Since she was the size of a frigate, I understood why. Grabbing the sturdiest kitchen chair available, I placed it by the stove and helped my best friend over to it.
“Before I answer any of your questions, there’s only one thing called for here.”
“Grilled cheese?” Evie asked hopefully.
“Grilled cheese,” I confirmed.
I pulled a couple of wheels from the pantry and uncovered some fresh-baked bread. It wasn't as good as I baked, but this was more about comfort than perfection. For the first time, it didn't need to be absolutely right. I just needed to be with my friend. As she watchedme gather supplies, I knew it was also an opportunity to show her how I had control over my powers, but her attention kept wandering to her belly, her bottom lip wobbling.
“I can make it however you want. Want an extra layer?”
Evie’s smile strained across her face. “I couldn’t say no to that!”
She seemed more interested in getting blood flow back to her legs than watching me perfectly slice the bread without using my hands. Her gaze remained downcast. Was there a suspicious welling of tears in her eyes?
“I don’t mean to be an attention whore here, lovey, but I’m trying to show you what I learned while banished. Clarus. Soup guy. Remember?”
The cheese slowly melted to perfection, sizzling on the pan to form crusty edges.
“I shouldn't have meddled.”
My heart melted a bit. Evie wasn’t the most confident of our group. “I know it's not easy being Queen. Clarus didn't deserve–”
Her sniff resounded through the kitchen. “Clarus is just fine.” She waved her hands like we were having two different conversations. “In fact, it saved his mating. I guess time as a sentient side dish lends to self-reflection.”
What did she mean? I flipped the grilled cheese onto a plate and held it above her head. Maybe ransomed grilled cheese would get answers.
“Um, why didn’t you come get me then? Reverse your banishment?!”
She reached up for the grilled cheese despite the tears but couldn't heave herself out of the chair. “Let me eat my feelings. I really messed this up if you didn't come back mated.”
I almost dropped the plate. “You WHAT!?!”
“Ward was right. I shouldn’t have tried to force you together. But I had to kick you into the snow and let you guys work it out or you and Declan were never going to bone. I thought you would be gone a fortnight or something. Since you weren’t, I was sure you were on your honeymoon at this point.”
What the high holy hells was she thinking! I wanted to shake her, scream in her face. I had spent months in agony, thinking I would never see her again and she was over here matchmaking?
“Is that why you were hemorrhaging out some sort of pantomime play I wouldn't pay any amount of talons to see? Was this a game?”
“Fated Mates are not a game, Fallon. Your happiness is not something I was willing to leave to chance. I might not be great at mindspeak and mouthspeak at the same time, but I’ve been watching you dodge that man for years! Declan was also being unusually dense when it came to gathering your things.”
“I can’t believe you did that,” I said, even though it was pure Evie. The best intentions, the worst execution.
“I thought it would be fine if you guys got out of your own way and actually sealed the deal.” Evie eyed the plate with a kind of longing Ward would be jealous of and slumped in defeat. “Look. I’m sorry. I really am. But I couldn't say it to your face. What do you do every time I try to give you sage advice?”
My expression soured with the truth. “Run in the opposite direction,” I mumbled.
The deep bass of Ward’s voice filled the kitchen. “Are you yelling at my very pregnant wife?”
I shoved the plate of grilled cheese at him and Evie’s eye followed it wistfully.
“Stay out of it, Ward. But give me that cheese.” She held out her hands.
Ward snatched it away from her, already halfway through the sandwich. “Have her make you another one.”
“You’re so mean. I’m having your child!”
He stuffed the last bit into his mouth, taunting her. “And you’re all the more beautiful for it.”
