Ezra quickly backed away from the stove.
Magic.It had to have been magic Rourke had sensed in the kitchen.He could scent it now.Faint but there.Why hadn't he sensed it before when Ezra had used it?
Ulric placed a hand on his shoulder, reminding Rourke he wasn't alone with Ezra."Are you cooking, Ezra?"
"The bread is stale, I figured I'd..."He gestured at the skillet."Cheese and ham toast."
"Fuck yeah, make me some."Ulric pulled out a chair and sat.Then he turned to Rourke."Where did the coffee go?"
Rourke watched Ezra.He could let him continue or he could ruin what little trust he'd managed to build.How dangerous was his magic?Could he trust it wouldn't hurt him?He didn't think Ezra wanted to hurt him, wasn't sure he was able to, but could he trust it?He took a deep breath."You want more too?"He directed the question to Ulric who nodded."Yeah, I left my cup on the counter next to the coffee maker."
Rourke left.By the time he reached the dining hall again, he sensed the slight tug in his chest.It wasn't a tug, but he didn't know how else to describe it.A stirring.It wasn't unpleasant, more a reminder of him having a mate who was doing something.He must've gone back to cooking.
He filled two cups of coffee and topped Ulric's off before grabbing a small tray and heading back toward his room.
Halfway there, he almost collided with Geri when he stepped out into the corridor."Oops, sorry."Geri pressed himself against the wall, then his eyes narrowed."Where are you going?"
"To my room."
Geri inhaled, but the scents from the dining hall were more prominent than anything coming from Rourke's kitchen.
"Is Ezra baking?"
Rourke shook his head.
"It's rude not to share."
"He's not baking."
Geri studied him for a second then he more or less ran down the corridor."I don't believe you."He pushed Rourke's door open and disappeared into the room before Rourke could stop him.
* * * *
Chapter 16
Ezra watched as Geri tumbled into the room.
"Are you baking?"
Shaking his head, Ezra gestured at the toast in the skillet.How could they all know he was by the stove?
"Oh, breakfast."Geri hurried over to the kitchen table and sat next to Ulric."I want some."
Rourke walked through the door and sighed loudly."You don't have to cook for anyone, Ezra."
But he did.Or, he didn't have to cook for anyone, but he had to cook or bake or he'd go insane.And it made him feel better if people ate what he'd made, otherwise it would be a waste of food.
"We'll need more bread, cheese, and ham."There wasn't enough for four.
Rourke glared at Ulric and Geri, put the coffee down, and headed out the door again.Ezra hid his smile by focusing on the skillet where he placed one slice of bread, cheese, and ham, and then another slice of bread on top.He fitted another next to the first and rolled his shoulders.
Magic was a gentle caress against his soul.He flipped the sandwiches when they were golden brown.The scent filled the room, and he prepared the next batch.
A minute or two later, he grabbed a plate from the cupboard, put a toast on it, and gave it to Ulric.He repeated the action and handed the next plate to Geri.
He melted more butter, added more bread, and disappeared into his head.Everything was perfect.When the toasts were done, he gave a plate to Rourke who was watching him without a word.When had he returned?Ezra must've zoned out.There were more supplies now, so Rourke must've placed them there while he'd been focused on cooking.He noticed Ulric had finished his toast, so he gave him the other one.
He added more butter to the skillet, added more bread, and handed the next toast to Geri.Then Farkas stumbled in through the door, looking like he hadn't slept since Ezra fed him last.
