Chapter Thirty-Two
Vor
Two days after Lena told him to be hers first, Vor stood in the bedroom doorway, staring at Lena as she slept. Like a madman. He sighed and forced himself to walk away. Their breakfast would be there soon, and then he would wake her. And a new day of excruciating longing would begin.
Vor had never wanted a woman as badly as he wanted Lena Drask. Even when he wasn't with her, she consumed his thoughts. His heart would speed up when she looked at him. When she touched him, he couldn't think at all. And she'd been touching him often ever since their kiss.
He was a Nethren commander in charge of an army, sent to the surface to secure a foothold for his people so that they may come forth and claim their piece of Para.
But his goal faded when Lena was near. All he wanted was her.
The surface didn't matter. Or rather, it did, but only because being there made it possible to be with her.
Vor did not want to lose these new feelings he had for her, even if he didn't understand them.
A knock came at the apartment door, and Vor hurried to unlock it and let the private in with their morning meal.
The man carried a large tray and surprised Vor with a smile.
His soldiers were changing as rapidly as he was, smiling and laughing as easily as a Medean.
The private set the tray down on the dining table and headed for the door.
“Wait, you're one of the men we recovered, aren't you? Private Lovall, right?”
“Yes, Commander!” Lovall grinned and inclined his head.
“What are you doing delivering food?”
“Oh, I'm on rotation with the kitchen. I'm an excellent cook, actually. I made the pie.”
“Pie?” Vor frowned at the tray. “For breakfast?”
“Oh, it's an egg pie, Commander. It has a normal pie crust, but I filled it with whipped eggs, vegetables, cheese, and smoked meat before I cooked it. It's, uh, my invention.”
“Is it?” Vor lifted his eyebrows. “I'm looking forward to trying it.”
“Thank you, sir. I hope you enjoy it.” Private Lovall inclined his head and left, shutting the door behind him.
Vor stared after the man. He had created something new.
When was the last time a Nethren had bothered to create anything?
Not invent, mind you. Tech inspired new inventions occasionally, but creations of the artistic sort, such as a recipe, weren't often done. There were old recipes that Nethren chefs stuck to, recipes passed down from their ancestors. New recipes weren’t necessary or even desired.
But here, on the surface, his people created things. They craved more.
“Vor?” Lena called out.
Vor locked the door and turned to smile at her. “Good morning, Lena. Breakfast just arrived.”
“I see that.” She cleared her throat. “I just need to use the bathroom first.”
“I'll set out the plates.” Vor went to the table as Lena walked away.
Happy, though he didn't know why, Vor transferred the plates from the tray to the table, setting them before their usual seats before pouring coffee for Lena and fruit juice for himself.
Then there was water, because they both liked to clear their palates with cold water between sips of more flavorful beverages.
Vor set out the utensils and napkins and then took his seat to sip his juice.
A few minutes later, Lena appeared, and Vor perked up. He motioned at the slice of egg pie on her plate. “Private Lovall created a new dish. It's a pie made with an egg filling.”
Lena frowned down at her plate as she took her seat. She picked up a fork and took a bite of the pie. Then she chuckled. “He created it, did he?”
“Why do you laugh?”
“This is quiche. It's a Medean dish.”
“A Medean dish? But he said he came up with it.”
She shrugged. “Maybe he did. People often create similar things without knowing.”
“Perhaps.” Vor stared at the door.
“What is it?” Lena poured cream and then sugar into her coffee.
“Nothing, I'm sure. It's just odd that the man who made this Medean dish was one of the prisoners I traded for.”
“Well, maybe they fed him quiche.” She frowned. “Although it's a rather fancy dish to serve to prisoners.”
“And they didn’t have him long.” Vor looked back at Lena and pushed away his odd worry. “I'm sure it's fine.” He tried a bite of the pie and made a joyous sound. “This is delicious.”
“Yes, he did well.” Lena sipped her coffee and stared at him with those beautiful, expressive eyes.
Lena could speak to him with just a look. Or maybe it was simply that Vor was becoming better acquainted with her expressions. Whatever it was, it made him feel closer to her.
At the moment, she seemed nervous. Why?
“Vor, I'd like you to release the prisoners.”
Ah, here it was. His chest clenched. “I can't do that, Lena. They're too important. But I assure you they're being treated well.”
“If you want peace, releasing them would help your cause.”
“Yes, but General Caden hasn't requested another meeting yet. I'm still waiting to see if Paradefense will consider peace. If they don't, I will need those prisoners.”
“How about releasing just a few of them? For me.”
“Lena, I want to make you happy, but—”
“I will sing for you. Just you. Tonight.”
Vor went still as a shiver of longing filled him. How many times had he sat in the dining hall, listening to Lena sing for his soldiers and wishing she were singing for him alone? Not that many, to be honest, but it felt as if he'd been wanting this for years.
“How many?” Vor asked.
Lena gaped at him. Then she seemed to shake herself. “Ten.”
“Two.”
“Five.”
“Four.”
“Agreed!”
“Very well.” Vor grinned.
“Truly?” Lena leaned forward, eyes wide.
“Yes, truly. But they will be of my choosing.”
Lena nodded. “Of course. It doesn't matter who you free, just that you show that you're willing to be merciful.”
“Do you think that will make them inclined to be merciful in return?”
“Yes, I do. At least, I'm hoping it will.”
“All right, Lena. Eat your breakfast. I have some things to do today, so I won't be able to escort you.”
“Could someone else escort me? Maybe to the wall?”
“The wall?” Vor narrowed his eyes at her.
“Vor, what if I talked to them? I could tell them how well you've been treating me, and that this is your only way to seek peace. I'll tell them about the prisoner release.”
“I don't think so, Lena.”
“Why not? Even if I jumped from the wall, I couldn't get through the ward.”
“If you jumped from the wall, you'd die!”
Lena held up her hands. “I don't want to die. I was just saying that I can't escape.” She paused, watching him. “It would help if I showed myself. They only have your word that I'm still alive.”
“Very well, but I will escort you.”
“You said you had things to do.”
“They can wait. Now eat.”
Lena grinned, setting Vor's heart racing, and then ate her breakfast with gusto.