Chapter - 49
Jacob had booked two rooms for them at the inn—one for himself, and one for Elara and her family. He saw Elara off as she led her mother and sister to their room, their laughter spilling into the corridor as they went.
As he sat alone in his own room, Jacob could hear their voices through the thin walls. Snippets of laughter, shared stories, and quiet reassurances filled the air, each word easing some of the weight Elara had carried with her for so long. He lay back on his bed, allowing himself to close his eyes and relax for a moment.
In the adjoining room, Angela and Lily listened intently as Elara spoke, her voice filled with admiration for Jacob. She told them about his fierce protectiveness, his courage, and how he had saved her time and again. Angela held Elara's hand tightly. "He sounds like a remarkable man," she said.
Lily, listening wide-eyed, leaned forward. "Does he… does he treat you kindly?"
Elara looked down, a faint blush rising to her cheeks. "More kindly than anyone I've ever known. He's done everything for me without asking for anything in return."
--
Despite exhaustion weighing on him, Jacob decided to take a shower before falling asleep. He stepped under the warm water, feeling the grit of battle wash away, each ache in his muscles easing just a little as he lingered under the stream. His mind drifted to the journey back; they would set out for Ironhelm tomorrow, at least a week's journey, if not more. Jacob groaned, already feeling the pull of the road in his weary bones.
Once they got back to Ironhelm, he decided, he'd allow himself a few days to do nothing but sleep, eat, and recover. He thought briefly of the monster cores they'd kept from the spiders; those would fetch a good price, enough to give them a few days to rest without worrying about coin.
"Nothing but sleep and food for me," he thought with a sigh, finally shutting off the water and drying himself. Slipping into a pair of night pants, he left the bathroom.
But as he entered the room, Jacob stopped, surprised to see Angela sitting quietly on the edge of the bed, her figure silhouetted in the dim glow of the room's single lantern. She glanced up, as if she'd been waiting for him.
"Angela," Jacob began, "is there something you need?"
Angela rose from the bed. "Elara and Lily have fallen asleep," she said softly.
"Alright," Jacob replied, sitting down on the edge of the bed himself.
"Elara… well, she's spoken of you nonstop. She told us how well you treat her, how you've protected her, even when you didn't have to. And now… we're under your protection as well." Her voice faltered, and she glanced down, almost as if embarrassed.
Jacob gave her a reassuring nod. "You don't have to worry about a thing. You're my responsibility now, all three of you." He gestured for her to sit beside him. "Please, no need to stand. Sit down beside me."
Angela hesitated before lowering herself to sit next to him, her hands tightly clasped. There was a long silence before she spoke again, her voice almost a whisper. "Mr. Jacob… may I ask… why did you buy Elara?"
"I'm a monster hunter. I needed a partner—someone I could trust to watch my back. Elara… she was untrained, but she had the ability to harness faerium, something that can't be taught, only refined. I saw potential in her, and that's why I bought her. She's come a long way in these few months, stronger and braver than she realizes."
Angela's expression was thoughtful as she took in his words. She looked down at her hands, and when she spoke again, her voice held a trace of uncertainty. "Mr. Jacob… me and Lily, we're just ordinary women. We don't have any power or skill to offer you like Elara. I'm… I'm not young or strong anymore. The only thing I can give is my body. And if you'll accept it, I… I'll serve you in any way you need."
With a tremor in her hands, Angela stood and began to undo her dress, letting the fabric slip from her shoulders and pool around her waist until she stood before him completely naked. She held her gaze steady, though her hands trembled slightly as she clasped them in front of her.
"Please," she whispered, her voice a barely audible plea. "Just… let Lily be. She's innocent, and I want to keep her that way. Do what you want with me, but spare her."
For a moment, Jacob was too stunned to respond, caught off guard by the raw vulnerability in her eyes. Then he exhaled slowly and let out a deep sigh. Without a word, he reached over to the chair beside the bed and picked up his shirt before draping it gently around Angela's shoulders.
"Miss," he said quietly, "you don't owe me anything. I certainly don't want this."
Angela's expression shifted, and her gaze dropped as she clutched the fabric of his shirt around her. "Oh… I'm sorry," she murmured, a look of heartbreak flickering across her face. "I suppose… I suppose you wouldn't be interested in an old woman like me. What was I thinking…" Her voice broke slightly, and a tears slipped down her cheeks.
Jacob sighed again, reaching out to gently cup her face, his thumbs brushing away her tears. "This isn't about your beauty," he murmured, looking into her warm brown eyes, which were filled with so much sorrow and hope. "You're a beautiful woman, Angela. Any man with eyes could see that. This is about something… different."
She blinked up at him, her gaze questioning.
"Years ago," he continued, his voice low, "I loved a woman deeply. She was… everything to me. But she's gone now. When she died, she took a part of me with her. After that, the world went gray, empty." He paused for a moment. "It was actually Elara who helped me begin to see colors again, to remember that there's still life worth living. I'm still… healing. But I can promise you this: you and Lily don't need to do anything for me. You're safe now, and I'll take care of you. In time, you'll see—I'm not like the men you've known."
Angela was silent for a few heartbeats, her gaze searching his as if looking for any hint of falsehood. But all she saw was the quiet honesty in his crystal blue eyes. She took a breath, letting his words settle, feeling an unfamiliar sense of peace in his presence.
She stepped forward slowly, resting her hands lightly on his shoulders as she pressed herself against him, her head coming to rest gently against his chest. "I'm… glad," she whispered, her voice soft, "me and my daughters were so lucky to find you." She pulled back, pressing a gentle, grateful kiss to his cheek before stepping away, slipping back into her dress and gathering her composure.
At the door, she turned and looked at him, a small, grateful smile tugging at her lips. "If… if you ever do find yourself in need of companionship, I want you to know… I'll always be here for you, ready to serve." Then, with one last glance, she slipped out of the room, leaving Jacob alone.
As the door closed behind her, Jacob finally let himself collapse onto the bed, exhaustion pulling him down. The ache in his limbs felt less heavy, and as he closed his eyes, he let himself drift into a deep, dreamless sleep.