Page 119 of Riv's Sanctuary

And it smelled like him—a heady musk that smelled like dried hay and spices.

It made her feel strange and reminded her that she was definitely in the wrong place. For the life of her, though, she couldn't remember how she'd ended up in his room.

She’d walked back to the main dwelling, sat with her back against the wall for just a few minutes as she’d watched the moons…and then she’d woken up there.

Bracing upright, she took in the room.

It was mostly sparse apart from different gadgets against the walls and gadgets thrown on a table in the corner. He had a trunk with clothes against one wall, too…and that was it.

As she eased herself off the bed, she grit her teeth.

Her muscles must have seized up in the night. That only happened when she exerted too much energy and her body couldn’t handle the pressure.

Creeping as quietly as she could toward the door, she perked her ears for any sound.

When she heard nothing, she crept from the bedroom and headed to the main room.

Grot was nowhere to be seen, but the smell of something cooking caught her attention. Her stomach growled immediately .

She was about to follow the smell when Riv suddenly appeared with a bowl in his hands.

He looked surprised to see her and she only knew this because he wasn't wearing his shades and face covering.

Green, piercing eyes hit her and widened a bit.

He did a quick scan from her feet right back to her eyes before he turned and set the bowl on the table.

"How did you…" He cleared his throat, pretending to set the bowl properly. "—how did you sleep?"

"I slept well…" Her voice was cautious as she observed him.

It had to have been him who’d placed her in his room. Only, she couldn’t imagine him doing that.

"Good," he said, his gaze finally moving her way again. "You should wash and then eat."

That made her glance down at herself and she was momentarily taken aback.

She was filthy.

She was smeared with mud and whatever other particles from her last day of work.

She hadn’t gotten a chance to take a bath the night before. But her stomach growled again, demanding attention.

"Maybe you should eat first," he said, pulling out a chair for her.

“That’s mine?” Her gaze moved from the bowl to him and back, one eyebrow raised.

"It’s ogna soup. It should help you recover your energy."

Lauren blinked.

Was this some kind of trick?

“Sit,” he repeated, motioning to the chair. “Eat. It is best when it is warm.”

Eyebrows still raised, Lauren moved forward, her eyes on him the entire time.

When he wasn’t scowling, he looked so…handsome.