Claire had done that to him.
Jenn held Darian's golden gaze, feeling awed at his transformation. She'd taken care of him since she met him. Those tables had turned. She'd always thought him her perfect match in the sparring ring. And now, a small voice told her he'd be her perfect match outside the ring, too.
Something within her broke. There was no dissuading someone like Darian. The moment he figured out the truth, she was screwed, just like Dusty told her. Lost in thought, she dropped her gaze to her hands as Darian's warmth moved through her body, healing her.
"The great wordsmith is quiet. Looks like I finally won a round," he said then motioned to the cheeseburger. "I've got more on the stove." He rose and moved towards the kitchen.
Jenn stood and tested her body when he disappeared into the kitchen. Her body felt like it had before her assignment to the Black God. She pulled up her shirt to confirm the bruises were gone. By the sudden lack of stiffness in her torso, she wondered if her ribs had been broken. She had a high tolerance to pain, more so when she had Guardian magic.
She picked up her cheeseburger, walked to the kitchen door, and leaned against the doorframe, watching Darian flip hamburgers on the stove. Even the simple, everyday task was done with his flawless, effortless movement. She ate fast, ravenous for real food after surviving off of scraps at the Black God's house. Someone had food in their pantry at one point, but it was stale and consisted of canned food she wouldn't normally eat.
A cheeseburger had never tasted so good. It was well-cooked, the cheese perfectly melted.
"My god," she sighed. "This is fantastic!"
"How many can you eat?"
"Four."
"Four?" Darian glanced at her. "I only eat three."
"I haven't eaten real food in weeks."
With his healing magic and the first cheeseburger in her belly, Jenn felt renewed energy. She moved to the fridge and opened it, still starving. He didn't have much, but she wasn't feeling picky. She tugged a beer free from one of two six-packs and popped the top. The first mouthful tasted like bitter honey and she drank the bottle down, sighing again.
"Haven't eaten real food in weeks." The disapproval was clear in his voice as he slowly repeated her words.
"I hear a Jenn-like lecture approaching," she said and crossed her arms as she faced him.
"No, no," he said. "Just know it won't happen that way again."