Page 167

Chapter 58

She has been hiding from me all day, it is really starting to piss me off. Why couldn’t she just be in the same room as me? When dinner time comes, I walk upstairs to the room only to find her not there. Where did she go? I swear she said she had been in the room, though her scent isn’t that strong like she hadn’t been in here since this morning. Walking back out, I look for her only to run into Pluto.

“Have you seen Elora?” I ask him. He nods.

“Yeah in her room,” he says pointing down the corridor. I turn on my heel going to her old room, pissed off. She knows this room isn’t fixed yet. Pushing the door open, I am a little shocked to find it cleaned up, though there is a terrible draft, the wood isn’t completely sealed against the stone walls. She looks up as I enter, next to the fireplace trying to get the kindle to catch a light with a lighter.

“You can’t stay in here you will freeze,” I tell her, stepping in.

“I will be fine, you can go,” she says, and I can feel how pissed off she is with our mates for ditching her. Jealousy hits me at her only ever wanting them near. I watch her struggle with the kindle, which is too wet to light with the lighter. I am nearly tempted to leave her with it just to force her out of this room.

“Just sleep in the room, I will sleep in the study,” I tell her. She shakes her head stubbornly. “Elora!” I call out to her, and she looks up at me.

“Just leave, I don’t want you in here!” she snaps, and I growl low at her tone. Her eyes fill with worry. Just walk away, walk away, I tell myself when I want nothing more than to drag her out kicking and screaming to where I know she will be warmer and my son not freezing solid inside her overnight.

I turn to leave but stop, walking back to her. Bending down, I suck in a breath and exhale, instantly heating the room. Elora jumps as the logs ignite. Without a word, I walk out, reminding myself she’s pregnant, hormonal, and probably unaware of how rude she just sounded.

Walking off, I go make dinner, slamming the pots and pans around a little too loudly in my anger while I try and find the frypan I like using. Pluto walks in to see what the commotion is.

“You alright buddy?” he asks, and I glare at him without meaning to. He puts his hands up. “Hey, just checking on you,” he says.

“I’m fine, Elora is just being difficult,” I tell him, and he steps into the kitchen.

“I wouldn’t take it personally. I have seen her snap at Dragus a few times,” he says, which actually shocks me as they always seem so cozy around each other.

“Well for me it is personal because the woman hates me.”

“She will come around, Elora is forgiving.” I nod, not really believing him. “Want some help?”

“If you want, where is your brother?” I ask him.

“In the city with his girlfriend.”

“He has a girlfriend already?” I ask.

“Yeah, not a mate though, just some bird he likes,” he says, looking at the pots and pans. “What are we making?”

“Hamburgers, you can butter the buns when they come out of the grill.”

Pluto nods, placing the buns in while I start frying onion and the patties.

Silas was right—this room is freezing. I know he’s angry about how I spoke to him, and guilt creeps in. He came in, set dinner on the table, told me to eat, then walked out.

I didn’t even have a chance to thank him. He leaves as soon as he comes in. After eating, I lay in bed, freezing. The draft is awful and makes a horrid whistling noise as it comes through the gaps. Getting up, I stoke the fire, trying to warm my hands. The logs are nearly gone, making the fire dwindle. Grabbing my dressing gown, I put my slippers on, going to get more. I walk outside to find it is snowing. I hated the weather here, one minute it was fine the next, it snowed, never an in between. I can’t wait for summer, at least then the days are longer and a little warmer. Though it was never truly hot, not with the mountains surrounding the place blocking the sun most of the time, the nights were usually still cold.

Stepping outside, my feet freeze instantly as the snow soaks through the fabric. I can barely see ahead while making my way to the stables for wood. Most of the logs are still wet from the storm, and I need to get back fast before the fire dies completely.

No such luck, I realize, as I walk in and find it only glowing red as it smothered itself in the ash. I drop the logs in and wait to see if anything catches alight. Thinking of asking Pluto, I walk into the hall, but can hear him snoring when I open the door. I pop my head in and catch him talking in his sleep, making me chuckle. Nothing of what he said makes sense.

Closing the door, I step into my freezing room. I hesitate, then head upstairs to Silas, hoping he’ll relight it. After the way I spoke to him, I wouldn’t be surprised if he refused. I walk in to find him sitting on the bed. My mouth drops. He is reading a baby book. He puts down the book and looks over at me. The sight of him reading it worries me, like he is planning on taking my baby.

“What’s wrong?” he asks looking at me.

“The fire went out and the wood is wet,” I tell him. He nods getting up off the bed.

“What are you reading?” I ask, already knowing.

“Some baby book I saw Matitus reading,” he answers, looking down at me as he approaches. He doesn’t say anything else.