Lauren could not deny how Alec's presence gave her warmth. He was a vampire mage born with the ability to control fire, and she was a woman suffering from an unknown condition whose body was very sensitive to cold.
She always carried cold air around her, making her room colder than usual. When she started sharing a room with Alec, it was only then her nights became a little bearable. His soul emitted warmth like the soothing flames of the hearth.
She liked him for that. She liked what she could benefit from him. At first, she thought of taking advantage of it while it lasted, but she realized that doing so would eventually make her grow dependent on him.
"Thank you but I don't need such a favor. It's unnecessary."
His eyes turned to slits, looking at her as if he was scolding her in his mind.
"You should just be grateful. Stop acting tough when you can't even stand the cold."
