The hour grows late. I stare at the food laid out on the table, now cold.
Where is he?
Is he not coming home tonight? And if so, wouldn’t he have let me know in advance?
He would have. If there’s anything I’ve learned about Nykander in the last week, it is that he’s a man of his word.
Does that mean something happened to him?
I shouldn’t care…right? After all, just yesterday while he was at work I was out looking for a new job. But the more I think of the way he treated me—always kindly and with respect—the more guilty I feel for being so apprehensive about him.
With the incident in the washroom still fresh in my mind, I’ve tried my best to avoid him in the last week. But it’s impossible to completely do so when we live in the same house.
Yet every single interaction we’ve had has been a positive one, reinforcing my belief that he must have been delirious that time and thus not to blame for his actions.
Slowly, I started seeing him in a different light; or, rather, I started to wonder if my initial fears were misplaced and only a result of my trauma. I was so terrified and heartbroken that night that every single thing looked threatening to me.
Now that I’ve had more time to think on it, I realize that perhaps I have not only misjudged Nykander but I have also wronged him with my attitude.
I’ve been chilly and reserved with him, rarely saying more than a few sentences before ending the conversation and leaving the room. Yet he never seemed to mind.
I have no doubt he noticed my apprehension, but he never mentioned it. Instead, he doubled his efforts. He was kinder and softer to me.
Pacing around the kitchen, I can’t help but stare at the clock. It’s the middle of the night and he’s still not here.
What if he got hurt? Perhaps bandits accosted him on the way home? He’s always walking back and it can get dangerous, especially after dark. Although I haven’t spent much time outside the Mortal District, I’ve heard tales about how dangerous that world is. While in the Mortal District there are the regular vagrants and addicts that can have violent outbursts, the outside districts have the immortals who can cause destruction on a massive scale.
I may not be very knowledgeable about the different levels and what not, but even I know that there are countless low levels immortals out there. Nykander said his abilities are limited, so even those people could hurt him.
The more I think of those scenarios the more I worry about him.
“He’s fine,” I whisper to myself. Perhaps he just stopped to meet someone, or maybe he went out with his colleagues after work. If it was a spontaneous decision, he couldn’t have known in advance to announce me, right? Although he’s never mentioned a friend before.
Lost in my thoughts, I jump up in surprise when the door opens. Nykander strolls inside, his long coat wrapped tightly around his body.
I quickly scan him from head to toe, noting that aside from a small scratch on his cheek he seems to be fine.
He blinks in surprise when he sees me.
“Moe, you’re still awake?”
I nod. “I was waiting for you.” I glance at the food. “Although dinner is cold now.”
His eyes widen. “You… You’ve been waiting for me all this time?”
Another nod. “I did not know when you’d arrive,” I murmur. “Are you still hungry? Let me warm up the food for you.”
I grab the plates from the table and pour the food back inside the pot to warm up.
“You didn’t eat until now either?” He asks from behind.
“I was waiting for you,” I simply state, though a moment later I frown. He’s right. I should have eaten when I realized he was going to be late—hourslate. But I didn’t. Why?
“You shouldn’t have.” He sighs. “I’m sorry for keeping you waiting. I did not think it would take this long.”
The food is on the stove, the stew inside the pot slowly heating up. I glance surreptitiously at him. The urge to ask where he’s been until now and what he’s been doing is almost unbearable. But I don’t. It’s not my business. I clench my hands tightly and shut my mouth, silently waiting for the food to be done.
“Let me help you.” His voice is close—far too close. I almost jump out of my skin when I feel his presence behind me.
