Free Wendigo Wars by Dulcinea Norton-Smith Page B

grateful for the breakfast he put in front of her but not in the mood for any of his good natured ribbing. Not when her head was swimming and she was still annoyed at her traitorous heart.
    “Give it break Seb, ok? I’m a bit tired.”
    Mathilde tried not to be too grumpy with Seb but her irritated nerves didn’t help. Seb gave a strange smile and sat opposite Mathilde. He didn’t speak but just watched her in silence as she ate. His eyes watched her every move as he seemed to be trying to work out why she was in such a strange mood.
    “Don’t worry Tilly. We will get them into shape.”
    Mathilde looked at Seb in confusion for a moment, trying to figure out if she had missed part of the conversation.
    “I mean they are hardly the best Protectorate in the world but we will get them there with a bit more training.”
    Mathilde smiled, finally understanding and thankful that Seb had guessed the wrong reason for her mood.
    The morning passed both too slowly and too quickly. Mathilde had a constant fandango of butterflies in her stomach. Though terrified to see Dash face to face and have to look into those eyes she was also excited and found herself thinking, for the first time in her life, whether her hair looked ok and whether her clothes fit well enough. Once again this kick started a feeling of annoyance at being so affected by him. By lunchtime Mathilde was a wreck. She had never felt so completely unsure of herself and her own emotions.
    As Mathilde walked into the hospital alcove she saw that Dash was sitting up eating his lunch. A plate had been set on the table for Mathilde. Dash looked at her and once again she felt a jolt and her stomach turned over as he looked her steadily straight in the eye. Maddeningly he looked even more attractive and younger than he had before as his hair had been trimmed and his stubble shaved off leaving his pale skin invitingly smooth. Now he looked merely six or seven years older than Mathilde rather than ten. She guessed at age twenty four. His expression was serious and for a moment Mathilde thought that she had misunderstood, that the other plate was for Violette and that he hadn’t really meant for her to visit him. Then his gaze became warmer.
    “I’m glad you came. I wasn’t sure that you would.”
    Mathilde was surprised. Dash didn’t look like he had lived a single day in his life where anything but utter confidence had entered his mind. His sense of superiority unsettled Mathilde. She was positive that he hadn’t really been unsure for a second, that he knew that she was already completely under his command.
    “Sit down and eat. You look like you need a rest.”
    “So how are you feeling?” asked Mathilde as she took a seat, cursing the unnatural sound of her voice.
    “Sore but your sister is taking good care of me. She says I might be able to go for a walk around tomorrow. Get my muscles working again.”
    “So what happened to you?”
    “It’s a long story.”
    Mathilde frowned. She didn’t know who he thought he was impressing by being so difficult. It was infuriating.
    “You look like you know a little about wendigo attacks yourself. Your sister told me a little about you. I’m sorry about your mother, and your brother.”
    Mathilde was taken aback for a second. It was a long time since anyone had mentioned her mother or her scar. She suddenly felt very self conscious, both of who she was and how she must look. She shook her head so that her hair fell over the scar on her face a little. Dash laughed.
    “Hey look at me! Compared to you I am a patchwork quilt.” Then more quietly “besides it is kind of attractive. You suit your scar. It’s.....interesting.”
    Yeah really interesting thought Mathilde interestingly hideous. Thanks for pointing it out! “So why did you want me to visit you?” she said. “From what I have heard half the women here have come to have a peek at our mysterious visitor.”
    “It is nice to be made to feel welcome but they