A faint smile tugs at the corner of my mouth as I realize the source of his discomfort.
“Torryn,” I say gently, “It’s a huge bed. I could sleep on the opposite end and never come close to touching you. It doesn’t make me uncomfortable.”
That gets his attention. He turns toward me fully, arms folding over his chest before his brows draw together. Faint confusion ripples across his scarred face.
“You trust me that much?” he asks gently.
The softness in his question surprises me, and I blink. “Why shouldn’t I?”
“You don’t know me well,” he admits.
While he isn’t wrong, the only thing I’ve trusted since awakening in that battlefield is my gut, and it hasn’t led me astray yet.
“I know you’ve never once made me feel unsafe,” I offer with a soft smile. “You being this hesitant andrespectful shows me all I need to know about this decision.”
My words land with a quiet finality, and for a moment, he just watches me.
“It’s just a bed,” I add.
His gaze drops to the floor, then slides back up to meet mine.
“I told you that I see the dueling sides of you with your fierce strength and gentle care, but I worry about someone taking advantage of the latter.”
A weight presses gently against my chest with his words.
“While I am on the side that’s fighting against the humans,” he admits before his eyes narrow, “I’m not blind to the unsavory souls that reside in our factions.”
There’s no judgment in his tone for my trust, only concern.
Maybe he’s right.
Torryn turns away without another word, moving toward a broad wooden chest tucked beneath a narrow window. The hinges creak as he lifts the lid, the interior dark and cluttered with neatly folded clothes and what looks like heavier fur blankets.
“I’ll find you something to wear,” he murmurs, “I can’t guarantee it’ll fit well, but it will at least be more comfortable to sleep in.”
He lifts a shirt from the pile, holds it up, frowns, then swaps it out for one with sleeves. The finalchoice is a long-sleeved dark gray shirt, clearly worn in from the stretched out neckline.
He holds it out without ceremony, and I step forward to take it.
“Thanks,” I say quietly, closing my hand around the soft material.
