“I found some of my son’s old clothes in a trunk. I think this sweater will fit you and keep you much warmer than the blanket.”
I couldn’t prevent my smile as I looked up at her. “Thank you, Masu.”
“Do you have any of his old trousers?” Bokkan asked before she could respond to me.
“I do,” she answered, giving him a confused look.
“Do you think they would fit Leda?”
She glanced back at me, studying my form. “Yes, though they would be too long in the leg. I would have to shorten them.”
“Could you have a pair for her tomorrow morning?”
I opened my mouth to tell them both that it wasn’t necessary, but Masu answered before I could.
“Of course.”
“It’s okay,” I began. “I can wait until you have time to?—”
“It will only take me a few moments,” Masu interrupted. “I’ll go get them. When the two of you are done eating, I’ll bring them up and pin them. A pair will be ready for you in the morning.”
I opened my mouth to argue, but it was useless because the daemoness swept out of the bedchamber, shutting the door behind her.
My eyes moved to Bokkan. “She’s actually in charge around here, isn’t she?”
A wide, white smile spread across his face, revealing his fangs again. The expression should have been terrifying but his black eyes crinkled at the corners and practically twinkled. “She is.”
“And she makes you pay her to boss you around?”
Bokkan chuckled. Well, it was the deepest, most rumbly laugh I’d ever heard. I could feel the vibrations from across the room, even though it wasn’t loud. The pitch and timbre of his voice sent a shiver rushing down my spine. The daemon could make a mint narrating romance novels back home. His voice was deeper than any human man’s and it elicited an uncontrollable physical reaction in me. The sensation was both primal and voracious. Human women would pay top dollar to experience the feelings I had right now.
My stomach chose that moment to growl again, and his smile morphed into a scowl. “You need to eat,” he grumbled, moving to the tray Masu had set on the table.
He plucked up a wide, shallow bowl, the pottery obviously handmade, and brought it over to me. The dish looked tiny in hishuge, clawed hand, but when I took it from him, I had to cradle it with both of my hands, or I wouldn’t have been able to hold it. Hell, it was the size of the one serving bowl I kept in my kitchen for when I made popcorn during movie nights.
“What’s this?” I asked.
“Stew with beans, vegetables, and meat. Masu is in charge here because she’s also the best cook in the city. And she knows it. Any other house would pay her even more than I do, but she accepted my job offer when I told her that she would have free rein of the kitchen. She chooses the menu, the food kept in the pantry and cellar, and even selects the wine, tea, andszite.”
“What’szighty?” I asked, trying to sound out the word. It didn’t sound quite the same coming from my lips as it did his. There was some sort of accent on the first syllable that I couldn’t replicate.
I discovered the huge daemon could be cute when he paused, blinking his black eyes slowly as he processed my question.
Finally, he answered, “It is a strong beverage we drink in the morning or any time we need something to help us stay awake. It is made from the root of a common plant here. It’s roasted and minced into small pieces. Then it is further dried and stored in a special wooden box to enhance its flavor. We add it to hot water and let it simmer for a few minutes before pouring it through a strainer into a cup.”
I nodded. “We have something like that where I’m from. It’s called coffee. Some people drink it as is, and others add sugar or milk to theirs.”
“Sziteis always served with a sweetener and milk. Drinking it without diluting it can cause stomach pains.”
Good to know.I glanced down at the bowl in my hands, inhaling the scent of meat, vegetables, and spices. The fragrance reminded me of the Mediterranean restaurant I often went to after work. My mouth watered, and my stomach growled again.But there was no spoon in the bowl. I frowned, wondering if eating utensils weren’t a thing here. A chunk of bread appeared in front of me.
“Here. We scoop the stew up with this and eat both. I have a spoon if you want it.”
My gaze drifted up to his face. Though his bronze features and black eyes gave him an alien appearance, I was beginning to read his expressions better now. He looked concerned. Earnest.
The tiny bit of trust I had in him grew again, like a seed sprouting roots and a delicate stem. If I truly were stuck here, Bokkan was proving to be the kind of friend I would need to navigate this strange place.
Chapter
