Chapter 22
Tomesha couldn’t believe she’d slept as long as she had.
By the looks of the shields covering the windows, it must be daytime.
She slid her sandals on and made her way back to the bed.
She didn’t want to leave it in disarray before she left.
She grabbed the edge of the thick comforter and made the bed.
She didn’t want the housekeepers to have to clean up after her.
She was sure they had much to do with the amount of warriors staying at the inn.
After she’d woken up, she’d gotten dressed and made herself presentable. Her stomach let loose a rumble. She’d go in search of food. She was sure the inn’s kitchen had some available. It was run by humans.
She moved over to the side where she assumed Dru had slept.
When she’d first awakened, she’d thought Dru hadn’t come to bed, but the sheets on her side had been faintly warm.
Even though Dru was a vampire and a nocturnal being, had she’d taken a nap?
Tomesha put the finishing touches on the bed and took a step back to admire her handiwork.
When they relocated to Crystal Cove, would they have a small home for just the two of them?
Or was there plenty of room for Tarek and her grandmother?
She bit her lip at the thought of the conversation she was going to have with her brother about them moving.
Delonda would be easy to convince. Her brother, on the other hand, may give her some pushback.
Butterbush was the only town she’d ever known.
This was her home, but in her heart, she knew that home was wherever her family was, and if Dru said they could come with her to Maine, then they’d create a new home together.
This could be just what her family needed.
She’d saved enough money that would hold them over until Tarek could find a new job, and maybe they could find something to help their grandmother stay busy.
Even though Delonda’s mind came and went, she still had hobbies she loved.
Maybe Tomesha could open a tailoring shop of her own? Or a dress shop. Everyone loved her creations that she made for the club.
She froze in place.
What was she going to tell Mistress?
That she’d fallen in love with her client and—
She reached out a hand to steady herself. She gripped the blanket on the bed and settled a hip onto the mattress.
Was she in love with Dru?
Everything had happened so fast, but she’d known she’d caught feelings for her, but was this love? Dru was always on her mind, she never wanted to part from her, and she now knew the chemistry she’d felt wasn’t one-sided.
Dru had said she knew that Tomesha was her mate, but she hadn’t mentioned the word love. Did vampires fall in love? Or did they just go batshit crazy wanting to claim someone as theirs? Tomesha frowned, unsure what all of this meant.
“Just take it a day at a time,” Tomesha breathed. Her stomach rumbled again. She pushed off the bed and decided to go and find breakfast. She walked across the room and opened the door. “Oh.”
Tomesha was met with the back of a warrior. He turned and eyed her.
“My lady. Good morning,” he said.
“Um, good morning.” She looked around the hall and didn’t see anyone else. “Am I a prisoner or something?”
“No, my lady. The general has given orders to escort you down for your morning meal once you’re awake,” he said.
“Perfect, because I am starving.” A nervous chuckle escaped her.
He moved to allow her to step into the hall.
She closed the door behind her. “Well, lead the way.”
She wasn’t sure why she’d need an escort to the dining area, but she wasn’t going to argue. They walked down to the first level of the inn. There was a buzzing in the air. She could almost feel the excitement from the warriors.
“Is something happening today?” she asked.
A group of warriors stalked down the hall toward them and passed by without so much as a look at her.
“Nothing you should worry about, my lady,” the warrior said.
She eyed him and wished he’d tell her more, but she was sure he had orders. That group of men appeared to be deadly, and she was happy to not be on the receiving end of their attention.
Tomesha’s steps echoed softly against the polished hardwood floors as she followed the warrior through the grand interior.
The building, once a private mansion, still retained its dignity of its former life.
She folded her arms and took in how every surface gleamed with dark, polished wood.
She’d never stayed anywhere so fancy before.
The club didn’t count. It was an enticing facility, but it didn’t hold the old-world charm this building had. She paused in front of one of the framed portraits of a man and woman. She wondered if they were the original owners. She turned and found the male watching her.
“I’m sorry. This place is so nice. Everything here is just beautiful,” she murmured.
She took a few steps toward him to catch up to him. They passed beneath a chandelier and veered down a hallway lined with windows. Their shields were down. They arrived at a set of large doors with stained glass.
