Chapter Five #2
“You find me pretty?” His mouth curved.
“Is that what I said?” I scrunched my face and played dumb. Pulling a Lupin. He did that crap to me all the time. “How interesting. I don’t recall.”
I faced away from him and started whipping up enough muffins to feed a small army.
The tips of my ears heated as I felt his gaze on me.
He moved closer to watch me work, which distracted me so much I lost my footing while turning to grab the sugar and nearly knocked the bowl of batter off the counter.
I heard a soft sound behind me, almost like a laugh, and fought the urge to stick my tongue out at him. No doubt he would’ve snatched said tongue with superhuman reflexes and pinched it or something.
Once the batter was ready, I distributed it between several muffin tins and popped them into the oven. Unfortunately, my feet betrayed me as I stepped away from said oven, and I stumbled, catching myself on the counter.
The air suddenly stirred at my back.
“Clumsy even in the kitchen,” Lord Onyx murmured against my nape, one hand planted on the counter on each side of me. Caging me in. “I thought this was your domain.”
I froze in place. My lungs stopped working, the breaths stilling in my chest. “L-Lord Onyx?”
He slid one arm around my stomach and gently turned me to face him.
Ruby red eyes had me in a trance. I couldn’t look away.
The scent of cedar and woodsmoke amplified as he slowly smoothed his fingers up my sternum and to the side of my neck.
Heat licked at my skin, following the path of his fingertips, as though he were made of fire.
“Do you fear me, little bird?” he asked.
“N-No,” I answered, body tingling from where he touched me.
“No?” Onyx took hold of my jaw and tipped my face up to his. The long strands of his black hair brushed my forearm, silky like a raven’s feathers. “Then tell me why your heart beats like this, if not from fear.”
“I…” My breaths stammered. “I don’t know.”
Did he feel it too? The same restlessness in his core and longing to be even closer? It was like a piece of my soul was reaching out for him. The need was so great my body quaked with it.
“You’re a dreadful liar.” A dark amusement danced across his sharp features.
“I’ve heard that once or twice.” My gaze fell to his lips, and the tingles of heat leftover from his fingertips spread through me like wildfire.
“It’s not exactly a lie though. I’m sure all sorts of things can make a heart beat faster.
Fear, excitement, desire. Cardio too. Though that might make mine stop beating. I’m too out of shape.”
“Desire, you say.” He glided his thumb across my bottom lip. “Is that it then?”
“Um.” The intensity of his scent made my knees tremble. It amplified as he angled his body closer, pressing more against me. “What?”
Onyx leaned in and ghosted his mouth along my neck. “Did your lovers not sate your lust last night? Is that why you’re trembling in my presence, heart racing and breaths hitching?” Ever so subtly, his lips made contact with the base of my ear. “Do you crave a demon’s touch?”
Goose bumps followed the trail his breath left on my skin.
And then, amidst his scent of woodsmoke, I caught a whiff of black cardamom.
My gaze snapped to the corner near the window. The lights in the kitchen left little room for shadows, but a faint one stretched along the wall. Thin but still enough for a certain spy to linger. Rowan must’ve woken, found me gone, and tracked me down.
Onyx followed my gaze, focusing on the same corner. “They truly are protective, aren’t they?” He lowered his hand from my face and took a step back. “I’ll leave you to your muffins. Fane should be joining you shortly.”
He took his leave without another word or glance in my direction. The moment he left the kitchen, the tiny electrical charges in the air went with him.
“You alright, little treasure?” a raspy voice came from the shadows. Black smoke swirled before Rowan stepped from the corner.
I nodded and held a hand toward him. “It’s early. You should be in bed.”
“The pup kicked me in his sleep and woke me up. Fluffy bastard.” In a few steps, he reached me and pulled me close. “Besides, someone has to make sure you don’t wander off and stumble down a cliff.” Softer, he added. “Or into a demon lord’s arms.”
Prickles assaulted my chest. No sense in playing dumb or denying it. The way Lord Onyx had stared at me—how he’d caressed my skin and caged me against the counter—made it clear he either wanted to fuck me or kill me. Possibly both.
“That would be bad, huh?” I hid my face in Rowan’s dark red hair. My throat tightened. “Stumbling into a demon lord’s arms.”
I felt him smile. “I reckon there could be worse arms to stumble into. At least it’s not another stinky rabbit.”
I breathed out a laugh. “Cal doesn’t stink. He smells like vanilla bean and warm bread. To me, anyway.”
“What’s Lord Onyx smell like?” Rowan grazed his lips over my cheek.
