“Hot spices?” Snow asked, curious of the flavors they’d offer him to sample. “I can’t wait to taste something you two have cooked,” Snow said.
“Tonight ismynight,” Owan said, winking at Lazlo.
Lazlo’s cheeks turned pink.
“Soon,” Hwa said, rising from the trestle table and carrying his bowl with him. “We’ll make you a feast of flavors.”
The others soon followed him, stacking their empty bowls at the end of the table. Snow gave all but Klaus a kiss goodbye as they grabbed their axes from beside the door and departed for the day. After they were all gone, he realized they’d not taken a midday meal. He swung the door open and yelled for them to stop—only to be told they had little time to stop and eat until the sun went down.
Snow sighed. How were the alphas supposed to retain their energy without a midday meal? He returned to the hall, no idea how to cook himself and unsure what he could do to improve their situation. He gazed at the dirty bowls left behind and knew that was one thing he could do to help.
First, he’d need to get water from the well and he’d never gotten water from a well. How hard could that be? It didn’t take long to realize it wasquitedifficult. He had no idea how the water gatherers at the castle did such back-breaking work day in and day out, bringing bucket after heavy bucket in to use. It took him hours to bring in enough water to clean breakfast away, but he finally managed it. After a rest, he searched for the books Vor had promised.
The first he found was one filled with handwritten recipes for their ale, a few quickbreads, and a couple of stews. A smile came to his face. If Snow made dinner for them, surely they would be pleased. They had such little time that was their own. If he could give them a couple of hours back, he would repay them for sharing their home and food with him.
He’d never cooked, but how hard could it be? He’d managed the water.
He could sort dinner, too, couldn’t he?
Chapter Nine
As the sun hung low in the sky, panic filled Snow’s heart. He raced with the fresh pail of water, both arms feeling numb from his labors throughout the day. By the time he returned inside the cottage, smoke poured from the cauldronandthe iron pan with the flat breads that weren’t quite flat yet not quite raised either. All of it was a mess. Tears shone in his eyes as he added water to the cauldron to stop the burning. Reaching for the iron pan, he forgot the thick pad of cloth and singed the side of his finger.
Snow let out a scream and yanked his hand away, shoving his finger between his lips to cool it. The door swung open, and he turned, his tears falling the instant he saw their incredulous faces.
“I… wanted to… make you… dinner,” Snow said through his sobs. “I’m sorry.”
The alphas looked at one another before rushing closer. Shen, Hwa, and Owan hugged him and assured him all was well. Greer, Klaus, and Lazlo carried the smoking cauldron out thefront door and took the haze along with it. Vor watched from the doorway, a hint of a smile on his lips.
“Do you think this is funny?” Snow asked.
“Nay,”Vor said he walked closer.
The three other alphas pulled back, giving Vor space.
Vor caressed Snow’s face. “I think it was sweet of you to try.”
“But I ruinedeverything,”Snow said, thoroughly ashamed. “I’ve wasted perfectly good food and made an enormous mess.” He eyed the table full of chaos. “I’ll clean it all up. I promise.”
“You tried,”Vor said, wiping the tears from Snow’s cheeks.
Greer reappeared. “The pot’s gonna need a good, long scrubbing. Lazlo is handling that. Klaus and I have our bows. We’ll go fetch us a few rabbits.”
“Why not use the rabbits in the cellar?” Owan asked.
“He used them in his…whatever that was,”Greer said. “We won’t have any until tomorrow. I’m tired of fish. We’ve had it six days straight. The wood is ripe with rabbit this time of the year. They’ve been underfoot all week.”
“I’m so sorry,” Snow said to the alphas circling him. “I was trying to give you all more time to enjoy your evening—and now I’ve just made it harder.”
“It’s okay, little prince,” Greer replied with a soft smile. “We’ll manage. Yer heart was in the right place, it was.”
“I should help Lazlo,” Snow said, pulling away from Vor.
Vor grasped his wrist, eyeing his hand. “You’re burned.”
“Just a little,” Snow whispered. “It’ll be okay.”
Vor scooped him up and carried him outside. He stalked to a nearby stream and plunged Snow’s hand below the surface.
