Melted By The Bear: A Paranormal Shifter Romance by Amira Rain Page A

food. “I made you a breakfast a little bigger than just scrambled eggs, because that just didn’t seem like quite enough food for a young woman recently thawed.”
    Finishing a bite of the best scrambled eggs I’d ever tasted in my life, I set my fork down and thanked her, smiling. “You’re really a phenomenal cook, by the way. Everything you make is just amazing.”
    Appearing genuinely very pleased with her round cheeks actually pinking a little, she took a seat, thanking me.
    While I finished my breakfast, we talked about food, different architectural details of the house, and a few of the shops in the “business” part of the village, which Cook called “town,” that I might like to visit. But once we’d discussed those “safe” subjects, and once I’d finished my food, I felt the need to try to get some answers one last time.
    After setting my mug down, I dabbed at my mouth, then spoke in what I hoped was a casual, non-demanding tone of voice. “So, Cook... back to what I was saying earlier before you went back to get my coffee and juice....”
    “I’m sorry, but it’s just not my place to answer all your questions.” With her expression apologetic, Cook shrugged. “I really am sorry. I don’t think anyone else in the village is going to answer your questions, either. See, it’s really Commander Blackthorn’s place to explain things to you, since things directly involve him and you. I think you’ll get some explanations from him fairly soon, though, since this morning before he went out to lead his men on patrol, he asked me to have dinner for two ready to be served in the formal dining room at eight. He also asked me to request that you be there.”
    I sighed. “So, basically, he’s asked me for a dinner date without actually having to ask me himself. You know, I don’t know exactly what I thought things would be like when I was thawed, but....” I sighed again. “I guess I just thought I’d be more welcome here. Particularly by the man I’m supposed to provide with children. Or not provide with children, rather, since apparently he’s supposed to ‘resist’ me or whatever his brother was saying. It’s all been... just a little confusing and disappointing, I guess.”
    With an expression of unmistakable sympathy, Cook suddenly reached across the small section of table between us and gave one of my hands a squeeze.
    “Welcome to Blackthorn City, Aria. And I mean that. Welcome. I’m very glad you came to us.”
    Thoroughly and instantly moved, I blinked back a little moisture in my eyes. “Thank you. I really appreciate your kindness.”
    After a final squeeze, Cook released my hand, smiling.
    “You’re welcome. My mother taught me to be kind and friendly to all people, no matter what, and I pride myself on being the kind of person she raised me to be. And I’m sure she intended a few exceptions to the ‘no matter what’ part... but I don’t feel that a person who just happened to have a prophecy made about them should count as one of those exceptions.”
    Moving her hands to rest on her well-rounded stomach, Cook leaned back in her chair. “See, not that I’ve seen more than a couple of prophecies play out over the course of my lifetime, but it’s my opinion—or maybe more my gut feeling —that prophecies play out how they’re supposed to, no matter what we do to try to stop them or control the outcome. They’re something outside us all, and some are especially mysterious, and sometimes we don’t know exactly how things are going to play out, even if we think we do. Especially when a prophecy contains... well, I don’t even know how you’d say it. ‘Contradictory-seeming elements,’ I’ll say.
    “So, anyway, I’ve been telling folks, ‘No need to be rude and unfriendly while the prophecy is doing what it’s going to do, right? Because no matter what the prophecy does, it’s not directly the young woman’s fault, right? She didn’t ask to be a part of a