“Can we go back to the happiness thing?” Isahn checked.
The ladies explained a bit more about their friend’s sensory magic before he worked them around to answering his favorite question when it came to George, “How did you two become friends?”
“Oh, it was years ago,” Georgie offered dismissively, snuggling in against his side.
“How’d you help him out?”
Wynnie laughed. “Shedoesdo that, doesn’t she?”
“You too?”
“Oh, yes.” She grinned at Isahn, tossing her sleek hair so hard a clump got stuck in Hildy’s mouth.
With a half-hearted grumble, George admitted, “It’s a silly story. Adda and I were already friends. I think we met when I was eight or so, and his father came on as head chef? Doesn’t matter.” George waved off her stray thoughts with a dainty jeweled hand.
“Anyway, we were both around seventeen when wereallybecame friends. Adda wanted to get out of the back rooms, where he was stuck doing the tedious tasks, like prepping dough before dawn. His father wanted him to rise from the bottom. But his fears of nepotism led him to treat Adda worse than the rest of the staff. He’s a good man though...” George trailed off, looking across the room at her friends, waiting for their approval on her read of the palace chef.
“Definitely.” Hildy nodded.
“Anyway, we came up with a plan. Hildy helped,” George offered as she stood with a stretch and crossed to the bar.
“I did,” Hildy continued the tale while George poured two glasses of wine. “I ordered an obnoxious menu forcenathatnight, under the false pretense that Georgie was dining with me. That kept Adda’s father occupied. Then, when I requested Chef Carozza’s attention to answer some questions, George rushed into the kitchens demanding a meal toherapartment immediately.”
“It wasn’t a whole meal, just dessert,” George corrected, returning to the sitting area and handing Isahn a glass. “Asatura.”
He side-eyed her with his brows raised in question.
“It’s a cake, but a complicated one with lots of nuts, fruits, honey, and spices.”
“Sounds delicious.”
“I’ll ask Adda to make you one,” George purred.
She leaned in, pressing her lips to his forehead, and he stretched his neck out, asking for a kiss on the lips. She obliged.
“Bleh, stop that,” Hildy scolded. “Anyway, George placed her order and really played up the bratty spoiled princessschtick—”
“What’s that mean?” Isahn pinched his brows as he made space for George to slide in beside him again.
“Schtick? I dunno. I guess it’s a word from the faeries. Like a bit? Acting?” Hildy shrugged the shoulder Wynnie wasn’t leaning against.
Isahn nodded. “Elf or pixie word?”
“I don’t know. Why do you care?” Hildy pursed her lips, highlighting her already well-defined cheekbones.
“I don’t really, but I know my friend Kas is going to ask when I tell him about this place—”
George cleared her throat and gave him a look.
“Eventually,” Isahn clarified. “When I’m allowed.”
She relaxed, leaning back against his chest.
“I’m finishing this story. Georgie helped Adda earn his father’s respect when she waltzed into the kitchen the next day and declared Ceadda’s baking better than Chef’s.”
“Always helping, always collecting,” he rumbled into George’s ear, and she turned to face him, brushing her lips over his again.
“I know I supported this, but,ack, I don’t think I can any longer. You two are so gross,” Wynnie bemoaned.
