Iwas totally going to win this thing.
The cooking portion, at least. The other two trials… only time would tell. But I had a good feeling.
I examined the competition.
Tables were set up in neat rows in the center of the park for the dishes to be displayed on. The dishes were impressively varied. Soups, grilled veggies, meats, cakes, horrendous-looking concoctions I couldn’t even name. Even a sandwich or two.
None would compare to my stew. I was sure of it.
I bounced, unable to contain my excitement. Velline stood next to me, but she wasn’t nearly as lively. If anything, she looked extremely nervous, and a little pale—like she could pass out any moment.
I let my eyes drift over the remaining competitors. A handful of folk couldn’t finish their dishesin time. The mothman from the grocery store, Daine, was empty-handed. A few shifters were, too, as well as a human woman.
The eliminated group gathered grumpily off to the side.
Mayor Tommins and a few volunteers slowly drifted along the tables, sampling every dish and noting their thoughts onto a slip of paper, quietly murmuring amongst themselves. I watched Tommins’ face closely.
For the most part, he didn’t seem wowed. He even gagged once or twice.
Until he got to me. He visibly relaxed, his shoulders loosening. His face lifted in a hesitant smile. “Ginger. Good to see you.” He lifted a spoon. “Best of luck.”
I held my breath.
The gryphon scooped some stew onto his spoon, sniffing it subtly before slipping it into his mouth. He chewed once. Twice. And then his eyebrows rose.
He grinned. “Excellent. Just marvelous.”
I smiled right back. “Thank you.”
He jotted a note down before nodding his head, and then he proceeded to Velline. He exclaimed dramatically about her dish. Unexpected—I didn’t realize she was a good cook. I patted her shoulder in congratulation, and she flashed me a tight smile before returning to her previous rigid posture.
I tuned out the noise, after that. My task was done. I had succeeded.
Now I could relax for a moment.
A chill worked down my spine, forcing my shoulders back and my chin up. My teeth ground together in my mouth. I shook myself, trying to flick off the sudden discomfort.
I glanced around to see if anyone else was feeling the same.
My gaze collided with a pair of intense gold eyes. Unending and all-encompassing.
The gods damned stranger.
He was staring at me intensely, almost impolitely. His eyes burned my skin where they drifted.
I glared back.
He was standing behind a fresh, colorful salad, topped with a slab of what looked like grilled chicken. I fought the urge to roll my eyes. I hated to admit that it looked pretty good. It was not what I would have expected him to prepare, but effective, nonetheless.
Of course he took the easy route. A salad was so simple. So quick. Hardly any cooking required, mainly just chopping and assembling.
To my chagrin, he was still in the competition.
And he looked so, so smug about it.
He lifted a brow, as if to ask, “Do you like what you see?”
I tore my gaze away. My face was suddenly warm, my pulse pumping a little too quickly. I fought the urge to fidget.
