Thank You... For Being a Friend

Chapter - 55

The next morning, Jacob slipped quietly out of his room, careful not to disturb Elara, who was still wrapped in peaceful slumber. As he tiptoed through the house, he noticed that Angela and Lily were also still fast asleep. He made his way out and headed toward the Iron Mug, the early morning light casting a warm glow over the empty streets.

Pushing open the doors of the inn, Jacob found it empty and quiet—only a hint of dawn breaking outside. Thorne was already busy tidying up, adjusting chairs and straightening tables. When he noticed Jacob, his face broke into a mischievous grin, and he greeted him with an exaggerated eyebrow wiggle and an overly dramatic cough. 

"Well, well, look who decided to crawl out of his love nest," Thorne said, unable to resist the teasing. "Tell me, did you manage to survive those two temptresses last night? I was almost certain you'd be too... 'spent' to get up this early." He followed this with a mock-innocent look, topped off by another eyebrow wiggle.

Jacob couldn't stop the blush from creeping up on his face as Thorne hit the bullseye. "Come on, old man, you're embarrassing yourself," Jacob said, attempting to deflect Thorne's playful jabs.

"Oh, no," Thorne shot back, his smirk widening. "I'm not the one blushing like a village girl caught stealing a kiss behind the barn. Look at you!"

Jacob sighed, shaking his head, unable to muster a comeback. Thorne's laughter filled the empty hall, a triumphant sound that made Jacob shake his head in exasperation—and maybe just a bit of reluctant amusement.

Thorne then moved into the kitchen. Moments later, he returned with a steaming plate of breakfast, setting it down in front of Jacob with a theatrical flourish before taking a seat beside him.

As Jacob dug into the food, Thorne's expression softened. The teasing grin faded, replaced by a gentler, almost paternal warmth. "You know," he said, his voice low and sincere, "I'm truly happy for you, Jacob."

Jacob looked up, meeting Thorne's gaze.

"Elara and Seraphina," Thorne continued, "you can see the love they have for you in their eyes. I've been hoping you'd open your heart to them. A man's life is truly made complete by the love of a good woman."

Jacob nodded, acknowledging the truth in Thorne's words. "I know. But Thorne, I was afraid," he admitted, his voice barely above a whisper as he stared at his plate. "I still am."

Thorne leaned in. "And what's wrong with being afraid? It just means you're human," he replied, his words resonating deeply with Jacob.

Jacob managed a smile, a genuine one. "Thank you, Thorne. For being here, for being my friend."

Thorne grinned, clapping Jacob on the shoulder. "Anytime, Jacob. Anytime."

---

"Good morning, Seraphina," Jacob greeted with a warm smile, leaving Seraphina momentarily stunned. "I need to meet with the guild leader first. I'll come back, and then we can talk," he said, making his way up the stairs to Althea's room.

Seraphina's mind struggled to process the change in Jacob. He radiated happiness, a stark contrast to his usual reserved demeanor. The man who seldom smiled, had a broad, genuine smile on his face since arriving at the guild hall today.

Turning her gaze sharply towards Elara, whom she considered her competition in her pursuit of Jacob, Seraphina noticed the smile on Elara's face. Elara moved around on her heels, hands behind her back, clearly brimming with satisfaction.

"What happened?" Seraphina asked, her voice tinged with curiosity and a hint of apprehension.

Elara's smile widened as she answered, "Jacob and I spent the night together. He accepted my love, and I couldn't be happier."

Seraphina felt a wave of emotions—anger, sadness, but mostly jealousy. She narrowed her eyes but maintained her composure. "Don't think this is over. I concede you're ahead for now, but it won't take much for me to catch up," she said with determination. Seraphina knew she had to act decisively; waiting for Jacob to make a move was no longer an option.

As the two women navigated the complexities of love and rivalry, Jacob entered Althea's room, settling into a chair opposite the guild leader.

Althea was as impeccably dressed as always, her hair styled in an elegant bun with delicate braids woven through, accentuating her striking features. Jacob couldn't help but notice how the intricate hairstyle framed her face, though his attention remained only a fraction longer than usual. It was a sign that he was beginning to appreciate a woman's beauty more, though it still didn't fully distract him.

Althea, however, caught that subtle slip in his attention, and it pleased her to no end.

"Jacob, thanks for meeting me," Althea began, her voice smooth. "I have something important to ask of you." She got up from her seat and moved to the front of her desk, perching on the edge right in front of Jacob. Her position accentuated her curves, especially her generously proportioned hips, presenting quite a sight to Jacob, whose gaze briefly flickered downward.

Althea noticed his slip once again and felt a blush creeping onto her cheeks. She was not immune to Jacob's presence either, especially with his faerium-induced scent, which made her feel slightly unsteady. Clearing her throat, she continued, "As I was saying, there's something of importance I need to discuss with you, and I believe you're perfect for the task."