Page 6 of A Trial By Blood

“You, on the other hand, look well rested.” She tried to shift but failed.

I instantly moved to her, knowing what she wanted to do, because we did this every morning. I drew back the covers and carefully scooped her into my arms. Daisy rushed forward and put several pillows against the headboard, and I eased Rose back into position, then covered her again. “I feel well rested.” Whenever I was with Rose, I felt energized, again the reason was a mystery.

Daisy patted my shoulder. “I’ll head down and get breakfast ready. Do you want anything?” she asked, like she always did.

“No, thank you.” I could eat food but didn’t need it.

Daisy walked out, leaving Rose and me alone. I took in her sunken cheeks. “Are you hungry?”

“Nope, but that’s not going to stop you from trying to feed me, now is it?” She looked to the paper bag on her bedside table. “What did you bring me this morning?”

“A danish.” I tore the bag open and tore off a small portion. “Apricot, because I know you like them.”

“I do.” She tried to lift her hand, but it shook so badly she couldn’t do it.

My body reacted to the sight in several ways. My muscles tightened, and a spot in the center of my chest grew warm, which should be impossible. It also felt as if I had a rock in the pit of my gut. “Let me,” I said and held the morsel to her lips.

Her cheeks colored, a sight Relic told me meant embarrassment. I had to search out the meaning online when he struggled to explain it, not ever feeling it himself. I still didn’t fully understand. But I knew it meant she was not feeling completely comfortable. I slipped it past her lips and didn’t bring up the color of her cheeks, because Relic told me I shouldn’t. That it was impolite. It was all very confusing, honestly.

She chewed and swallowed, and I helped her sip water to wash it down. “Another piece?”

“Okay.”

I slipped another small piece into her mouth and watched her chew and swallow it. Only then did the rock in my gut ease.

“So, are you going to talk to me today, or just watch me eat?” she asked, the smile again curling her lips.

“I’m going to do both,” I said. “What would you like to talk about?”

“What do you have planned after your visit with me?”

I didn’t want to go anywhere, but I did have somewhere I needed to go later. “It’s Luna’s birthday today. I’ve been invited to the knight’s compound to share a meal.”

“That sounds nice. Will you say hello to everyone for me?”

“Of course.”

My hand was near hers and she inched hers over, her fingers covering mine. I stilled completely because I didn’t want her to take her hand away. I didn’t really understand what pleasure or pain was, physical sensations were muted for me. I’d been numb to them the majority of my life. But when Rose touched me…something happened I couldn’t explain. The only thing I could compare it to was feeding, that first pull on a vein, the way my nerve endings would kind of zing and wake up as the first drop of blood hit my tongue.

“Tell me what you did last night, while I was here cooped up in this room?” She stared up at me expectantly.

The way she looked at me now managed the same feeling, a kind of awakening. I might not feel both physical and emotional pleasure, but as a child, I had. I struggled to remember the sensations and wondered if this was similar to it? That…awakening that came over me when she touched me or when her eyes met mine, or when we talked, or I watched her eat and sleep?

Was that why I returned every day, that sensation? Perhaps her touch activated the pleasure receptors in my brain’s cerebral cortex—like a kind of muscle memory from my childhood? But if that was the case, why now? And why did it only happen with Rose?

“Well?” she said, one of her fingers sliding over my skin. “Spill the beans. Let me live vicariously through you.”

I opened my mouth to talk and had to clear my throat to loosen my oddly tight vocal cords. “I trained with Relic. Then went to the fighting pit and fought one of the hounds. He said inappropriate things. Relic said I should beat his ass, so I did. Afterward, the hounds went to the bar for females and alcohol, and I went to my room to wash off the blood and sweat,” I said. “I also slept.” I didn’t tell her I only slept for a few hours, then came here and sat at her bedside in the early hours of the morning.

She blinked up at me several times. “Okay…we need to back up a few steps here. You fought one of the hounds?”

“Yes.”

“He said inappropriate things?”

“Yes.” I didn’t like the things he said and neither had Relic. The hound suggested the fighting pit, and I’d agreed.

“What did he say?”