I was still wrapping my head around the fact that I wasn’t leaving in a few hours. That this would be my home now. With two fey. It wasn’t as terrifying a thought as it had been when I’d arrived.
In short order, the three of us were eating together at the table. It was as quiet as meals back in Tenacity but not as rushed.
“I’ve noticed some things and was wondering if I could ask a question that might sound judgmental but isn’t meant that way,” I said after a few swallows of soup.
“You may ask us anything,” Azio said.
Groth grunted in agreement.
“Every time I’ve been here, Groth’s watching T.V., and you’re never in any hurry to leave. Do either of you have jobs or do something during the day?”
They were both silent for a moment.
“We help with supply runs when it’s our turn. If Drav asks for volunteers, we volunteer. Sometimes we watch the other females learn to fight.”
I could tell by the way Azio spoke, he was trying to think of more.
“I watch movies to learn human culture,” Groth said.
It was on the tip of my tongue to tell him that cartoons weren’t a great representation of that but stopped myself. Most of the animated movies still had lessons about kindness, friendship, and being helpful. Those weren’t bad traits to instill in men who liked ripping off heads.
“Back in Tenacity, I was the house cook for breakfast and dinner. I spent my time in between meals trying to trade for additional food. I was just curious what I’ll be doing here to keep busy.”
“Anything you want to do,” Azio said.
I’d been afraid of that answer. I tended to think a lot when I was idle.
We spent the rest of the afternoon watching more movies. They were entertaining enough, but my mind kept drifting to Wayne and how he’d treated me. Or how I’d treated him. Had I been bitter and thrown the vasectomy in his face? Not intentionally. But I hadn’t ever managed to make peace with it. Part of me thought maybe I should have. Then I would wonder why I thought my feelings on the matter should count less than his.
Round and round my thoughts went, dwelling the longest on the uncertainty of my future. How long until the fey tired of my company? Would it be smarter to offer to have someone’s baby now instead of waiting until the moment they decide to kick me out?
I caught myself spiraling in guilt, regret, and fear and forced myself to pay attention to what Groth and Azio were saying about the movie.
By the time the sun set and the wall lights turned on, I needed a better distraction and asked if I could make dinner. There were more packages of meat in the freezer, one of which I set to thaw for the next day.
Cooking with both of them watching my every move wasn’t as nerve-wracking as it could have been. They peppered me with questions about what I was doing and why I was doing it. Especially when I started using the spices they had in the cupboard. It turned into a mini cooking lesson that I thoroughly enjoyed.
I was no master chef by any means, but I knew how to spice up most dishes to make them taste better. Azio and Groth seemed to agree when they took their first bites.
After another quiet meal together, I did the dishes with Azio’s help then excused myself for an early night.
Alone in the relative darkness of my room, I thought I would dwell on everything that had happened to me. Instead, the combination of a full belly while snuggled in a warm and comfortable bed immediately pulled me under.
Wayne plagued my dreams. In one, he held me lovingly while telling me that he no longer wanted me as his wife. The contradiction between his actions and his words tore at me. The dreams grew steadily worse until the final one where he promised we’d be a family then threw our baby out the window.
Ripped from the dream, I sat up, heart thundering, unable to shake the anguish I felt for that imaginary child.
“It was a dream,” a voice said softly from the dark. “You are safe, Terri.”
I placed Azio’s voice before I saw his shadow in the doorway.
“Did I wake you?” I asked, struggling to calm down.
“No. I haven’t slept yet.”
I exhaled heavily and rubbed a hand over my face.
“Do you dream when you sleep?”