He could work with that. The smile was returned as he proposed over the cookbook for her and read out the ingredients.
"You think I don't want one more title? I'm excited to have something else to brag to Rhys and Az about. The treats at the end are just a bonus."
“well — then i suppose you will be the best instruction reader and utensil holder in this household.”
there’s a curl of a smile on the corners of her lips.
“you will be plenty of help.”
The women in the library had their own reasons for needing privacy. Sanctuary. Cassian knew that well. It’s why he never entered. Not unless necessary. They needed to heal in their own way.
“A lot of Valkyries were dualist. Used swords and shields. Or two blades at once. >
It had been some sort of lavender and patchouli blend tonight, with a hint of rosemary for her muscles.
He’d worked her hard earlier.
Then she’d worked harder in the library.
Which meant that she casually ignored the comment about frustration, since her body was too sore. -
You’ve been improving your balance. Maybe tomorrow we can work on shoulder mobility. For when we get yo weapons.”
He didn’t sense that disdain that was sometimes directed at him in her eyes. Today it was something different. Loneliness? >
“There are different levels of frustration.”
And she smelled good. Even from here. Like the remnants of a bubble bath.
“How is your friend’s Valkyrie research going?”
“If that’s what frustration does to you, you really shouldn’t allow yourself to be so frustrated should you?”
Mentioning nothing about how he makes her scream sometimes.
“i mean, i was looking at trying a recipe for cookies later on but i could find something that will take a little longer to make if you really need the distraction?”
“That is subjective, but to be honest? I could use the distraction. Between training the new recruits and trying to get through to your sister, my mind has been all over the place.”
And his heart.
“oh — you are not being rude cassian. i am better than i was. having the garden helped me feel more settled.”
it wasn’t a topic she wanted to dwell on.
“i am going to make some pastries later, would you like some?”
thigh muscle definition. It would burn, sure, but they'd make it without even stopping for breath."
He looked at her, catching those silver eyes. Then he set the bait. "If you want, I could show you a few basic moves that would have definitely learned in their workouts."
"Ah," he said. "There wouldn't be much written information left."
He didn't elaborate why. Maybe a story for another day. The House made his empty plate disappear. He idly ran his thumb over the siphon on his wrist just to give his hands something to do.
>
Very close.
Very close. And he dropped his gaze. What was that sudden sour taste in the back of her throat? It couldn’t possibly be jealousy.
Over a woman from 500years ago?
One whose memory still made his voice drop to a whisper full of reverence. -
Something she mentioned once about loud music and drink. The why didn't matter. He had enough to dangle in front of her.
"You know, the Valkyries had incredible core strength, so their backs wouldn't feel kinked over going down those stairs. Not to mention, their stamina and >
It felt disrespectful to her memory to call her his lover. She was more than that. A warrior. A soldier. A friend. “They were the bravest fighters I ever served with.”
She was still so thin. Borderline unhealthy in her thinness. The cake was a relief, in his eyes.
At her words, his brow perked up.
“The Valkyries?” A smiled curled from his lips. “You’ve been doing more than stacking books in the library, then.”
>
He was watching her eat, and she knew he was assessing how much she ate. Probably thinking she was childish for filling up on cake and ignoring all the vegetables and chicken.
She didn���t care enough to put her fork down. The sugar was as close as she got to a high. -
Five hundred years ago. It was a long time, even for a far. The smile was quick to fade. Cassian lowered his gaze, nodded. “I fought with them. Beside them. Long ago. There was one in particular, Tanwyn, we were…very close.” >