Bab 10: Chapter 10
Iynx did, indeed, come find Twyla as she strolled around the gardens. Everything seemed peaceful and Twyla wondered if Hunter had just made up an excuse. Was he still avoiding telling her about the vampire king? Did he still think she was too fragile? Was he right?
Hunter found Twyla and Iynx having a picnic under a tree and from the blood on his clothes, it was clear that he wasn't lying about a problem at the border.
"Are you alright, Hunter?" Twyla whispered.
"I am fine."
"Do you want to join us, then?" Twyla requested.
Hunter sighed. "Sure." He gave them a soft smile and untied his blond hair. "I am sorry for running off this morning. I have a duty to ensure that my people are safe." He ran his fingers through his hair. "How has your day been so far?"
"Great. Look! Twyla braided my hair!" Iynx showed off her long braid that had multiple flowers threaded through it. "Let her do yours!"
Neither Hunter nor Twyla wanted to deny Iynx her happiness so Hunter dutifully sat cross legged in front of Twyla. As she brushed out his hair with her fingers, Twyla realised that she had not expected it to be so soft. She tried not to touch his skin but it was unavoidable. Every touch sent shivers through her. She picked up soft strands of golden locks and plaited them over each other. Slowly working her way down his shoulder length hair. Her heartbeat was unsteady and she wondered if he could hear it. She could feel his warmth radiate through his thin shirt and the shade under the trees suddenly wasn't cool enough. She hoped her cheeks weren't as red as they felt. Iynx summoned hair ties for the ends and Twyla picked tiny gold flowers to thread through. The gold picked up the gold in his hair and he glowed in the sunlight.
"Yay!" Iynx exclaimed, clapping her hands.
"You… ah… You look very nice," Twyla rasped, her voice a little stuck.
"Thank you," Hunter replied, his voice a little gruffer than usual.
She sat down across from him and quickly picked up a sandwich. He, too, was trying to find something else to focus on.
"Can I try your hair now, Twyla?" Iynx trilled. Whether she knew it or not, Iynx broke the moment and Twyla laughed shakily.
"Sure, give it a go," Twyla offered.
They decided to call it a day when the sun had started to dip past the trees. The shadows cast intricate patterns across the lawns. Twyla wasn't sure if she imagined it but she thought she saw stories in those patterns. Stories she couldn't quite read. She remembered how the trees moved and swayed without a breeze and wondered if they played shadow puppets with each other.
"Would you like me to continue our talks about the vampire king over tea?" Hunter asked, as they stood outside her door.
"Yes. I would like that very much."
"I will be back momentarily. I need to freshen up," Hunter said, gesturing at the blood still lingering on his clothes.
"Sure," Twyla agreed.
She took the time to take a quick bath herself. They were under trees and on the grass the entire day. She picked a midnight blue dress with sparkles down the sides. She felt like the night sky.
Hunter knocked before she had a chance to put shoes on and she cursed at the too long dress as it caught under her feet.
She opened the door and looked up at him. He had also dressed up. Soft, beige pants hugged his muscular legs and, well, fit snuggly everywhere. He was wearing a white shirt like he usually did but it was a crisp button up and finished with a molten gold tie. It brought out the flecks of gold in his brown eyes. A matching beige suit jacket hung perfectly across his wide shoulders. She smiled at him and noticed his hair.
"You kept the flowers and the braids!" Twyla exclaimed, filled with joy. It made her heart warm. She wasn't exactly sure why.
"Of course. You did them for me," Hunter replied, softly. His head was tilted and a small smile played on his face. "You look magical, Twyla."
"Um…" Twyla stuttered, blushing. "You look very handsome too. I mean, not that you said I look handsome but yes. Anyway. Do you want to come in?"
Twyla moved as he stepped in, taking up the entire door frame, and their bodies brushed. Her body sizzled at the contact and she rushed to the table. She could still smell the warm vanilla and lavender that clung to him. She wondered if he could hear her heartbeat from all the way up there. Her head had barely grazed his shoulder when they touched.
He carefully laid his jacket across a chair and sat down. Twyla watched him, unable to do anything else. He rolled up his sleeves and those thick, muscled arms strained against the fabric. He didn't seem to notice her outright staring at him or maybe, he was too polite to say anything.
"I have asked the kitchen to prepare a… special tea for tonight. I have also asked Iynx to summon it up so that we would not be interrupted," Hunter confessed, indicating the empty table. He placed his elbows on the table and leaned forward. "I know that we have only known each other for a brief moment but when I look at you, Twyla, I see all the good the world could be."
How the hell was Twyla supposed to respond to that?
Just as Twyla opened her mouth to say something, anything, the tea service appeared on the table. And it was, indeed, special. Cake stands dotted the table that looked suspiciously larger. They were the traditional three-tiered cake stands but they were wreathed in vines of those finger-nail sized flowers she had seen in the forest. Soft blues and beiges that perfectly matched the bedroom, weaved their way through the floral theme of the tea. The tea set matched this time with each cup bearing a gold rim and intricate blue detailing. She looked closer and saw that there were in fact wolves on the cups. Even the teacups weren't safe from this castle's love of wolves. There wasn't just one teapot, of course.
"Different flavours, so you do not get bored," Hunter said softly, noticing her looking at the identical teapots.
"How do you know which tea has what tea in it?" Twyla asked, curiously.
"They all have a distinct scent. Would you like to try one?" Hunter queried, holding up a teapot.
"Um… Sure," Twyla accepted. He looked like he wanted her to try that one first.
He poured the tea without spilling a single drop on the lace tablecloth. She swore that the table was uncovered a second ago. Iynx was good.
"Hey, red," Twyla said, looking at her cup.
"Yes. It is Rooibos. A nice gentle tea to start off with."
Twyla inhaled deeply. Scents of the woods, earth and maybe caramel hit her. It was a warming flavour. She sipped it delicately, holding the cup in both hands. Her nose wrinkled reflexively.
"You do not like it?" Hunter asked, with puppy eyes.
"No no, um… I usually add milk and sugar…" Twyla admitted.
"In rooibos?"
"Yes, I know! It's not how you're supposed to do it," Twyla exclaimed, rolling her eyes. She had been told multiple times that certain teas don't need milk or sugar. But those people were just wrong.
Hunter quietly offered her little cubes of sugar and cream, letting her make her tea choices.
"Would you like a sandwich?" Hunter asked, tentatively. The sandwiches were not exactly sandwiches. They were savoury Swiss rolls. Various types of breads curved around spreads, cheeses, and vegetables. Sure, it was a culinary masterpiece but to Twyla, it just looked too healthy. She picked the one with just cheese and nibbled the edges. The tiers of scones and sweets were calling out to her. Hunter had gone out of his way to do this tea. She should, at the very least, follow the rules of high tea.
"So… This vampire king… Does he have a name?" Twyla tried to casually bring up the subject. It was, after all, what she was here for. Sofia was, probably, taken by a vampire.
Hadiah
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