Chapter Five
Early Bird Gets… Caught by a Demon Lord?
I was a muffin on a mission—that mission being cooking breakfast for the sleeping men piled together in our bed.
The dark and winding corridors all looked identical as I moved through the castle.
Finding the kitchen shouldn’t have been too hard.
I’d done it twice already. Too bad I was a disaster when it came to remembering directions.
Maybe because my head was too full of recipes and all the smutty romance books I’d devoured in my lifetime.
Remembering whether to turn left or right at the end of the hall? Impossible. But I could recall every book boyfriend’s eye color and how he liked to fuck. It was a special skillset.
“Lost again, little bird?”
I squeaked and impulsively chopped at the air with my hand.
Onyx stepped from the shadows. His red eyes softly glowed in the dim light, a stark contrast to his porcelain skin.
He was both frightening and beautiful, like an angel of death.
I could practically feel the power pumping through his blood and sparking in the air, causing the tiny hairs on my arms to stand on end.
“L-Lord Onyx,” I stammered. “Hi. I mean, good morning. Kind of. The sun’s not up yet. You’re awake early.”
“As are you.” He stopped less than a foot away, close enough for his scent to waft to me, like woodsmoke on a cold winter’s night. “I assume you’re searching for the kitchen?”
“Guilty.” I rubbed at the back of my neck, trying to calm the excited hairs. “I wanted to cook breakfast for everyone.”
“Everyone?” Onyx took one step closer, bringing him more into my orbit. Or maybe pulling me deeper into his. Something in my chest reached out for him, begging for me to close the distance between us. “Does that include me too? Or only your lovers?”
His inflection remained steady, unchanging, but there was a flicker of something in his eyes. I couldn’t read the emotion before it fled.
“You and them,” I responded, voice shaky. “Though I don’t know how Fane will feel about it. He always cooks your meals, doesn’t he? I don’t want to upset him.”
“Interesting.” Onyx searched my face. Scrutinized me. What he was looking for, I didn’t know, but it awoke a flutter of nerves in my belly. “You care if you upset him?”
“Well, of course. He’s my friend.” Even if Fane didn’t see us as such yet.
“Your friend.” A subtle smile touched his lips. “How my curiosity in you deepens, Evan Clark. Very few humans would meet a demon and call them a friend so soon, if at all. In all my years, I’ve only met one other like you.”
“My dad,” I said.
He nodded and offered me his arm. “Come. I’ll escort you to the kitchen.”
“I can find it on my own.” But I took his arm anyway. The moment we made contact, a warm current traveled from my arm and to that place in my chest that reached out for him anytime he was near.
“You can?” Onyx peered down at me, one brow lifting into a perfect arch. “And yet, here I’ve found you wandering around the opposite side of the castle in your search for it.”
“Really? I could’ve sworn I was in the right place.” I expelled a short laugh. “One day, I’ll learn how to navigate this maze of a castle.”
“Until then, I can walk with you and ensure you don’t become lost.” Humor touched his eyes. “I would hate for you to stumble into the dungeon and meet your death.”
“My death?” I asked, walking with him down the corridor. “Why do you say that? What the heck is down there? A pit of swords? A dragon? Ravenous, muffin-eating monsters?”
“Stairs,” he said, amusement growing. “I fear you’d lose your footing and tumble down them, more than likely breaking your neck.”
“I’m not that clumsy. You’re just as bad as Maddox. He’s always teasing me.”
“Then perhaps you should stop being so fun to tease.” Onyx tossed me another smile, this one softer than before, and continued forward.
“Um.” I padded alongside him, taking bigger strides to match his. Curse him and his long legs. “About last night… I’m sorry for how Maddox and Callum treated you.”
“You warned me they would be on their guard. No apology needed.” As if noticing my struggle to keep up with him, he slowed his pace. “Many of my warriors were displeased with my decision as well.”
“They were?”
He nodded. “Not that they voiced their displeasure in my presence.”
Guilt flooded my chest. “I’m sorry I’ve caused you so much trouble.”
“I must agree with you in that regard.” Onyx glanced at me. “You are trouble, Evan Clark. More so than I ever imagined you’d be.”
I got the feeling we weren’t only referring to his warriors.
“Just say the word, and I’ll leave,” I told him. “Problem solved.”
“If only it were so simple.” His brow narrowed. “I’d have to be willing to let you leave first.”
His words reminded me of a not-so-awesome detail he’d shared last night in the parlor. “Am I really forbidden to leave?”
“Yes.”
“Well, that was a quick answer. Not a hint of hesitation.”
