“I can place a fire rune to keep it hot, if you’d like,” Fane offered once I’d finished making it.
“That’d be great.” I smiled at him. “Thank you.”
He nodded and reached toward the pitcher, tracing a design on the glass with his fingertip. Once placed, it glowed dark orange with an outline of red.
“So cool,” I said, bending down to admire it.
“It’s rather hot, I’d say.” He looked at me like I’d lost my mind.
Once again, the expressions from my old world went right over someone’s head. I stifled a laugh and grabbed three mugs.
“None for me.” Fane shook his head. “I never acquired the taste. Too bitter.”
“Suit yourself.” People were allowed to dislike coffee, even if they were wrong. I poured a mug for Rowan and gave it to him black—the only way he’d drink it without adding rum—then doctored mine with cream and sugar before taking that first miraculous drink.
Rowan dangled his leg off the edge of the counter and sipped from his mug. His shoulders stilled, and he froze with it at his lips.
“Everything okay?” I asked, worried I’d made it too strong or maybe not strong enough. Had I lost my ability to brew delicious coffee in just a matter of days?
The coffee gods have forsaken me.
“It’s… good.” As he looked at me, his topaz eyes misted over. Softly, and in a somewhat broken voice, he added, “Reminds me of home.”
My sternum squeezed. Rowan used his feisty attitude and snark as a crutch to hide deeper, more vulnerable emotions. For him to show that emotion? He must’ve been hurting. Like me, he had finally found a place he belonged too, only to have it ripped from him.
I stepped up to the counter, between his legs, and rose up on my tiptoes to smooth away his dark auburn bangs. He bent forward, and I kissed his forehead. Then I held him like that, both of us unmoving.
“I know it’s not the same,” Fane gently said, “but you can build a home here, in this realm. You can find happiness here, if you open your heart to it.”
“Something tells me we won’t have much of a choice.” I nuzzled Rowan again before stepping over and checking on the boiling potatoes. They were nearly done. “Even if Lord Onyx said I could leave, there’s nowhere for me to go.”
“Milord cares for you.” Fane regarded me with a curious expression, as though trying to figure me out. “When he asked me to venture to the market and buy the coffee beans for you, I admit it took me by surprise. He’s never requested something like that of me.”
“Probably because I told him I was going to start a riot if I didn’t get a coffee fix,” I said, reverting to humor instead of thinking too deeply on his implication. Didn’t want to get my hopes up.
“No. I’ve known him long enough to see it’s more than that.” He glanced toward the open window. The sun had dipped below the horizon now, welcoming a glimmer of stars across the darkening sky. “You’re special to him. I believe he hoped the beans would make you smile.”
Something warm filled the space between my ribs.
“That doesn’t sound like a ruthless demon lord to me,” Rowan said, slouching back against the wall. “Stories make him out to be a formidable warlord. Then again, even the mightiest and surliest of males fall victim to my little treasure.”
I rolled my eyes, earning a toothy grin in response.
“The stories you’ve heard hold merit. Many years ago, Lord Onyx used to be ruthless.” Fane’s voice dropped, as if he were lost in thought. “Men trembled in his presence without him needing to utter a single word. Armies bowed down to him, some surrendering before the fighting even began. Demons respected him but feared him more. He’d set fire to anyone who dared disobey or question him.”
“What changed?” I asked, coffee mug between my palms to warm them. The change of topic brought on a sudden chill.
“Hedid. Or so I’m told. I didn’t know him back then. Only heard stories.” Fane grabbed a skillet for the pork chops. “What he used to be is of little consequence though. He’s different now. The Lord OnyxIknow is kind and a far cry from cruel.”
“A shame.” Rowan hopped down from the counter. “Between Nocturne hunting Evan and a kingdom wanting him dead, we could use someone formidable. Someone who’d crush an army with the snap of his fingers.”
Fane expelled a breath. “I said Lord Onyx no longer ruled with an iron fist, not that he couldn’t. The power that made armies cower still exists inside him. And I believe, should the need arise, he’ll set it free once more.”
“We can only hope.” Rowan took another drink from his mug before pinching my cheek. “I’m gonna check on the pup. Don’t trip and fall into the oven while I’m gone.”
Before I could smack him, he dashed away and vanished into the shadows.
“He’s so mean to me,” I mumbled.
