But shoving them aside felt like the most arduous of tasks.
Eventually, River’s stomach rumbled. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d eaten. She opened the door, wrapping her arms around herself, and descended the stairs. She ignored the lingering chill in her bones as she rounded the corner.
Brynleigh was sitting at the island, typing on her laptop with her back to River. The moment River’s toe touched the kitchen tile, Brynleigh turned around. Her ponytail bobbed as she stood, gliding over to River on vampire-silent feet.
“Hey, River.” The corners of her eyes crinkled.
“Hi.” The act of forming the simple word was far more difficult than it should’ve been.
“I’d say good morning, but I’m afraid the time for that has long since passed.” Brynleigh wrapped an arm around River’s shoulders, leading her towards one of the vacant stools. “Did you sleep well?”
River slid onto the seat, hooking her feet in the lower rung and drawing her bottom lip through her teeth. Her lip ring was a cool, grounding force, and the slight sting of pain that came from tugging on it was welcome.
“I… slept,” she replied eventually.
Brynleigh’s black gaze swept over her, and River got the impression that her sister-in-law heard the words she hadn’t said out loud.
No, I didn’t sleep well, because nightmares were haunting me.
No, I didn’t sleep well, because I’m empty inside.
No, I didn’t sleep well because I realized I needed to keep my distance from Nikhail, and just thinking about him makes my heart feel like it’s splitting in two.
Just... no.
A long moment passed. “We’re glad you’re staying here with us, River. You should know, Ryker was so worried about you. We both were.” Brynleigh’s hand covered River’s. “You’re welcome to stay here for as long as you need.”
River tried to smile, but judging by the pained expression that crossed her sister-in-law’s face, she didn’t quite achieve that. There was a shuffling sound, then nails clicked on the tile as Marlowe rounded the corner. The dog was massive, more bear than canine, and his head came up to River’s hip when she was standing. She leaned over and scratched behind his ears.
“Is Ryker here?” she asked, looking around the kitchen expectantly.
The curtains were open, and sunlight filtered through the tinted windows, illuminating the space.
“Unfortunately, not.” Brynleigh petted Marlowe on the back before making her way to the fridge. Opening it, she sorted through the contents. “Ry went to Waterborn House first thing this morning to check on your mom before he headed to work. Couldn’t miss any more days, I’m afraid.”
That made sense. Not everyone’s life could stop, even though it felt like River’s had imploded.
Brynleigh placed a carton of eggs on the counter, next to a half-empty jug of orange juice and a clamshell of bright red cherry tomatoes.
“Can I make you something?” Brynleigh asked. “Before my Making, I always found a good breakfast helped, no matter the time of day.”
It was as if Brynleigh knew that the very thought of compiling ingredients into a dish was too much for River right now. Yes, she was hungry, but what was hunger in the face of everything else?
“Thank you,” she said quietly. “I would appreciate that.”
She didn’t think she’d eat otherwise.
Brynleigh put a pan on the stove and added a cube of butter. “Just because I no longer eat doesn’t mean I’ve lost my appreciation for good food.”
The vampire methodically cracked two eggs into the pan and stirred them, breaking the yolks and scrambling them with the butter.
There was a peace to watching Brynleigh cook, a normalcy that should have soothed River. Maybe at another time, the domesticity would’ve brought River peace. The way Brynleigh moved was calm. Serene, even. She was imbued with a sense of joy that had been present for years, since the Reunion.
It was marvelous and normal and completely out of River’s reach. She could never have a life like this, happy and joyful. The light-sucking manacles she wore were proof of that.
The kitchen was quiet, save for the quiet sizzle of the pan and Marlowe’s occasional barks. He sat at the back door, watching as squirrels passed him by, taunting him with their freedom.
It wasn’t long before Brynleigh slid a plate in front of River. The eggs, a perfect soft scramble, were paired with a few juicy cherry tomatoes.