“That’s very true.” I smile.
Nix lifts from my shoulder, making her way over to a tray of pastries and sighing in delight.
“Come sit. I’ll get you some breakfast.” Zaria motions me over to a table.
“Shouldn’t I be working?”
A soft chuckle escapes Rayna's lips. “It is all taken care of. Sit. I want you to try my newest creation. I call it the hummingbird.”
Before I take a step toward the table, we all turn to the sound of a gentle knock on the door. Kian stands there, his hand resting on the pommel of his sword. His focus is on me, but he addresses the room.
“You ladies having fun?”
“Yes, we are. Would you like to join us?” Zaria offers.
The intensity in his eyes makes my heart skip a beat. He knows . . .
Kian steps into the kitchen and walks past me. I hold my breath, my fingers twisting in the apron. I don't know what I was expecting, but a knot forms in my stomach, making me feel uneasy. Kian waves me over and pulls out a chair, signaling for me to take a seat.
“Uhh . . . I don’t think I can.”
“Why not?”
“The dress . . . ”
Suddenly, Nix starts laughing hysterically. I look over at her, powdered sugar covering her face and hands.
“Oh, no . . . ” Zaria whispers and Rayna chuckles, tugging her sister’s tail.
“You brought her here. This is your fault.”
Kian and I exchange confused looks.
“What’s happening?” I ask.
Zaria lets out a deep, exasperated sigh. “Nix has a sensitivity to sugar, which means she has to be mindful of how much she consumes. Give it a few minutes and she will be in a sugar-induced coma.”
“Oh . . . That’s understandable. Nix is tiny,” I reply, captivated by the sight of the fairy rolling around on the table. Her eyes sparkle with delight, reflecting her genuine enjoyment. A smile spreads across my face, and I cover my mouth in amusement.
It seems to take Nix a moment to register my words, because she stands and staggers in my direction, finger pointed at me. “Hey, I’m not tiny.”
“You are,” Zaria argues, giving her a flat look. Clearly, she’s unimpressed by the events of this morning.
“You look drunk,” I add, biting my lip.
Kian clears his throat, and I look over at him. He holds a baked sweet roll out to me, carefully balancing it on a napkin. The sugar icing on top sparkles under the lights, resembling glistening crystals.
“Here, you must be hungry.”
I quietly reach for it, taking it from his outstretched hand. “Thank you.”
"You’re welcome," he replies with a warm smile, thought it seems forced. “You can eat it on the way back to your room. We have training.”
Chapter twenty-two
Everly
Like a movie on repeat, the memory of last night plays in my mind, each scene carved into my consciousness with vivid clarity. The way Maxon’s eyes locked with mine, filled with an intensity that spoke volumes without a single word being uttered. The way our breaths mingled, our bodies moved and entwined.
