Chapter 19
Euphoria experimented with a spicy stir-fry using the fresh bamboo shoots, and to her delight, it was a success. The wild boar meat rendered beautifully, infusing the shoots with a fragrant, savory heat.
Just as she was finishing, Luce returned, looking uncharacteristically drained.
"Luce, you have to try this," Euphoria said, offering him a piece of bamboo shoot with a bright smile.
Luce's expression softened at her warmth. He accepted the offering, chewing a few times before swallowing it. "It's good," he said calmly. In reality, he had no taste for vegetation, but he wasn't about to dampen her spirits. Satisfied with her cuLarary approval, he retreated into the house, curled into a tight coil, and immediately fell into a deep sleep.
Euphoria figured he must have just finished a large meal. She had noticed that Luce was becoming increasingly lethargic; after hunting, he would do little more than sleep for hours on end.
