"Walk around the car and sit in the passenger seat like a normal person."
With a clipped nod, Ezra hurried around the back.Rourke took a deep breath and got into his seat.Once they had their belts on, he turned the key and backed out.
"Jiprix came by yesterday."
"What?"
"It was when you were gone, so I told him you weren't available."
Ezra nodded."What did he want?"
"Cookies."
Wide eyes stared at him."What?"
"A couple of kids were sick, and he wanted cookies for them.Are you a healer?"
A healer made more sense than a...food witch, or whatever they should call him.
"No, not a healer."He shook his head."If I feed you, I can give you things your body needs to heal, but I can't make it heal."
Rourke was quiet for a minute or two as he tried to make sense of everything."How can it be considered a bad thing?"
Ezra tore his gaze from the surroundings, and Rourke realized he most likely hadn't been in a car many times."What's a bad thing?"
"Your skill.If cookies made by you make people sleep when they need it, heal when they need it, and so on, how can it be considered anything but an asset?"
Ezra frowned."I don't make anyone do anything.I bake."
Frustration built in Rourke."I know, but the result of your baking helps people.Helps them enough for Jiprix to risk coming onto pack land to beg for cookies."
Ezra looked out the window, his fingers fiddling with the braids.
"I don't understand it, Ezra.How is it a less valued skill than turning someone into a tree and setting them on fire."His voice turned a little growly.
"Izibine is an asset.She can fight monsters and protect the borders."
Izibine.He'd mentioned her before.Rourke tried to memorize the name.Izibine deserved to fucking die for what she'd done to Hilde.It had been hard on the pack.
"And you're not?"He didn't understand witches.Ezra was an asset.If his magic did what he claimed it did and didn't harm in any way, then he was of huge help.He'd keep the pack healthy if Rourke allowed him to cook and bake.
"No.Witches wield power, destroy their enemies, and fight for their place in the clan.They don't bake."
Ezra spat the last bit, and Rourke grinned.He hadn't seen him angry before.
"Ah, but darling, clearly they do."
"Look at me."Ezra gestured at himself."I don't look like a witch."
"You look great."
Ezra's eyes widened, and Rourke chuckled.
"You do.I love that you aren't covered in piercings and tattoos.I mean if you were--your body, your choice--but I'm glad you're not."
"It's a sign I'm weak."
Rourke growled, though not with any real heat."You're not weak."
