Vor chuckled as he rose and gathered Snow’s hand. “Feel well enough to walk? Or should I carry you again? I know you dislike the latter.”
Snow scoffed all while secretly hoping he’d be tossed over one shoulder again. Being manhandled was actually quite stimulating. “I can walk,” all while leaning closer and hoping to be snagged into those large arms.
Instead, Vor held Snow’s hand as they left the bedroom. Snow gazed down where those hands met, Vor’s much larger one engulfing his. A smile came to his face seeing them clasped together. It was silly but viewing that big alpha hand wrapped around his made him deliriously happy.
As they approached the other alphas, Snow hid himself behind Vor, a hint of embarrassment creeping over him realizing they all likely knew what they’d been doing during that bath. Had they heard his shameful cries of pleasure as Vor fucked him? If not, Shen might have shared what he’d witnessed.
Either way, they likely knew.
But did it really matter if they did?
Snow twisted his free hand into the fine linen of Vor’s borrowed shirt. It hung low on Snow, falling halfway between his knees and his ankles. Ithadto have been what Vor had been wearing when he was captured. It wasn’t the shirt of a peasant; he was sure of it, but then Vor had said he’d been close to the highborn,so perhaps that made sense. Snow had detected displeasure at his question, so he’d let it be, fearing more silence if he asked more questions. Maybe Vor would open up and tell him that tale one day.
One day.
That again implied he’d be there for more than a single night. That his remaining there seemed a forgone conclusion was oddly satisfying. Snow’s gaze drifted up to Vor’s profile, sure he’d be going nowhere without the alpha at his side.
When he peeked around Vor, Snow noticed the men lazing about the fire with crudely carved wooden bowls and spoons clutched in their hands. Some sat on stiff wooden chairs. Shen and Hwa lounged on large satiny pillows on the floor. Regardless of where they were, all eyes were on him, curiosity shining in their gazes.
It wasn’tonlycuriosity circling within their stares, though.
As Snow met Shen’s gaze, he saw the same lust he’d noticed in Vor’s bedroom. It appeared in several other eyes—all but Klaus’s. No, Klaus’s gaze was solely on Lazlo… and Lazlo’s kept tripping to Klaus’s, too.
Snow gasped inwardly. They stared at one another like lovers did—with hunger in their eyes. The way he stared at Vor and Vor stared back.
Two alphas, though?
Alphas mated omegas, not other alphas. Although… they’d been imprisoned in the cottage alone, supposedly without omegas, for some time. Perhaps they’d turned to one another to slake their lusts a time or two. Yet, the way Klaus and Lazlo gazed upon one another spoke of something more than just meeting a need. Itspoke of affection. A fondness which may have been born from their shared need.
Vor led Snow back to the same chair he’d sat in before filling two bowls with whatever Lazlo had made for their supper. Vor handed one over to Snow, along with a spoon and a hunk of warm bread and retook his spot on the stool, facing him.
“If this is your chair, I’m happy to sit on the stool,” Snow whispered.
“Nay,”Vor said. “You sit there where it’s comfortable.”
Snow frowned at Vor, sensing he wouldn’t win that fight. He curled his legs under him and drew in the scent from the bowl. The aroma wasn’t all that appetizing, but his stomach was clenched with hunger. Holding out hope, he tasted a small amount. The flavor made him wince. While it wasn’t the worst thing he’d eaten, it was nowhere near the best, either.
“Mmmm… Whatisthis?” Snow asked, forcing a smile. “I’m unfamiliar with this… hmm…interestingdish.”
“I tossed together some bits and pieces from the root cellar. Whatever we had plenty of,” Lazlo replied. “Apples, beets, carrots, sauerkraut, and a bit of pork fat to flavor the broth.”
That didn’t sound inherently bad. The sauerkraut was an odd choice, but still within the realm of reason. So why did it taste… of the sea? Too much salt?
“Oh, and I added some fish to add more meat,” Lazlo said.
“Which fish?” Owan asked, looking aghast.
“The fermented fish no one ever uses,” Lazlo replied.
All of the alphas groaned, most shoving their bowls aside.
“It might not have been so bad had he used herbs and spices to mask some of the stronger flavors.” Shen eyed Lazlo. “Are thereanyspices in here?”
“Spice wouldn’t save this. I vote we allow Lazlo to doother thingsbesides cook,” Vor muttered before shoving another spoonful between his grim lips and wincing.
“I think he ruined dinner on purpose,”Hwa said, dropping his spoon into his bowl. He turned an evil gaze to Lazlo and rose to one knee, reaching for the dagger at his hip. “Perhaps he needs to be taught a lesson for such insolence.”
“Calm,” Shen said, placing a hand on Hwa’s arm. “He’s had little practice over the fire.”
