LYRA

"If you soak it in hot water, the feathers come off more easily," I said, grabbing a wooden bowl and dipping it into the boiling water.

I crouched in front of him, showing how easy it was to pluck the feathers without tearing off half the bird in the process.

"This way, you don’t have to use so much force. Then you quickly pass a burning twig over it to singe the tough hairs… see?" I lifted my head, locking eyes with that midnight gaze.

My cheeks warmed slightly from the closeness and the way he focused on me.

"You could hurt your hands. I’ll do it," he suddenly said, taking the bird from me and checking my fingers.

My heart swelled with sweetness, and I had the urge to kiss him, but I was too embarrassed to be so clingy this early in the morning.

The animal turned out to have more meat than I expected, weighing several kilos. My mind raced with ways to make it delicious, but resources here were scarce.

"I’m going to the river to clean it and get rid of the guts—unless you eat th