A soft, almost sad smile crosses his lips. “Don’t make excuses for me, Evangeline. I’ve been neglectful.”
“You’ve been a king,” I counter, suddenly feeling defensiveforhim. “Doing what needs to be done. You owe me nothing, Niko.”
Anger, bright but fleeting, flickers in his expression. It contrasts with his normal jovial and joking demeanor. “Don’t apologize for me, Evangeline. I want to do better for you. For us,” he stresses and crosses the kitchen in a few long strides. Once he’s close enough, he reaches for my hands, taking them in his. I’m keenly aware of Lady Thalia watching us, an amused smile on her face. My body yearns for him, and I should be embarrassed, but I can’t bring myself to care. “Let me be here now.”
There’s nothing else to do but nod, squeezing his hands like any second there will be another attack, and he’ll be ripped from me again. This isn’t how I expectedmarried life to go, but I also didn’t expect to marry a fae king, so what the hell do I really know about marriage and relationships? I’m a fish out of water here, just trying to do the impossible.
“Are you going to cook now?” He finally breaks the charged silence brewing between us. Still, all I can do is nod. “Good, I’ll help.” Niko doesn’t look away.
“Unfortunately, we have even fewer ingredients than before. There is no harvest since most of our crops have been destroyed,” Lady Thalia says, worry evident in her tone.
Niko frowns. “Then we will make do with what we have for now. We still have berries from the forest. We can hunt or catch fish. We aren’t out of options yet.” His resolve is strong, but I hear the fear he’s desperately trying to keep back. We may not be out of options yet, but we are coming very close to being unable to feed the kingdom.
“Well, we better get started with what we have. Ready to help me cook?” I try to lighten the mood as much as I can. A small wicker basket hangs from a cupboard handle, filled to the brim with various vegetables. My mind mentally flips through my recipe book, thinking of something I can make that will feed the most people.
“Tell me what you need.” Niko releases my hands, his gaze searching mine for answers he can act on.
Then he turns to his mother. “Can you check the infirmary? Since the last attack, more have fallen victim. It’s like the Nephilim’s presence speed up the curse.” His tone is grim, heavy with the weight of everythingunraveling around us. He carries a heavy load, and I ache to help him lessen it.
“Of course,” she replies with a quick nod. She manages a soft, reassuring smile in my direction, but it doesn’t quite reach her eyes. Then she hurries off, her footsteps quickening down the corridor like she already hears cries echoing from the wounded.
Niko and I are left alone for the first time in days. I ignore the way my body buzzes with electricity around him as I grab mushrooms, garlic, and the last onion. “Mushroom soup it is. Do you know how to dice an onion?” I turn with the ingredients in my hands.
“I know how to use a knife.” It’s not really an answer, but he turns and opens a cabinet. He pulls out a long wooden board and something resembling a butcher’s knife. Not exactly what I would use to chop these vegetables, but I’ll roll with it. That is until I see him chop said onion. It’s an assassination—not the dicing I requested.
“Okay there, warrior, let’s calm down.” I laugh, gently touching his arm.
Niko flexes underneath my touch, halting his movements. This is the second time he’s tried to help me in the kitchen, and although I appreciate his attempts, I fare better when he stands back and lets me cook.
“Is this wrong?” His usual charm is back, a teasing glint in his eyes.
“Not if this onion wronged you and you’re seeking revenge,” I tease. “Give me the big knife and let me show you.”
Niko isn’t offended as he hands over the knife. He steps to the side, allowing me space to work.
“You don’t need to be violent. You just need to do these three steps. First, you’ll cut the onion in half.” I show him, separating the two pieces.
“Then you’ll make vertical cuts like this.” I demonstrate as a warm, firm body presses against my back. My voice hitches, losing focus on the onion. I feel every hard part of his body. Niko’s hands glide down my sides until he rests them on my hips.
“And then what?” Hot breath hits my neck, and I have to squeeze my legs together. Niko notices my movement and laughs. Not mockingly, more like he’s enjoying this far too much.
And holy hell, his gravelly laugh is sexy.
“Then you…” I trail off, my brain slow to process anything other than the stiffening cock pressing against my backside. Fuck, this is definitely not sanitary, but I can’t bring myself to care.
“Evangeline?” Niko squeezes my hips, earning a slight squeak out of me. His laugh reverberates around the kitchen. “What’s the next step, mate?”
“Horizontal cuts. Like this.” My voice is far too breathy as my body goes on autopilot. I can dice an onion in my dreams, but apparently when a big, sexy fae is pressed up against me, I start to have problems remembering what an onion even is.
“Is that all?” His lips brush against my throat.
I haven’t kissed him since our ceremony. My body is dying to be touched and tasted by him. Something happened to me that night. Or maybe it started before. But the pull I feel toward him—and if I’m being honest, Zephyr too—is strong. It’s a sensationI’m not familiar with, and it’s consuming me from the inside.
“Then you cut.” I don’t want to cut this stupid onion. I want to drop everything, clear the counters, and have my husband ravish me until my body begs for him to stop. I’m wound tight, needing relief that only he can provide. It’s both terrifying and exhilarating.
“You’re good at that.” This time, his mouth presses against my neck, and a strangled cry leaves my lips. “So very good.”
“You’re distracting me, Niko.” I don’t want him to stop, though. And he knows it, considering how hard his cock is.