“You’ll take your breakfast out here, my lady.” The guard opened the door and waved for her to go first.
She brushed past him and stepped out onto a wide veranda where the house opened itself to the gloomy morning. The mid-morning air was cool, the grass in the yard covered in dew. She eyed the table that was set for one. “Will the general not be joining me?”
“The general is currently occupied with an important matter. I’m unsure if she’ll be able to join you while you break your fast.” He moved to the side and stood erect near the door.
She took her seat and inhaled.
The area near the veranda was beautiful. It would be the perfect backdrop for her and Dru to share a meal together.
Well, she at least would eat food. From what she’d learned, vampires did not consume it. Blood provided all of the minerals and nutrients they needed to survive.
There is no way I could be a vampire, she thought to herself. No food?
She immediately thought of her grandmother’s cooking and knew she’d be unable to go without Delonda Clay’s feasts. She smirked at the thought.
“Good morning, Miss Clay,” a young woman said as she stepped out of the house and advanced. She had a warm smile on her lips and a tray balanced on her arm. “My name is Janet, and I shall be serving you.”
“Thank you.” Tomesha’s gaze went to the tray. Her stomach grumbled.
Janet set a basket with warm biscuits in front of her along with fresh fruit, a plate with eggs, thick slices of bacon, and a bowl filled with grits. Tomesha eyed the entire spread, thrilled.
“Oh my. This all looks so wonderful.”
“I’m happy you’re pleased. Here is jam for the bread, and would you like coffee, tea, or juice?”
“Coffee, please. Can I have cream and sugar with it?” Tomesha’s sat up straight and tried to remember her manners. She didn’t want to dive right into the food as if she had no home training.
“Of course. I’ll be right back.” Janet nodded and spun on her heel. She disappeared into the inn.
Tomesha didn’t waste any time diving in. She buttered her first biscuit and slathered a healthy amount of jam on it. She bit back a groan at the taste exploding on her tongue. She doctored up her grits just the way she liked them then dove into them as well.
She almost didn’t hear Janet return with her coffee.
She set it down and left. Not needing anything else, Tomesha focused on her meal while the warrior remained at his post. The veranda was hushed but for the clink of silver against porcelain as Tomesha feasted.
Everything was decadent, but something about the silence caused her to still.
There was no longer birdsong or the rustle of air. It was as if everything had stilled. The hairs on the back of her neck rose. Tomesha paused, her fork hovering midair. She was certain she was no longer alone with the guard. She glanced over at the warrior whose gaze remained straight ahead.
He wasn’t watching her, so that couldn’t be the creepy feeling she was getting.
She took the waiting bite of food and slowly chewed.
She placed her fork down and reached for her coffee.
She sipped and tried to appear normal. Her gaze swept the length of the veranda, then the area beyond the railings and out into the picture-perfect yard.
Something beyond her sight, someone lingered out there.
Someone who was allowing her to notice them.
How she knew this, she was unsure. An unsettled feeling rested in the pit of her stomach.
“Um, guard,” Tomesha whispered. She held on to her coffee mug to have something in her hands.
“Yes, my lady?” His deep voice broke the silence.
She glanced away from the yard and looked over at him. “Am I crazy? I feel as if we’re not alone.”
His attention moved to the yard, and he nodded. “We are, my lady.”
She bit her lip and turned back to her feast. She suddenly no longer had an appetite. Someone had been out there. She was quite sure of it. Her focus lingered on an area near a small group of trees, and the feeling returned to her.
Someone was watching them.
Tomesha jumped at the sound of the doors opening. She spun in her chair and took in Dru stepping through the doors. Relief immediately filled her.
“How’s your breakfast?” Dru asked. Her intense eyes watched Tomesha as she strode forward. They narrowed on her, and the smile that had been on her lips disappeared. “What is the matter, miere?”
Tomesha glanced down nervously. Maybe it had all been in her head. The guard certainly would have picked up on things before her had someone been out there watching her. He was a trained warrior, she was just a regular human with no fighting skills.
“The breakfast is fine. Everything is fine.” She tried to offer a smile.
But Dru didn’t relax. She continued to study Tomesha.
Tomesha waved a hand to the chair. “Please join me.”