Luminescent (Inheritance Cycle and Beyond)

Chapter Seventy-One: Blinding

Wiping my hands clean of dough and flour, I walked over to the downed toy and picked it up. Baby slobber covered its surface as I held it up. In front of me, Selene squealed and waved her tiny fists, excited to see her toy again. I handed the toy back to Selene just as Fen announced she was done with her creation.

I returned to the kitchen and slid Fen's loaf onto the loaf pan as well. Grabbing a small bowl with a mix of herbs I sprinkled them onto of the bread before I carried the pan over to the fire and slid it in a small alcove where it would evenly cook from the heat.

"Fen, why don't you clean up while I hunt down your father," I told her. She nodded and collected her drawing supplies as I plucked Selene from her pen. Balancing her on my waist, I left the kitchen and headed for the porch.

Pushing the front door open, I looked around and didn't see him anywhere. Stepping down from the porch, I checked the field, nothing. Well, it wasn't like I had to know everything he did. Murtagh had his own methods of healing. Shrugging, I reentered our house and looked at Selene.

"If your father isn't home for dinner by the time it's ready, we're going to eat all of it," I told her. She gave me a toothy smile before slapping my cheek with her fist. "Oh, you're in agreement?"

"Gah!" Smiling, I carried Selene back into the kitchen and checked on the soup. It was about halfway done. Fen had cleared her drawing supplies from the table. All I needed to do was set the table.

"Okay big girl," I said as I set Selene back down in the pen. "mommy needs to finish dinner."

Selene whined at me as my warm hands left her. I shoved her favorite toy into her hands in an attempt to appease her. That did the trick. Selene's full attention was now on the toy as she shoved it into her mouth and started to suckle.

I gave the soup a good stirring, adding a little more seasoning before I checked on the bread. The loaves were puffed up and slowly turned golden. Ten minutes later I added the mushrooms to the soup and gave it one last stir before I covered the pot to simmer.

Fen eventually came running back into the kitchen, darting straight for Selene. She climbed into the pen and sat cross-legged in front of the infant.

"I am here, Moony!" Fen crowd, ensuing a gurgle and a laugh from Selene.

"Don't get too dirty, Fen." I chided her. "dinner will be ready shortly."

"I won't!" Fen sang as the sound of the front door opening, and closing reached my ears. My sharp eyes narrowed on the kitchen doorway as I waited for Murtagh to cross the threshold.

"And where have you boys been?" I asked sternly when Murtagh materialized in the entryway.

"Running errands," Murtagh replied, walking over to give me a quick kiss. "and to hunt down a certain item."

Murtagh pulled out a bouquet of flowers from behind his back and presented them to me.

"For you," I stared at the flowers in surprise. Winter still bit at the plants in the forest, keeping the beautiful flowers that bloomed, at bay.

"Where did you find these," I gasped out as I accepted them and brought them to my nose.

"One of the Vendors mentioned a farm to the west that specialized in growing flowers year-round," Murtagh replied, leaning against the kitchen counter. "Thorn and I took a day trip to check the farm out, we weren't disappointed."

Sighing at the fact that I couldn't bring myself to be mad at him, I reached for a vase to put the flowers in and carried it over to the kitchen table. Placing them in the center, I took a couple steps back to admire the bright colors that now graced the kitchen.

"Have I ever told you how much I love you?" I called over my shoulder. Murtagh, still leaning against the kitchen counter, crossed his arms and smirked.

"Plenty of times, though you have threatened to kill me as well." Huffing at him, I grabbed the kitchen towel and snapped it at his waist.

"Out," I commanded. "you aren't allowed in my kitchen unless you've washed for dinner."

"Ouch! Alright, love, I'm moving!" Murtagh said as he rubbed the place I had hit. "don't start dinner without me."

"That depends on how fast you clean up."

I had just put Selene down to sleep when I walked into the bedroom, stopping short, I stared at Murtagh.

"You know," I started in a weak voice. "sometimes I think you do this on purpose."

A shirtless Murtagh stood in the middle of the bedroom, and I wasn't sure if he had been in the middle of changing or was waiting to get a reaction out of me. Murtagh's smooth, heavily muscled back turned at my words.

I forced back the blush that wanted to creep up my cheeks. Why did the man have to be sculpted into perfection? Murtagh raised an eyebrow at me as I openly stared at him.

"Maybe I do." He finally admitted with a cheeky smile. Reaching up, I pulled my dressing robe down my shoulders and let it pool at my feet before I launched myself at him. He caught me as I wrapped my arms around his neck, and within milliseconds, our lips came together in a fiery connection.

Ice and fire once again pressed against each other in a hungry frenzy. No degree of winter would be able to freeze the passion felt between us.