“Nice to see you back, Poppy,” Taylor remarked.
“You must be hungry,” Alaric stated, then called over his shoulder, “Where are those pancakes we were promised?”
Taylor snorted. “It’s always pancakes in this house.”
As Crimson slid over with a plate full of food, he playfully scolded his mate. “Excuse you. I’m also capable of making omelettes.”
Alaric nodded as he snuck a pancake onto his plate. “Yes, some protein would be nice, so our breakfast isn’t pure carbs.”
Crimson raised a brow at the odd-eyed omega. “Don’t complain about my food while demanding more.”
I chuckled at their antics. The Chromatimaeus house was so lively and fun. Even when they butted heads, it was lighthearted and merry.
“I’m glad we can entertain you,” Alaric said, neatly cutting a square out of his pancake and popping it into his mouth. “Now, eat.”
Now that my anxiety had dissipated, my appetite returned. The delectable scent of food filled the air. Crimson leaned over my shoulder and deposited three fat pancakes onto my plate, then asked Viol, “And you?”
Viol scoffed. “What? Of course I want some.”
Flashing a smirk, Crimson said, “Ask nicely, and you may receive.”
Viol’s mouth drew into a scowl. He radiated an insulting aura, like he wanted to sling barbs at Crimson, but held his tongue because a guest was present. I didn’t want him to feel stifled, or go hungry, so I intervened.
“It’s okay,” I said. “Three is too many for me. I’ll share with Viol.”
The dark veil lifted from Viol’s face. He blinked at me, surprised and grateful, then returned to a neutral expression. “Thanks,” he mumbled.
He inched his plate forward and I dropped two pancakes on it.
“This is too many,” Viol complained. “You gave me two, and you only have one.”
“It’s all right,” I told him.
“Take one back.”
“Really, it’s okay, I can’t eat that much.”
“Neither can I,” he lied.
He stabbed a fork through the top pancake, readying to drop it on my plate, so I pulled it closer to my chest, safely out of his reach. He looked baffled.
Alaric let out a one-note laugh. “You two bicker like an old married couple.”
Viol’s face flushed. Instead of arguing, he cut the fork-stabbed pancake aggressively into four giant slices, then stuffed one in his mouth. He spent the next minute chewing in sullen silence.
He was so cute.
Everyone else began to eat, so I joined in, too. The soft, buttery flavor melted on my tongue. The food was so delicious, and the household so generous, that I was almost moved to tears again.
“Crimson, this is wonderful,” I said. “Thank you.”
The alpha grinned. “Glad you like it, Poppy. I’ll make them for you anytime.”
From the corner of my eye, I saw Viol freeze. He paused for a few beats, then slowly chewed again, focused and deliberate.
He couldn’t possibly be jealous, could he?
Jade and Crimson casually slid into the seats flanking Viol. The purple-haired alpha looked cramped and uncomfortable, but he kept eating in flustered silence.
