I smiled at that. “Be right back.”
And please don’t kill each other while I’m gone.Leaving my men alone with Lord Onyx might not have been the greatest idea. A quick dash to the kitchen and back wasn’t enough time for too much bloodshed though.
Right?
Best to hurry. I rushed from the room and sped toward the kitchen. Steps sounded from behind me, and Fane chuckled as he caught up, keeping pace beside me as we moved down the corridor. The gentle knock of his shoulder against mine made me smile.
“Coffee too?” he asked once we’d reached the kitchen and I’d taken the beans I had grinded earlier and started preparing a pitcher.
“Yep. The hints of cinnamon I infused will pair well with the honey cake.”
Fane helped me sort dessert plates and mugs on a tray, along with vessels for cream and sugar, then he added a fire rune to the decanter of coffee. I grabbed the cake and nodded to him in a ‘let’s do this’ kind of way, which earned me a blank stare and tail flick.
He loved me. Even if he tried hard not to show it. Tried very,veryhard.
Back in the dining parlor, I exhaled a breath of relief at seeing everyone was still in one piece. No blood or mayhem. Sure, they weren’t talking much, but progress was progress.
Lord Onyx slumped in his chair, one hand resting near his mouth and eyes meeting mine as I entered the room. His gaze dropped to the platter in my hands. “Is that…”
“Honey cake,” I said, setting it in front of him. Fane set the other tray in the center of the table. “My dad offered you a slice when you met. I thought it fitting that I do the same. Symbolizing good will between us. And new friends.”
Lord Onyx’s normally cool expression fractured, revealing something tender underneath. “Is that what you wish to be? My friend?”
More, actually.But I couldn’t tell him that. Not yet at least.
“Why not? You can never have too many friends.” When I grabbed the knife to cut into the cake, my hand trembled. “And you’ve been good to us. Helping when you didn’t have to. Making sure we’re taken care of. I hope to repay you for that kindness someday.”
Our gazes held for a moment. Ruby eyes caught the glow of the lit hearth and ignited a fire in my core. Holding me prisoner. That ache inside my heart that yearned for him grew more restless. Almost painfully so.
“The cake is a nice start,” he finally said. “I look forward to eating a slice.”
Tiny flutters danced around in my stomach as we shared a smile. The mini-Evans had set aside their tap-dancing shoes for butterfly wings.
Fane helped me divvy out pieces of cake and cups of coffee. Rowan and Maddox took theirs black, while Lake liked more cream than sugar. Briar was the opposite, preferring a touchmore sugar. And Callum added a heaping amount of both, turning the coffee so pale it wasn’t even coffee anymore.
How did the demon lord take his?
Remembering what he’d said about thinking coffee too bitter, I added a dash of cream and sprinkle of sugar before handing it to him. With his red eyes flickering to mine again, Onyx brought the mug to his lips and took a drink, watching me over the rim.
After a sip, his brows lifted. “This is quite good.”
“If it’s still too bitter, I can add more—”
“I find it pleasing as it is,” he said. “Just as you gave it to me.”
The soft knocking returned to my chest. I served myself last and sat back between Callum and Maddox. Callum rested his hand on my thigh. My hand found his instantly, and our fingers linked. His skin was so damn warm, like he really was the sun. A ray of sun who had a dimple to die for.
Maddox lifted the mug to his lips. Just like with Rowan earlier in the kitchen, his expression wavered after taking a drink. He said nothing, but it was there in his blue eyes: the pain of missing home.
“Come here, ya beauty.” Duke rubbed his hands together before grabbing the slice of cake and biting off a huge chunk, forgoing a fork.
The rest of the men around the table followed. Varys took a small bite, then nodded his approval.
I tried not to be obvious about it, but I watched the demon lord from the corner of my eye as he took his first bite. When he said nothing and gave no reaction, my insides jumbled with anticipation.
Did he like it? Was it too sweet, not sweet enough, or maybe Fane had been right and it was too dense?
“You have a real talent, lad,” Varys said after wiping at his mouth. “Elias burned everything he touched in the kitchen, buthe loved eating sweets. He’d steal this entire cake if he were here.”
