Pinch of salt
¾ cup walnuts
2 cups chocolate shavings
1 teaspoon rising powder
½ teaspoon vanilla bean paste
*A dash of unconditional love
Set in oven at medium heat for 11 minutes.
A lump formed in my throat at the last ingredient, but I held it together.
“Mixing bowl?” I asked and Ariyon gave me the glass dish.
The countertop was riddled with ingredients. I took my gloves off, placing them on the corner, knowing no one would accidently touch me here.
I went into work mode then, measuring and adding ingredients.
“The oven is too high, turn it to medium,” I told Ariyon, when there was a knock at the door.
“That’s Hayes,” Ayden said. “Come on, E.”
Ayden and Eden left the kitchen and then it was just Ariyon and me.
“Eggs?” I asked and then he was there, handing them to me. Instead of placing them on the counter like Ayden had, for me to grab myself, he held them out to me until I placed my bare palm under his. The simple act of the eggs dropping into my palm and his fingers dragging across them as he pulled away was not like anything I ever thought I would experience in my life.
“Milk,” I instructed, and he was there, stepping up beside me as his arm brushed my elbow.
All of the fears I had lived through my entire life were not present with Ariyon, if a chunk of my hair would break loose and touch him, if he would bump into my elbow. With him I felt so free, I understood what it must feel like to be normal.
“I’m ready for Mama Rune’s famous cookies!” Hayes yelled as he came into the kitchen and Ariyon stepped away from me and hugged his best friend.
I continued my work, stirring and mixing and adding ingredients. I had actually told the cookies I loved them in my head to add that dash of love and felt silly about it but also didn’t want the recipe to be incomplete.
‘You better save one of those for me,’Yanric said, and I jerked my head up to see him on the windowsill.
‘Scram. I’ll see you later,’I told him, putting my head back down as I started to spoon the wet batter onto the cookie sheet, two inches apart like my father had taught me.
‘Not after what happened last time at the party. No way, I’m here all night,’Yanric protested.
‘Fine, just stay outside, please.’
‘Ashamed of your little Nightling familiar while you hang with the princes of light?’he teased.
I grasped a nearby kitchen knife and gave Yanric a death glare as I pointed it at him.
He wisely flew off and I grinned. We had a love-hate relationship that worked for us.
“Ready for the oven!” I announced, dropping the knife and picking up the cookie sheet.
Ariyon opened the oven, and I handed the cookies off to him, our fingers touched when I set the pan in his hands, and I could feel the heat of Ayden’s gaze on me.
He was doing this on purpose.
Blushing, I walked over to wash my hands and then put my gloves back on.
