The White Werewolf || Season One: Ties That Bind

Chapter Twelve

Lyria, 1239

They stayed at the inn for several days. He cited needing to discuss a plan as the reason, but she must have guessed that that wasn't it, since they spent most of their time in bed together, not talking.

But she didn't ever bring it up, so he knew she wasn't angry about it.

Initially, his thought had been that a few comfortable nights were probably a good way for him to atone. Then, on the second day, he got a better idea and snuck off to the market while she rested.

He returned with several items. When she rolled over and complained that he'd left her to chill between the sheets, he set them on the table and went to her immediately.

She only noticed his purchases when they finally emerged from bed to have a hot meal. The fur from the bed was wrapped around his waist and her middle, so when he sat down, he kept her in his lap.

"What did you buy?" she asked, plucking an olive off of the tray that had been brought.

He'd requested extra olives specifically because he'd come to realize she greatly enjoyed them. He never ate any himself, preferring to watch her eat them all.

He shrugged nonchalantly. "I found them in the market while I was browsing and I thought you might like them."

He had, of course, gone there precisely to look for those things, but she didn't need to know that. This was his silent apology.

She fingered the bunches of lavender and mint. He'd also gotten basil and dill. "Your lavender and mint are running low," he mentioned. He'd noticed that she kept bunches of them in her rucksack. "I just thought you might like the other two for cooking."

"Yes, thank you," she murmured, waving her fingers over them and casting a quick enchantment to keep them fresh.

It was one of the most useful ones she knew, and very suited to traveling.

He held his breath slightly as she opened the leatherbound book next. "It's blank," she observed, glancing at him.

"I thought you might need something to write in. For your studies, or whatever else you'd like. The velvet bag contains the rest of the supplies."

She ran her hand over the crisp paper before shutting the book and pulling the drawstring on the small black purse. There were several bottles of ink inside, along with two quills and a quill sharpener.

"Thank you, Geralt," she repeated. "This is all very thoughtful."

She turned and their noses brushed, making him smile. She laughed lightly and kissed the cleft in his chin. He closed his eyes as she did, appreciating the affection of the gesture. She seemed to favor that part of him, and he didn't mind at all.

"I'm not complaining about the past few days," she started once she was finished, "but do we have a plan yet?"

He nodded as they began to eat more heartily. He also knew that their little diversion couldn't last, as much as he wanted it to. "I heard a rumor in the marketplace today," he explained, "that they're having trouble at the Edge of the World. Dol Blathanna. It's hard to tell exactly what it is. They frequently come to blows out there because of the proximity of elves and humans. But there might be work, and it's fairly close."

"We'll leave in the morning, then?"

"Yes, I think that would be best."

"So we still have tonight," she whispered.

She took a grape, traced his lips with it, and then slipped it into his mouth. He chewed and swallowed, then slid his hand up into her hair and kissed her deeply.

Tomorrow, the bubble would break. He wasn't sure what would happen then. But they still had tonight, and he planned to enjoy her for every second of it.