My stomach flip-flopped. A deeper question lingered beneath the one he’d asked. He knew only my fated mates had their own unique scent. By answering him, I’d be confirming his suspicions about Onyx.
“Cedar and woodsmoke,” I said, answering the unasked question. “Like a fire on a wintery night.”
“Fire suits him.” Rowan softly exhaled, his breath tickling my neck. “Gods. That vein in Maddox’s temple really will blow once he figures it out.”
“Ugh, don’t say that.” I groaned. “Isn’t it possible he’ll see it as an opportunity to make peace with Lord Onyx and be overjoyed?”
I felt him smile. “You really want me to answer that?”
“No,” I said with a stomp of my foot. “There won’t be peace, only snarls and threats. Which means I need to make more muffins. Lots more.”
“Maybe one of those egg things while you’re at it?” he asked, hope in his voice. He and Lake loved omelets.
“I’ll see what I can do.” I kissed him lightly on the lips before checking on the baking muffins. They were done, so I pulled the tins from the oven and set them aside to cool.
“Oh, pardon me,” a voice came from the doorway. Fane stopped in place. “I didn’t know anyone else had woken.”
“I started breakfast,” I said, motioning to the muffin platters. “I hope that’s okay.”
“Of course.” He tipped his head. “The muffins you made yesterday were quite delicious. I must admit you aren’t as incompetent in the kitchen as I initially assumed.”
“Thank you.” I smiled, not sure if I should take that as a compliment or not. “I think.”
Fane looked toward the window with a curve to his lips.
“Nice horns,” Rowan told him.
“I…” Fane’s hand lifted to them as if on impulse. His long, thin tail flicked back and forth twice before stilling. “I just had them polished.”
Rowan hopped up on the counter and brought one knee up, letting the other leg dangle off the edge. “Bet they’d fetch a pretty penny to the right buyer.”
“Pardon me?” Various emotions flickered across Fane’s face. But the one front and center? Apprehension.
“He’s joking,” I said, shooting a glare at my redhead. “Don’t listen to a word he says.”
Leave it to Rowan to take the little progress I’d made with getting Fane to trust me and throw it out the window.
“I never said I would sell them,” Rowan responded. “Only that they’d earn a nice chunk of coin. It was a compliment.”
“Coin has no value in this realm.” Fane’s expression remained hard. “Unless you intend to leave soon?”
“Don’t sound so hopeful,” Roman answered. “You won’t get rid of me that easy. I go where Evan goes.”
“Then I suggest making yourself at home.” Fane retrieved a kettle and filled it with water. “Because word around the castle is Evan will be staying with us for quite some time.”
The reminder caused a flutter of nerves in my belly. I couldn’t figure out if they were bad nerves or ones stirred from excitement. My body tingled from where Lord Onyx had pressed against me earlier.
“Wonder why that is.” Rowan glanced at me before focusing on Fane. “The demon lord is mighty interested in the well-being of a human. Kinda strange, wouldn’t you say?”
“Uncommon, yes,” Fane answered. “But far from strange. Milord, despite his unsavory reputation outside this realm, has a good heart. The problem is humans like you never give him the chance to prove it before trying to strike him down.”
A good heart. Somehow, I got the same feeling about Onyx. There was more to him than his fierce reputation. A lightheartedness, like when he’d been eager to help me with the muffins.
“I should write a book.” I exaggerated a sigh. “A memoir titled That Time I Was Rescued by a Demon Lord and Then Became His Prisoner. I think it could be a hit.”
“Are you always so melodramatic?” Fane asked.
“Not always.” I filled tins with the next batch of muffins and popped them into the oven. “Sometimes I’m sassy.”
Rowan snorted.
Fane’s lips twitched before he stepped away, returning with a large skillet and a pot big enough for me to sit inside.
He worked quickly, measuring out rice and starting a boil, then chopping carrots and onions.
Eggs were laid out beside the skillet. Looked like he planned to make a type of savory breakfast rice.
My redhead was intrigued. “It’s like one of your egg things but mixed in with rice.”
Honestly, it reminded me of a Japanese dish I’d seen in an anime called omurice. Which made me wonder, not for the first time, if there had ever been other realm-travelers like me who’d gone between worlds. They could’ve shared information, like recipes and inventions.
Sounds from the hall drew our attention.
“Nina smellsss something yummy!” a female voice rang out.
Four demons joined us in the spacious kitchen; ones I’d seen around the castle but hadn’t been introduced to yet.
“Hello, wee human,” the female who’d spoken earlier greeted me.