Like before, he took several seconds to study me. Made me wonder what he saw in my expression. “My decision is for your own good. Leaving the safety of my realm would result in your immediate capture.”
“So, you’re holding me here to protect me?” Frustration built in my chest, causing a tug on my sternum. “Why? Out of the goodness of your heart?”
“I have my reasons.”
“Which are?” I did a rolling movement with my fingers, signaling him to get on with it.
His gaze dropped to my hand before he gently grabbed my wrist and brought me in closer. The heat of his body took every thought from my head. “I once warned you about asking questions. You very well may get an answer.”
“That’s kinda the point,” I said, my voice steadier than I felt. “Is it because of my dad? You feel protective of me out of loyalty to him?”
Onyx watched me, expression unreadable, before releasing his hold on me and continuing down the corridor.
With my heart in my throat and a strange pressure in my chest, I followed him. We reached the kitchen not long after. No one else was there yet, so the place was dark and quiet like the rest of the castle.
Onyx waved his hand, and the wall sconces ignited, washing away the shadows with a soft warm glow. The large window on the far wall showed a dark sky that was gradually growing lighter in the distance. Not quite daybreak but inching closer with each passing second.
“I must confess that I was dishonest with you.”
I looked at him, nerves prickling at my ribs. “Oh yeah? About what?”
A smirk played at his lips. “I can’t actually whack heads off with a simple flick of my fingers. But how fun that would be if I could.”
I softly laughed, both amused and relieved. My mind always went to the worst-case scenario. “Lie about anything else?”
“Such as?” Onyx rested his hip against the counter, watching me.
“Well, for starters, it’d be awesome if I actually wasn’t your prisoner.”
“I never said you were a prisoner.” Humor touched his eyes. “You’re free to wander around my castle as you please. If you’re good, you may be allowed to go outside.”
“If I’m good?” I put my hands on my hips. “You’re the one who’s being a butthole, not me.”
His lips twitched. “Are you always so cheeky?”
“It’s worse when I haven’t had coffee,” I responded. “I’m going on, like, day four without it. I’m surprised I haven’t died. Or started a riot. Coffee withdrawal is no joke.”
Onyx chuckled. The sound was low and musical. “I’ll speak to Fane and see if we can gather beans for you.”
“Are they rare in this realm?” I asked, horrified by the thought. Coffee had been uncommon in Bremloc as well, mainly because of the price. Only nobles had been able to afford the high-quality beans.
“I wouldn’t say they’re rare,” he responded. “Most of us here simply don’t care for the taste. We prefer tea.”
“Ah, so you’re like Briar and Lake. They love tea. Maddox and Callum are coffee sluts like me though.”
“And Rowan?” Onyx asked.
“Rum. It’s his life juice.”
Another chuckle filled the space between us. I tried not to focus on how my body responded to the sound. My chest felt featherlight and warmth filled my bloodstream.
Onyx cocked his head, smile slipping. He moved in closer and ever so lightly rested his hand over my heart. “Beating so quickly beneath my palm. Tell me, little bird, is it from nerves… or something more?”
His proximity definitely didn’t help calm those quick heartbeats.
“I’ll, uh, start breakfast.” I stumbled back from him and dove into the pantry, taking deep breaths once inside and out of his sight.
Fated mate or not, genuine fear filled my bones at the thought of us together.
He was like one of those complex ciphers with the hidden messages.
You had to carefully turn the nobs and twist to solve the puzzle.
Problem was, one wrong move and a bottle of ink would burst and destroy the contents forever.
A reflection of what possibly awaited me in being with him. The jury was out on whether Lord Onyx was the one who’d possibly kill me someday. A walking and talking, too hot for his own good, doom flag.
“Did you become lost in there?” Onyx asked from outside the pantry door. “Need help finding your way out?”
“N-No, I’m good! Just grabbing what I need.” Once composed, I exited the pantry with an arm full of ingredients and set them on the counter. I was acutely aware of Onyx watching me as I moved around the large kitchen, gathering bowls and utensils.
“What are we making?” He leaned against the counter and propped his chin on his hand.
That made me smile. “We?”
“You think me incapable of cooking?” He lowered his arm from the countertop and pushed up his sleeves. “Tell me what you need me to do and I’ll do it.”
Just like that, my earlier nerves dissipated. The male before me didn’t seem like a wicked villain who’d murder me in cold blood. He seemed… kind of cute.
“I’m making muffins,” I said, pointing the stirring spoon at him. “I just need you to sit there and look pretty.”
Oh no. The word had slipped before I could stop it.