“You’re such a dick.” Niko smirks, with no true ire in his tone. Even insulting one another, their connection and love is palpable. How the hell am I ever supposed to be part of that connection?
Before I can dwell on it any longer, Finnick darts past my head in a blur of wings.
“Come, Eva,” he calls over his shoulder. “I’ll show you what we’ve got.”
With a deep breath, I follow.
Chapter 18
Evangeline
Not a lot.
That’s what they have—or rather, don’t have. The small kitchen in the infirmary, about half a mile from the castle, is half the size of the kitchen back in the palace. Niko and Zephyr, both with broad shoulders and bulky, firm muscles, take up much of the room, making it a tight squeeze to move around. They make great eye candy, though, so I really can’t complain.
The ingredients at my disposal leave much to be desired, but they all seem fresh enough. I’m also surprised by the number of spices they have, which is fairly decent, but I also have a case of my own back in the room. Always knew there would be a moment when I needed them, and I find myself needing them quite often.
“I just need to go and get my spices and pots from the main house. I’ll be—” I start to say but am promptly interrupted by Zephyr.
“I’ll get them.” He doesn’t wait for me to respond. Zephyr walks out without asking where my cooking materials are. The spices are tucked away in my luggage—along with my bra and panties. Heat rushes to my face, burning my cheeks red at the thought of Zephyr searching through my things. My body can’t tell if I should be embarrassed or excited by the prospect.
“How can we help, Evangeline?” Niko’s warm voice reminds me my betrothed is still here, and now my body heats for a completely different reason.
“I’m going to help by tasting,” Finnick says. I take a moment to find where he’s hiding, but then I see the delicate flutter of his wings from the corner of my eyes. He’s perched on a large vase of dying flowers, kicking around the soil.
“I haven’t had a sous chef in a while. You boys are spoiling me.”
A wicked smile sharpens Niko’s features. “Future queens who come to save my people get spoiled. Put us to work.”
And just like that, I’m definitely not thinking about cooking anymore.
Focus, Evangeline!
I scan the kitchen, mentally flipping through my internal recipe cards. There are a few vegetables, beans, and, of course, berries. Pea soup comes to mind—simple and hearty but not exactly thrilling. Cheddar broccoli might work, but a quick glance confirms there’s no cheese in sight. My gaze lands on the black beans. Perfect. Black bean soup it is—rich in protein, which should be especially beneficial for the cursedfae.
“I need you to cut up vegetables,” I tell him and pick out tomatoes, onions, and the only pepper I could find. Niko and Zephyr look at the vegetables like I’ve asked them to perform an operation. “On second thought, how about you just hand me things when I ask for them?”
They nod, seeming to like that idea better.Spoiled kings, I think fondly.
Despite the unfamiliar kitchen, my movements are fluid and confident, like I’ve cooked here a hundred times before. This is where I thrive: hands busy, spices scattered around me, testing new flavor combinations to elevate each dish.
It doesn’t take long for the room to smell of garlic and cumin, and my stomach growls with anticipation. The soup doesn’t take long to make, but by the time I finish, I step back…only to run into two firm chests. Niko and Zephyr stand like watchmen behind me. I didn’t even hear them approach, far too consumed with cooking. The kitchen felt small before, but now it feels as if the walls are closing in around me.
“Uhm, it’s done,” I say awkwardly.
“My assistance is needed now! Move—” Finnick flies between Niko and Zephyr’s heads, holding something small in his hands. At first, I think it’s a thimble, which would be an odd thing to bring to the kitchen, but when I look closer, I notice he’s actually holding a tiny bowl.
Finnick wastes no time serving himself. It’s a drop of food but fills up his small bowl completely. Finnick takes his first sip, letting the flavors explode on his tongue. There’s a slight pause before he springs into the air. “Eva,I will never eat another berry for as long as I live. This tastes like how flying feels.”
I don’t know what that means, but I grin because it sounds like a compliment. “So, you like it?”
“I would sell Niko to the demon king to eat your cooking for the rest of my life.”
Next to me, Niko rolls his eyes, attempting to hide his smirk. “Nice to hear your loyalty, Brother. Save some for the people who actually need it, though.”
“Oh, I made enough for you both to have some too. There’s plenty,” I assure.
“That’s kind of you, Evangeline. Zephyr and I will wait until all the cursed fae have eaten. You’ve already graciously fed us this morning. We’re fine for now.”
