Tamryn's Promise

Chapter 4

I awake to the gentle sounds of the village, the voices travelling up to the window from below. I stretch, enjoying the slight ache in my muscles. I find myself smiling as I see visions of last night in my mind. I roll over to find a rose on the pillow next to me with a note from Lucien. He had woken up earlier, so he decided to visit a bakery to pick us up some breakfast and coffee. I smile as I read his note while inhaling the sweet scent of the rose. I take this opportunity to have a hot shower, releasing my aching muscles slightly. When I return, I find Lucien has returned. He offers a coffee to me which I reach for without hesitation, groaning as I take my first sip.

"I am afraid I have created a monster." Lucien laughs. I frown at him playfully before breaking into a smile.

"Coffee is my friend." I hum quietly causing him to laugh again.

"I have brought a number of local delicacies for breakfast." He lays his selection out on the desk.

My eyes bulge at the spread of pastries and breads. I look from one to another before looking up at him.

"I don't know where to start." I admit.

"Here," he hands me a roll of flat bread filled with vegetables, cheese, and cold meats. "I recommend starting with this. It is best to go from savory to sweet."

"Mmmm... you have a point." I smile taking the roll. I bite into it, my eyes close as I take in all the flavours. Before I know it, I have devoured the entire thing. "That was so good."

Lucien watches as I move to the next item. He smiles as he sees the delight on my face as I taste all the different flavours.

"Um. Are you eating?" I ask when I notice him watching.

"Don't worry love, I had some already. Eat as much as you want."

"Really?" I was never allowed much at the orphanage. "I have never had something with so much flavour." I mumble as I take another bite.

"It pains me at how much you have missed."

"I wouldn't eat sometimes for days. And when I did it was a small bowl of flavourless mush."

"They probably did that to keep you weak and stunt your growth. But mostly I'd say it was to cripple your powers."

"Really, that's a thing?" I ask, pausing eating to look up at him.

"Unfortunately, yes. In the more darker realms, they deliberately starve prisoners for this very reason."

I feel a shudder go through me. what were they planning for me? I put down the pastry in my hand, my appetite suddenly gone. I am lost in my thoughts when I feel Lucien's hand touch my shoulder.

"Love, where did you go? You looked like you were lost in thought."

"Sorry," I send him a small smile. "I was just wondering what they had planned for me."

"Love," he pulled me to him, "we will find the answers. I promise. But let's put it out of our minds for now. Let's enjoy our day." He kisses me to punctuate this. I hum with pleasure.

"Okay." I whisper against his lips.

He pulls me to stand. "Get dressed, otherwise we may not leave this room."

I laugh but move towards the cupboard to pull out my dress that Lucien cleaned using his magic. I would love to spend the entire day in his arms in this room, but I also desperately need some more clothes. I dress and turned towards him to find he had been watching me dress.

"Perv." I teased, slinking towards him.

"Only for you, love."

He grabs my hands pulling me into his chest before kissing me and showing how much he enjoys watching me. I pout as he pulls away, not wanting to stop.