When she was satisfied with my clothing and had draped a blanket over my shoulders we left for the kitchen.
The kitchen was empty when we entered, and Selene pulled a stool out at a little wooden table that sat against the wall under a window for me. I sat down and watched, unable to hide my amusement as Selene sniffed the air.
“What are you laughing at?” she asked, as she closed a cupboard and opened another.
“You,” I answered, and she turned to me and raised an eyebrow.
“You’re sniffing out food like an animal,” I explained. “Not that you’re an animal but, you know, ugh,” I tried, regretting my choice of words.
“Do I amuse you,” she asked innocently.
“Sometimes,” I replied.
She tilted her head back and smelled the air dramatically.
“The only source of nourishment I smell is you,” she said and turned to me with a predatory gaze, but the quirk or her grin told me it was a game.
“Oh, no, am I in danger?” I asked just as dramatically.
And promptly produced a loud squeal of surprise and laughter as I found myself lifted from the stool and spun around face to face with Selene, her fangs on full display.
“Would you like to be, in danger, pet?” she asked with a growl.
“What’s going on!”
We were interrupted by someone, and I got such a fright I almost jumped out of Selene’s grip.
Selene’s growl turn from playful to real. In an instant, she had released me and held the intruder by the throat against the open kitchen door frame.
It took me a moment to recognise the person—Katrina.
“Wait!” I called to Selene. But she ignored me.
“What are you doing here?” Selene demanded, her voice low and dripping with danger.
Katrina’s hands scrambled at her throat, desperately trying to loosen Selene’s grip. I watched her take a strangled breath as Selene released her.
“I heard a scream, I’m, I’m so sorry, I didn’t know it was you ma’am, please forgive me,” Katrina said, coughing every other word and rubbing her throat.
The sound of fast-approaching footsteps had Selene’s hand back around Katrina’s throat, and she shoved her violently from the kitchen.
Elise appeared in the doorway just after I had lost sight of Katrina.
“Ma’am, is everything okay?” she asked Selene.
“I would like a meal for my pet,” she replied, and both Selene and Elise ignored the incident with Katrina.
I couldn’t see past the two women and had no idea what was happening with the servant girl—Selene might have thrown her threw a wall, for all I knew.
“Yes, right away. I will wake the chef. How would you like me to handle the servant girl?” Elise replied.
“Leftovers are fine,” I said quietly, feeling anxiety at the thought of another person being woken to come and cook for me. “I can cook for myself too,” I added.
Selene turned to me, and I watched as she exhaled in frustration.
“Do you know where the leftovers would be kept?” Selene asked turning back to Elise. “Forget Katrina, foolish girl,” she continued dismissively.
Elise nodded and entered the kitchen.
