Chapter 11

Elara

Alaric and I stood on opposite sides of the kitchen, moving in sync as we prepared the meal. Neither of us spoke, rhythmic sounds of chopping and stirring the only sounds that filled the space between us.

I couldn’t help but steal occasional glances at him. Maybe he wasn’t as cold or unfeeling as I had initially imagined. In fact, he seemed unexpectedly considerate at times.

“Could you pass me the pepper?” I asked, reaching out.

He handed it over without looking up. “Here.”

“Thanks.”

We continued working in silence. I was sauteing vegetables while he seasoned the chicken. The rich aroma began to fill the kitchen, which was a stark contrast to the bland food from earlier.

“Do you cook often?” I found myself asking.

He shrugged. “When necessary.”

“I didn’t peg you for the culinary type.”

He glanced up at me. “There are many things you don’t know about me.”

I resisted the urge to roll my eyes as I focused back on the sizzling pan. “Well, maybe if you didn’t keep everyone at arm’s length, they might know more.”

“Perhaps.”

Before long, the simple meal we had made together was ready and placed on the table. Zoe’s face lit up when she saw the new food—glistening chicken with the skin still on, roast potatoes, sauteed vegetables. It was mostly the same food we were eating before, only prepared with flavor and not just nutrients in mind.

“Yummy!” Zoe exclaimed, hopping onto her chair. She began digging in immediately.

Ella, for her part, eyed the dishes curiously. “Did you make this?” she asked, looking between Alaric and me.

“We both did,” I replied, taking a seat.

She took a tentative bite of the chicken and her eyes widened. “It’s good!”

“I’m glad you approve,” Alaric replied. I thought I saw a hint of a smile tugging at his lips, but it was gone quickly.

We all began to eat, the atmosphere noticeably lighter than before. Zoe chatted animatedly about wanting to learn how to cook, and Ella chimed in with her favorite foods. Alaric was mostly quiet, but I could tell that he was listening.

After dinner, we took Ella and Zoe to their rooms. Alaric took Ella, and I took Zoe.

“Mommy,” Zoe asked as I tucked her into bed, “does Ella like me?”

I let out a small sigh and stroked a strand of dark hair away from her forehead. “She’s just adjusting, sweetheart. Don’t feel bad if she doesn’t want to play at first.”

Zoe scrunched up her nose, but nodded. “Okay. Can I try to play with her tomorrow, though?”

I nodded and kissed her cheek. “I think that’s a wonderful idea. Just keep trying. She’ll come around eventually.”

After that, I stayed by Zoe’s bedside, holding her little hand, until she fell fast asleep. I didn’t want her to feel alone or afraid in this big house, so I vowed to do that every night until she was more comfortable.

But it was only when she fell asleep that it hit me: I still didn’t know what my own bedroom looked like, or where it was. Last night, I had slept with Zoe. Not that I would mind sleeping with her again, of course. We always shared a bed back at our apartment. But in a house this big, maybe it was time to start sleeping separately.

As if on cue, a floorboard creaked, and I turned to see Alaric stepping into the doorway.

He gestured down the hall. “I’ll take you to your room.”

I hesitated for a moment but nodded, giving Zoe one last kiss on the forehead before reluctantly releasing her hand.

We walked side by side, the only sound the faint creaking of the floorboards beneath our feet. He stopped in front of a door and pushed it open, stepping aside to let me in.

I stepped inside and looked around. The room was spacious yet minimalist, furnished with a large bed, a wardrobe, and a small desk by the window. The only decoration was a crayon drawing taped to the wall—clearly Ella’s artwork.

As I took in the surroundings, the faint scent of pine and cedar filled the air. It smelled like Alaric.

“This… isn’t your room, is it?” I asked, turning to face him.

“It is.”

“What?” I felt heat rise to my cheeks. “You expect me to sleep with you?”

He remained unfazed. “We’re pretending to be a married couple. There are servants in the house, and to ensure the girls’ safety and protect our privacy, it’s best if we keep up the act. People… gossip.”

