Page 86 of Ravenous

“You have to get warm.”

He tore off her shirt, wrapped her in the blanket, then drew out one arm at a time to chafe heat into her skin. “Better?”

“Better. Clothes?”

“Yes.” He fetched a long nightgown. “Can you manage?” When she weakly nodded, he turned his back.

A few moments later: “Dressed.”

He turned back, stifling a wince. Her face matched the fabric. “You’re too pale.” He poured vodka, stunned by how small and fragile she looked. “Drink.” He handed her the shot of liquor.

“I’ll be fine.”

“Drink.”

She dutifully took a sip, coughing from the burn. At least her fangs stopped chattering.

“I’ll return.” In his study, he stripped off his own drenched clothes, changed, then rejoined her.

She sat on a bench by the fire, glass in hand, her expression miserable. “I’m so sorry for putting you in danger.”

“You packed a sword. Why not slay the bear?” Then she wouldn’t have fallen in, wouldn’t have screamed his name while he lay with another. He would’ve spent the entire night with Undara, plenty of time for Emilia to escape—or for her to face other deadly perils outside his protection. The thoughts burned.

“The beast was enormous, its reach long. I didn’t believe I could strike it before it struck me.” Another sip of vodka, another cough. “And I thought your people held them sacred. I didn’t want you to kill me.”

“I’m not going to kill you.”

“You still think I’m a spy. Or some kind of saboteur. You believed I was meeting someone.” She frowned down at her drink, then finished it, so he repoured.

“I did. Though you probably wouldn’t have packed bread for such a short rendezvous.”

“Maybe I packed it in case I got caught.”

“Maybe.” The last of the Berserker afterburn left him shaking. “Godsdamn it, woman, you’ve tied me into knots. I was angry when you arrived here, and I said things I shouldn’t have. Things you clearly took to heart. I’ll remain on guard with you. But I won’t hurt you.”

“You can’t live like this either. You hardly eat. You’ve lost weight. I hear you pacing at night.”

“Is that why you left tonight? Why not wait until you are capable of regeneration?”

“I wondered that myself when the bear appeared.”

“Answer me, Emilia.”

“The opportunity arose.”

“In other words, the guard was occupied. Interesting that you don’t want to get him into any more trouble.”

A small, unhelpful shrug.

“What were you running toward?” he demanded. “What drove you?” Another shrug. “In a perfect Skein, what would your existence look like?”

“You’ll think it’s stupid.”

“Just tell me.”

She finished her shot, held out her glass. After a hesitation, he poured.

As if for courage, she tossed it back and spoke through the burn: “You’re not the only one who once dreamed of marriage! I…I want a scholar vampire. We read. We fall in love. We have a baby or two. We wave to neighbors.” A shaky breath. “You’re right about Umber—it is dangerous—but I’m more likely to find a life there than here.”