a Hay

st, the temperature inside the

s firs outside, rattling the loose

a, wrapped in Declan's old wool blank

r wall, motionless as

lamp, nor had he tak

d, his chest still, his pale eyes catching th

gh shivering lips, pointing toward a s

it d

o silent and fluid it looked like a

d up a box of wooden matches, an

warm, amber glow across th

on, blowing gently on the tinder until bright orange fl

ant heat washe

closer to the hearth and extendi

ou," I m

ngers were going

down at me with those c

ionally vulnerable in low

t," I replied with a faint, dry laugh,

t some pasta and canned sauce in my bag.

posture s

profound revulsion flickering across his

uire food," h

ore I coll

fuel, Julian. It'll

it for his

eel pot, a box of dried penne, and a jar

p near the sink, set the pot on the cast-i

illed with the warm, rich aroma of simm

led like comfo

Sincl

matter invaded the small cabin like a toxic

y body screamed to shatter th

of wild predators, human food was not merely unappetizing-it was an ass

ture into two mismatched ceramic b

e out to me with a look of

," she said, her hazel ey

t the stea

looked

from the cold, a faint smudge of soot a

ered me food with such

k in her face, would break the fragile trust th

k the

rs brush

ant, terrifying burst of mortal warmth that sent

yself to say, the sylla

e, took a fork, and wound three

to my mout

as a

ike wet cardboard

y throat and forcing the bolus down into my dormant stomach, where i

d, taking a hearty bi

said, setting

... w

tisfied, and finished her

tipped the remainder of my bowl into a paper napkin, folded

as she dried her hands, looking tow

You need to sleep bef

ket and began spreading it

ess strides, stepped behind her, and g

rm behind her back and the other benea

her hands instinctivel

pressed ag

beat through her sweater-thump-thump, thump-th

roximity, a wave of sweet, warm ambrosia that made

so hard my molar

gently on the mattress, and pulled th

pping back three full paces unt

sleep at night. Clos

cheeks flushed, her eyes wide with a mixture

freeze over there, ar

etreating into the darkest corner of t

le

d, then clos

g slowed, deepening into the ste

ving, watching her chest ris