Islinda and Maxi sat down for breakfast at the long, elegant dining table, bathed in the soft morning light filtering through the high arched windows. The air was filled with the savory aroma of cooked meats, fruits, and freshly baked bread.
Despite her worries for Aldric, Islinda's body reacted differently at the sight of the steaming bowl of meat placed in front of her. Her stomach growled loudly, and her mouth watered instantly.
She hadn't expected to have an appetite, not with the weight of Aldric's dangerous duel on her mind, but something primal took over the moment the aroma hit her nose.
Without thinking, Islinda dived in, grabbing pieces of meat and shoveling them into her mouth with alarming speed. The tenderness, the flavors—it was as if each bite unlocked an even deeper hunger she hadn't realized was there. She tore through the bowl like she hadn't eaten in days, her focus entirely on devouring every last morsel.