I opened my mouth to protest, but he continued, “Don’t overthink it. This is purely a transactional arrangement. I have no intention of taking advantage of you. Tonight, you sleep on the bed, and I’ll take the floor.”

I frowned. “I can sleep somewhere else. A guest room, perhaps.”

He shook his head. “That would raise questions. It’s best to maintain appearances, even within these walls.”

The idea of sharing a room with a man I hardly knew didn’t exactly excite me. But, thinking of Ella and Zoe and the importance of keeping up the facade, I sighed in resignation. “Fine.”

He pointed to a door on the left. “Bathroom is through there. Your belongings have been brought up.”

“Thank you,” I muttered, walking over to the wardrobe where my suitcase sat neatly. I grabbed a few things and headed into the bathroom, which was large and luxurious without being overly opulent. A clean walk-in shower occupied the far corner, with a large soaking tub underneath the window. There were two sinks with plenty of cupboard space.

I opened one of the cupboards and blushed upon seeing the contents: shaving equipment, expensive cologne, and some other things that were clearly Alarics. I slammed the door shut immediately and moved to the next cupboard, which was empty. After arranging my things, I undressed and stepped into the shower.

The hot water felt divine on my skin, but I quickly realized that I had forgotten to grab my body wash from the apartment. Figuring that Alaric wouldn’t mind if I borrowed some of his, I used just a small amount and decided to head out to buy my own in the morning.

Although, his body wash smelled undeniably attractive, and I wouldn’t mind smelling it all the time.

After showering, I changed into my pajamas—a modest set of flannel pants and a long-sleeved shirt. Still feeling uneasy, I threw on a robe for good measure. When I emerged from the bathroom, I saw that Alaric had laid out a blanket and pillow on the floor near the window. He was seated on the makeshift bed, scrolling through his phone.

“I’m going to sleep now,” I announced awkwardly.

He looked up briefly. “Alright. Sleep well.”

“You too,” I replied, climbing into the bed. The sheets were cool and crisp and smelled like the forest, and despite my initial discomfort, exhaustion soon pulled me under.

Sometime in the early morning, I awoke with a start. Disoriented, I sat up and rubbed my eyes. The room was still dim, a faint glow seeping through the curtains. Forgetting momentarily where I was, I swung my legs over the side of the bed and headed toward what I thought was the door to the bathroom.

But then my foot caught on something solid, and before I could react, I was falling forward. I landed unceremoniously on top of Alaric, a soft ‘oomph’ escaping his lips.

A soft thud echoed through the room, but that wasn’t the worst part. Somehow, during my fall, my lips accidentally brushed against his cheek. Time seemed to freeze for a moment.

His eyes flew open, meeting mine with a mix of surprise and something else I couldn’t quite place. We were so close I could feel his breath against my skin.

“I—I didn’t mean to!” I stammered, scrambling off him. “I forgot you were there…”

He sat up slowly, running a hand through his tousled hair. “Clearly.”

“I’m so sorry,” I babbled, backing away. “I was half-asleep and didn’t realize…”

He stood up, towering over me even in the dim light. I felt my breath catch as I took in the sight of his muscles tugging against his thin white shirt, and I quickly looked away.

“It’s fine,” he said. “But next time, you’d better make sure you don’t try to ‘take advantage’ of me again.”

I felt my face heat up as I glanced back up at him. There wasn’t a hint of a smile on his face, and I didn’t know if he was messing with me or not. Unable to think of a response, I quickly muttered out another apology and rushed to the bathroom.

Closing the door behind me, I let out a breath I hadn’t realized I’d been holding. My heart was pounding, and I splashed some cold water on my face to calm down.

Dammit, Elara! Get a grip!

When I emerged a little while later, showered and fully dressed, Alaric was standing with his back to me. He was buttoning up a crisp white shirt, and I quickly turned away, not wanting to intrude on his privacy.

But then my eyes fell on the tie—that awful green and paisley tie—laying on the bed beside him. I bit the inside of my cheek as I watched him look down at it.

He seemed to contemplate for a moment. Then, to my surprise, he casually tossed it into the trash without a second thought.