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Grinning, I nod. “Thank you.” Dipping one into the warm sauce, I toss it into my mouth. The salted bread was fresh and warm.
Leaning forward, Phoebus selects one of the pieces for himself. Taking a moment, he eyes it suspiciously before tossing it into his mouth.
“Have you not had a soft pretzel before?” Smiling, I ask between pieces.
“Never,” he confirms. “I have had a sheltered life.”
“The Lord of Mount Cynthus having lived a sheltered life? I never would’ve guessed.” I laugh.
The man shrugs with a crooked smile. “It comes with the territory.”
Glancing up from my hands in my lap, I take in the strange man.
His golden eyes meet mine. My breath catches in my throat. The look in his eyes is devastating. Making my insides melt with an intensity that I haven’t experienced before.
He’s dark, dashing, and dangerous with a fiery spirit.
“It's good to see the color coming back to your face,” he adds softly. With a gentleness that seems unnatural for a man of his stature.
“Thanks to you.” I nod in his direction.
Maybe my blood sugar was low or something.
“We got off on a bad foot,” announces the man. “Perhaps we could start over?”
This man is persistent.
“Sure.” I nod. “My name is Pandora.”
As I reach for my wine, the man snatches my hand. Leaning forward, he pressed his lips into my hand. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Pandora. My name is Lord Phoebus of Mount Cynthus.”
“Nice to meet you.” I smile as I ask, “What are you doing so far from home?”
Phoebus shrugged. “I was looking for a change of scenery. Life was feeling monotonous.”
“I feel that.” Grimacing, I think back to the days where everything felt the same.
Every day I would get up before the rising of the sun and head out into the forest. Moving the traps from out of the veil and back home once more. Then out to the garden. For a couple of hours, I would tend our crops. Only then to go back out to the woods with dad.
“You’re familiar with monotony?” he confirms.
I nod.
“… Have you ever thought about shaking things up?” He raises a suggestive eyebrow. “Like leaving your home and discovering a new world?”
Laughter escapes my lips. “Not everyone can just get up and leave. My family depends on me.”
“Why not?” he questions.
Pressing my lips into a tight line, I think through his question.
What is really holding me back?
Other than Celeste and Agatha, I’m not sure that I would want to stay here. Though it's not like I’d have anywhere else to go.
Gaia, I bet my stepmom and aunt would love it if I left them. The only thing that would make them balk is that I’m their main source of food.
Perhaps leaving wouldn’t be so bad… But then again, there’s dad. What if I left and he returned home? “I can’t leave,” I reply simply.
