“We have three or four meals, depending on the day’s agenda. Breakfast, luncheon, a light supper if dinner is going to be late, and then dinner. We also nosh between meals if we need it,” Riall explains.
I attempt not to look flabbergasted by everything he just said, but based on the way Riall’s and Tarek’s eyes soften, I doubt I achieve the blank mask I’m trying for. I don’t know what nosh means, but I decide it doesn’t matter.
Three or four meals a day?
I don’t even know what to think about that. If they’re as good as breakfast was this morning… I shake my head, completely baffled.
“You are welcome to eat anything in the cooler or pantry, Moonling. Your days of gruel are over,” Curio calls out from where he’s still leaning against the wall, and my throat suddenly grows tight and my eyes start to sting.
I look to the others, waiting for them to contradict Curio’s offer, but they say nothing as they watch me. My mouth flops open and then shut as words fail me. Feelings I try not to feel, bubble up. I’m both astonished and grateful. Suspicion crawls just under the surface of it all, and I pet it like it’s a sweet furry companion that’s worked hard to keep me alive despite fate’s efforts to do the opposite.
“No tricks,” Curio adds as though he can read the concern that just flashed through my mind.
I scrutinize him for a few breaths before nodding.
“Okay, no tricks,” I repeat, needing to say it out loud, as though that will help the truth chase away my misgivings.
No tricks,I repeat again in my head, still unsure how it could be true.
“Wash up and meet back in the kitchens in thirty minutes?” Tarek asks.
“Make it forty, I need time to wh—” Riall looks over at me and stops talking.
The room goes silent, and there’s an awkward ambiance that fills the space.
“Right. Forty minutes,” Tarek agrees, dropping his eyes to the ground and palming the back of his neck.
Judging by the unusual combination of both censure and amusement written over both Tarek’s and Curio’s faces, it appears they both knew exactly what Riall was going to say before he stopped himself. I, on the other hand, have no idea. Tarek’s dark shoulder-length waves fall forward, helping to curtain his features, and I look over to Curio in an effort to puzzle out what just happened. He stares at me, his hickory gaze giving nothing away, but the smallest hint of a smile begins to play at his lips the longer we both look at each other.
I huff out an exasperated breath. They can keep their secrets. What do I care anyway? I turn to leave, ignoring the furtive pests, and try to remember how to get back to my room. They say nothing as I go. I’m on the first step leading to the top floor before I realize Riall is right behind me. I pause, not liking him at my back, and his arm lightly skims mine as he passes me, taking two stairs at a time.
“Think about me as you wash up,” he commands, his voice quiet and dripping with all kinds of wicked and alluring things. It’s the kind of tone used to whisper late at night when you don’t want anyone else to overhear what you’re saying. Goose bumps threaten to climb up my arms, and I order the fluttering sensation trying to flare in my gut to fuck off.
Against my will, my fangs drop in my mouth. The sensation stokes my anger as I glare up at Riall’s back while he ascends to the top floor. He turns, his gaze liquid fire. He smiles wide, showing off his own set of fangs, his grin pure provocation.
“I know I’ll be thinking about you as I do,” he adds, and before my mind can dig itself out of the gutter it just fell face-first into, he’s gone.
I climb the stairs, perplexed, and hot, and pissed at myself for feeling any of it. Riall’s words play out again and again in my mind as I find my room. I close the door behind me and lean back against it. I pull in deep calming breaths and run my tongue over my sharp canines. I smile as I get a hold of myself and move toward the bathing chamber.
I think I’ll take Riall up on his offer. No one has to know. I can scratch the itch, and none will be the wiser. It’s the perfect way to get them out of my system once and for all.
ChapterTwenty-Six
“Ready?” Curio asks as he brushes his hands together to free them of any crumbs.
He pulls the cloth napkin he set in his lap for the mid-day meal and wipes the corners of his mouth before placing it on his empty plate. I notice my napkin. It’s still folded on the table. I should try to use it properly at dinner. That is, now that I know I’m supposed to be using it at all and not simply licking my face and hands clean.
Or not.
I think we’re all well past manners and civility at this point when it comes to meals. I should probably feel oafish at the feral animal that gets unleashed as soon as someone places food in front of me, but I don’t care what these fae think of me. At least I managed not to steal anyone’s plate this time. Riall made me four times the amount he made the others, which helped. Quick learner, that one.
I nod my head in answer to Curio’s question, and we both stand up. I groan as I rise from my stool and slightly twist back and forth as though that’s going to relieve some of the pressure in my full gut. Maybe I shouldn’t have eaten that fourth helping?
Nah. Worth it.
I thought bread was good on its own, but I just learned you can stack things on it and eat it all together. Crowns, it’s incredible. There was this meat that made my mouth feel like it was on fire, but I loved it. Tarek showed me that when you combine it with some cooling vegetables and this thing called cheese, it’s even better. The little food towers are my new favorite thing. Well, that and everything I ate at breakfast…and probably everything I’ll eat at dinner, or supper, whichever one comes first.
Food is the best.
