Page 55 of His Darkest Desire
Even knowing what he wanted from her, she’d been tempted, if only to have a taste of intimacy again. If only to feel wanted.
She was also worried. There’d been neither sign of nor word from him in all this time.
Where is he?
An acrid, bitter smell filled her nose. Her eyes widened.
“The scones!”
She spun toward the fireplace. Grabbing a cloth, Kinsley wrapped it around the handle, lifted the large iron pot from where it hung over the fire, and lowered it onto the hearthstone. Kneeling, she removed the lid. Black smoke billowed out. She scrunched her nose and waved the smoke away. Echo floated over, shining their light into the pot as they peered in alongside Kinsley.
Black charred lumps sat at the bottom.
“Ugh.” Kinsley set the lid down next to the pot. “It’d be so much easier if I could just poof food into existence.”
Echo extended an arm and patted Kinsley’s hand with a ghostlike touch.
“Why does Vex even have a kitchen when he can just use magic?” she asked.
Kinsley was no stranger to cooking outdoors. She’d often made food on portable grills, small wood stoves, or over open fires. Why was she struggling now?
Because you’re preoccupied with thoughts of having sex with a goblin.
Nope, not going there. Moving on.
She stared at the blackened lumps longingly before pushing herself to her feet. “Well, no scones for breakfast today.”
Kinsley sat at the table, listening to the storm and the cottage’s creaking as she ate her meal of fruit and cheese. Her attention fell on Echo, and she tilted her head as she regarded the wisp, who mimicked her movement.
“Are there more of your kind?” she asked.
Echo nodded.
“But not here. It’s just you, Flare, and Shade, isn’t it?”
Another nod before Echo tilted their head to the opposite side.
“Are you trapped here too?”
When Echo nodded again, Kinsley’s brow furrowed. “But I saw one of you that night on the road. You were outside the fog, beyond the barrier. How?”
Echo floated over to the empty plate Kinsley had set out for Vex just in case he decided to join her. They pointed toward the edge of the plate and spun slowly. Then, with equal slowness, they drifted toward the edge. Once the wisp crossed over, their light began to fade, becoming dimmer and dimmer until she worried that they’d truly be snuffed out. Before that could happen, Echo retreated. They brightened as they moved back to the center of the plate.
“You can go outside it, but not for long or far.”
They nodded.
“Could that…kill you?”
Their light faded again, and they hung their little head. It was answer enough for Kinsley.
“I wish you could tell me more. I wish I could understand you.”
Echo glided over to Kinsley and nuzzled her shoulder, whispering softly. Kinsley cupped her hand around them, smiling at the warm, gentle tingle they caused on her skin.
After she finished eating, she cleaned up the kitchen, wiping away the specks of flour on the counter that had escaped her notice earlier, and disposed of the charcoal lumps in the pot.
Still, Vex did not appear.