Her bright yellow eyes had black slits for pupils that reminded me of a reptile.
Dark golden hair fell in long waves down her back, and a shimmer covered her skin, like she’d been a victim of a glitter bomb.
She crept closer to the muffin pan and sniffed. “Banana?”
“Good nose.” I smiled at her, then extended my hand. “I’m Evan.”
She eyed my hand with interest… and perhaps a touch of confusion. “What am I to do? Lick it?”
“Huh?” I drew back on instinct. “No. You’re supposed to shake. Like a greeting.”
“That’s the human cussstom? I see.” Her tongue quickly flicked out. It was forked like a snake. She grabbed my hand and shook it up and down with such force my whole body moved. “You may call me Nina.”
“Nice to, er, meet you, Nina.” I rubbed at my shoulder. Felt like she’d nearly yanked my arm out of the socket.
Rowan snickered.
“Another human,” Nina said once spotting him. She thrust out her arm and wiggled her fingers. “For our greeting.”
“You can call me Rowan.” He eyed her hand before reluctantly accepting it. I retracted a few of his naughty points from earlier. He could’ve refused but was trying to play nice.
“Rowan!” Nina shook his hand so hard it nearly tugged him off the counter. “I am Nina.”
“Yeah, I heard.” He rubbed at his shoulder just like I’d done.
Fane cleared his throat and retrieved dishes from the cupboard. Given the smirk he tossed my way as he set them on the counter, he was far too amused at Rowan’s expense. I was happy his wariness had lifted, if only a little.
The other three demons introduced themselves.
Cyan, a female demon with vibrant blue hair and eyes that matched, had a bubbly personality that instantly put me at ease.
The other female was more reserved and kept her distance, giving only her name—Mae—and a nod to go with it.
The nod revealed a row of small, purple horns atop her black hair.
“And you may call me Koga,” the male demon told me and Rowan. He had thick, red-orange hair that reminded me of a lion’s mane and fangs that protruded from beneath his upper lip.
“Do all of you work here in the castle?” I asked.
“We do!” Cyan bounced over and snatched a muffin. She held it up to the light and admired it with a crooked smile. “Nina and I assist Fane in the kitchen and keep the pantry stocked. Well, I do. She isn’t allowed to do the shopping anymore.”
“Meanie Cyan.” Nina stuck her forked tongue out at her.
“Why not?” I looked between the two of them.
“Because she eats the inventory before it makes it to the pantry,” Cyan answered.
I tried not to laugh.
“I’m in charge of the laundry,” Mae softly said, not making eye contact.
“She’s quite the seamtressss as well,” Nina added, emphasizing like a serpent.
Mae nodded. “If any of your clothing needs mending, do let me know.”
“Will do. Thanks.” I motioned to the muffins. “Please help yourself.”
Good thing I’d thought to make several batches.
The demons poured cups of tea and piled their plates high with muffins and the take on omurice before sitting at a rectangular table along the opposite wall. Fane joined them, leaving me and Rowan beside the counter.
“Sssit, Evan,” Nina said with a toothy smile, then shook her head and lightly slapped both her cheeks. “Bad, Nina. Control your tongue.”
Was she self-conscious about emphasizing her ‘s’s? Poor girl. I thought it was cute.
“Here!” Cyan pulled out the empty chair beside her and patted the seat. “By me, by me.”
“Why you?” Mae quietly asked her. “The one beside me is closest to him.”
The blue-haired demon puffed out her cheeks in protest.
Nina grinned. “Evan can sit by me. I found him firssst.”
I wavered in place, a bit surprised. Couldn’t say I’d ever had ladies fight over me before.
Rowan quietly coughed into his fist.
“Not a word,” I mumbled at him.
“I’m sure Evan and his companion wish to return to their room first and wake the others,” Fane said, earning a huge pout from Cyan. “But perhaps you’ll see him again after.”
Nina grumbled something and picked at her food, but I caught the words “meanie, selfish humansss.”
Something about her reminded me of Kuya. A pressure enclosed my heart as I thought of him and all the friends left behind in Bremloc.
“You okay, little treasure?” Rowan gently gripped my wrist. He wasn’t big on hand holding, but I didn’t mind. This way felt as special; a thing he reserved just for me.
I nodded. “Better now that you and the others are here.”
Beyond the window, the sun broke across the horizon, flooding the distant mountains in shades of gold and dark orange. Another morning in the Shadow Realm, only now, my men were with me.
Men who would be waking up any moment and wondering where we’d wandered off to.