“What do you mean?” I drew back and petted Oreo with one hand, while keeping the other at his nape.
“Varys loved your father like I love you,” he answered. “I can sense a brokenness in him, as though his soul is crying out. I sensed the same in my father when he spoke of my mother. The loss of a mate is greater than any physical pain.”
“You’re saying Varys and my dad were mates?”
“Aye. It’s what I feel anyway. When a demi-wolf finds their mate, they emit a certain scent. It lets other potential partners know they’re taken. Varys remains devoted to your father even all these years later.”
Varys had imprinted on my dad, only to have that love be unrequited.
“So, it’s true.” I focused on the softness of Oreo’s fur. He had calmed down and sat on my lap like a good boy. Petting his fluff helped soothe the gnawing ache in my chest. “A fated mate can be rejected.”
“I know little of the world beyond what my father taught me and what I’ve read in books.” Lake brought my hand to his face and pressed my knuckles to his cheek. “Yet, if I know one thing it’s that I was yours from the moment you came stumbling through the forest to my cottage.”
I smoothed my thumb across his porcelain skin, a lump in my throat. “I was yours too.”
But would Lord Onyx feel the same? Or would he reject our bond?
Oreo wiggled off my lap and landed on the grass, padding over to the fence to watch the warriors train. He zeroed in on Callum and watched his every move, snarling when the black-haired demon managed to elbow Callum in the ribs.
“Do you think Fane would be okay with me cooking dinner tonight?” I asked. With the knights back to their training and Briar working in his clinic, I craved a touch of familiarity too. Being in the kitchen gave me that.
Lake peered up at me, a hopeful gleam in his purple eyes. “No harm in asking.”
***
The sun kissed the horizon, setting the sky aflame with hues of orange and deep purple. Fresh, crisp air came through the open window as I stood in the castle kitchen peeling potatoes for that evening’s dinner.
On the menu? Pork chops, creamy mashed potatoes, southern-style green beans, and freshly baked bread. Cake for dessert. Maybe not as refined as previous dinners at the castle, but Fane had said I could cook whatever I wanted. Which meant comfort food.
“Thanks for letting me make dinner tonight.” I peeled a potato, then chopped it into thick chunks. “It feels good being back in the kitchen and whipping up a big meal. Been too long.”
“You owned a café in Bremloc, yes?” Fane grabbed a potato and peeled it.
I nodded. “I used to wake before the sun every morning and make donuts, scones, cookies, and muffins. The smell of brewed coffee and pastries would fill the kitchen. Then when my menwoke up, I’d cook them breakfast and send them off to work before opening the café doors. Every day felt special.”
“You must miss it dearly.” The middle of his forehead creased. “Your home.”
“Yeah.” A pressure burrowed in my chest. “Owning a café was always my dream. Hard work, but I loved it. But what I miss most is the life my men and I built together. Our cottage. Our friends. All the laughs and memories we made.”
Moments we’d probably never have again.
“More memories can be made here.” Fane’s long black and purple tail slowly moved behind him as he set aside a peeled potato and grabbed another. “With new friends.”
“Is that what we are?” I asked. “Friends?”
“No.” He scowled and salted the pot of water on the stove before dropping the potatoes in.
Such a grump.
A comfortable silence passed between us as we continued prepping dinner. It was a nice change. The demon had learned to trust me. He no longer watched me like a hawk each time I grabbed a utensil, as though worried I’d try to shank him or something. He rinsed off the green beans while I grabbed a small skillet to fry some bacon.
With the food prepped, I checked the cake baking in the oven before pulling out the tins and placing them on a rack to cool.
“You sure that’s edible?” Fane scrutinized the two slabs of cake. “Bacon in green beans is enough of a crime, but that looks much too dense.”
“First of all, bacon in green beans is god’s work. Second of all, this is honey cake. It’s supposed to be kind of dense, but it’s baked to perfection and will taste amazing, especially once I add the honey glaze on top. You’ll love it.”
Humor touched his grass-green eyes. “A bold declaration.”
