old and young, good and evil stood an equal chance of receiving a visit from a god. It angered her it should be so random. There were surely people who deserved it more. Certainly more than she.
He touched her hand briefly and she flinched at the rush of heat it caused. “That is the way it is.”
Her mouth dropped open. Did he read minds? Of course he did, he was a god! “D-don’t do that.”
“What?”
“Read my mind. Please?” Inwardly she groaned. Was she really trying to command a god?
“I cannot read your mind.”
“Oh.” She stared at her hands as they warmed in front of the fire. “So how did you know what I was thinking?”
“I have watched humans for thousands of years. And you are very easy to read. Though I confess I do not always understand the emotions behind the expressions.”
She jerked around to face him. “You don’t feel things?”
“Not as humans do. I feel, but it is…muted. We cannot afford to be as emotional as humans.”
“No, I suppose not.”
“It does not mean I do not regret I cannot do more,” the god added quickly.
Was he apologizing to her for the state of the world? Ananthuria had fallen into despair many years ago. Once a great and beautiful realm, now the rich grew richer and the poor grew poorer. Evil controlled everything. Only the good suffered in her eyes.
“I mean no disrespect, my lord. Forgive my bold questions.”
“Please call me Tyondric.” A hint of a smile quirked on his lips. “Or Ty.”
“T-Tyondric?” The urge to slap a palm to her forehead struck. “Ok, my—I mean, Tyondric.”
They sat silently for a moment and stared at the flickering flames. The pounding of her heart subsided and Eden found his company soothing. Indeed he was the first human—well, sort of human—to set foot in her home for at least three years, but she instinctively knew no other person could make her feel so at ease . She didn’t know why, but he lifted the ache in her soul somehow.
“Is there anything else I can do for you?” he asked suddenly.
“Like what?”
“I do not know,” Tyondric admitted. “I do not like to see you cold.”
“I’m not cold anymore, thanks to you.”
He glanced around the room, gaze alighting on the rabbit she’d skinned and cleaned earlier for dinner. Ty reached over, grabbed the slate board it sat on and placed it in on the floor in front of him, hands held out. Eden waited as nothing happened. To her delight, the meat began to lighten and cook. She squinted at him but saw no sign of his power. As the juices ran from it, he clapped his palms together and grabbed the slate board, thrusting it forward. The scent teased her nose and her stomach grumbled.
He offered it again. “Eat.”
Gingerly taking the stone, she tore off some meat. She managed not to groan as she took a bite. With his keen gaze he observed every move, and warmth seeped into her cheeks. “Do you want some?”
Tyondric shook his head. “No. I will not be in human form long enough to get hungry.”
“Gods don’t eat?” she asked between bites.
“No, our spirit forms do not need nourishment.”
“Oh.” Eden continued to pick at the meat, in spite of the impulse to bury her face into the first bit of decent food she’d consumed in days. With the harsh winter, her traps were consistently empty. “Have you ever eaten?”
“Yes.” His face twisted and her lips tugged into a smile.
“And you did not like it?”
“It was a strange sensation. I do not see why humans like it so much.”
She laughed. “That is probably because you’ve never been hungry. And there are some foods that are divine. I bet you’ve never tried honey, figs or custard.”
With a tilted head, he studied her. “I have not. You like those things?”
“Oh, yes,” she said wistfully. “Though I’ve not had them for many years.”
“I would give those things to you if I could.”
With a hand to her lips, Eden paused, the impassioned tone of his voice catching her off guard. Why should a god care for her needs? He’d already played his role. Why did he linger?
The empty bones rattled as she placed the slab down, stood and went to clean her fingers at the washbowl in the shadows of the rear corner of the room. She peered over one shoulder and the god’s glittering gaze followed, inciting an awareness in every inch of her body. Like treading water, each movement became difficult as the air stifled.
“You have more water?”
“Yes. A well. Out front.” She pointed and quickly dropped her hand. Of course he knew where the front was.
“A bath.”
Had she heard him wrong? “What?”
“I could provide you with a bath. Humans like baths, do they not?”
“Well, yes…but-but I really couldn’t—”
“I shall get you some water. Put your tub in front of the fire.”
She opened her mouth to protest but he disappeared, leaving her gaping at the spot in which he’d sat. With a shake of her head, she hauled the wooden tub from under the table, dragged it across the dirt and hefted it over to the fire.
Gods, he must have caught her at a weak moment. She never normally took to orders, especially after so many years alone. She sighed. A widow at twenty-one. Did she look as old and weary as she felt?
The bath now in position, she pushed open a window shutter to search for the god. Her breathing labored as she spotted his powerful physique radiating through the darkness. His muscles flexed as he drew the bucket from the well. Desire speared through her.
Eden sprang away from the window as he turned and sauntered toward the cottage. Flat against the wall, she observed in silence as he pushed open the door and proceeded to fill the bathtub before silently disappearing and repeating the action, until the water nearly reached the brim.
A warm sensation filled her as the god did this menial task. For me! Even when her family was alive, she had run the house and took care of everyone else. Had anyone ever poured her a bath? She rubbed her forehead. Not that she could recall.
Tyondric positioned himself in front of the water, palms held out, like before. Tendrils of steam rose lazily into the murky light of the cottage and beckoned her with promises of warmth and cleanliness.
Raising his chin, he stepped to one side and motioned to the tub. “There.”
Moisture gathered in her eyes and she smiled. “Thank you.” To her dismay, her voice wavered. “Thank you,” she tried again, “for everything.”
With a shrug of his broad shoulders, he gestured again. “Will you not get in?”
“Not with you here!” He frowned and Eden realized she’d have to elaborate. Gods really didn’t know much. “I can’t bathe in front of you. It wouldn’t be proper.”
“Oh.”
His gaze trailed over her and she clutched herself with her arms. With his godly powers, he may have already seen her naked. Those enchanting eyes seemed to strip her to the bone, but she didn’t want to reveal herself to such an exquisite man, god or not.
Jaw tense, he considered her and dipped his head sharply. “I am glad I helped you. I will go