Page 72 of Blood Curse

“Stop standing there like furniture.”

“I was trying to avoid being seductive.”

“You’re terrible at it.”

His mouth lifted, but he didn’t turn the danger into a joke. He put on a dry shirt and left the top buttons open because the cloth was stiff around his neck.

That didn’t help.

A knock sounded before I could tell him.

Lenora entered with a tray. Toast stood in a silver rack beside butter, eggs and a pot of tea. She set it on the small table near the fire.

“Mara said Bryony needs food,” she said.

“Mara was right.”

Lenora’s eyes moved over my borrowed clothes, Stellan’s open shirt and the Crown. “Three more court members arrived by the east door. Two came through the village gate. None are injured.”

“Good,” Stellan said. “They can wait.”

“They’ve travelled for hours.”

“So has Bryony.”

Lenora nodded once. “Eat while it’s hot.”

She left before either of us could thank her.

I sat at the table and reached for the toast. My hand rattled the toast rack.

Stellan pulled his chair beside mine rather than across from me. “Would you like help?”

“With fucking toast?”

“It’s known to be dangerous.”

“I can manage.”

I buttered one slice badly and ate half of it in three bites.

The effect was embarrassingly quick. The ache in my stomach eased. My hands steadied. Stellan poured tea while I attacked the eggs.

“Better?” he asked.

“Much.”

“Blood?”

I listened to his pulse. It still drew my attention, but I could also smell the butter and feel the warmth of the tea against my palms.

“Still wanted,” I said. “Not urgent.”

“And me?”

“Still wanted.”

His eyes warmed. “Also not urgent?”