Chapter 22
“What’s that?” I ask, pointing at a small jar of seasoning Kieran just sprinkled into whatever it is he’s whipping up.
It looks like salt, but it’s pink and gold.
He glances back, a smile gracing his beautiful face.
His mismatched eyes soften, like he’s looking at a naughty, curious girl who’s getting on his nerves as he tries to cook but can’t help adoring her silly little questions.
“That,” Kieran says, “is stardust salt.”
He must be joking.
“Stardust as in …?”
“Stardust,” he repeats, as if he’s talking about just another spice they imported from the East …
or in this case, the skies. “Honestly, there’s so much of the market you haven’t seen yet.
I’d say you should go there more often, but then again, with everything that’s been going on, I’m not sure it’s a good idea. ”
I hum, resting my chin on my palm, smiling even though his back is to me. “Maybe you can take me one day.”
Kieran swings a tea towel over his shoulder, turning to me, a gorgeous smile already on those perfect lips as he leans in and whispers, “Only if you ask nicely.”
I lick my lips.
There’s something about when a man—a Fae King—cooks for you in his kitchen, the tea towel on his shoulder, the veins on his arms as he braces the edge of the counter, and those impossible wings. His honeyed skin is so beautiful, and Gods, I haven’t even mentioned those eyes yet.
Lord save me.
If all Kieran had going for him was his looks, things would have been so much easier, but I find his kindness and our nonsense conversations utterly charming.
Like that night at the River of Vows. We could talk about anything and everything.
“I would love to see more of the Court, you know,” I reply, trying not to drag my eyes all over him.
It’s an effort, especially just less than an hour after he took the pain from me.
“I used to go out with Tessa and Lucas … but, well, Tessa is gone, and Lucas works in shifts, so he’s rarely around.
And I don’t always want to wander out by myself. ”
The golden and deep-blue eyes flick to the floor for a brief second, before they meet my eyes again. There’s something in them—guilt or sadness. I can’t quite tell. It fades away in a heartbeat.
“There’s street called Moonlight Walk at the market. You can find all these home-made spices there.”
I blink. “Can we go?”
“Focus on recovering first.” He brushes a thumb cross my cheek. “Then we can talk about it.”
I suppose that’s fair.
I watch as Kieran returns to cooking. I’ve followed him around everywhere nearly every day, and I’ve seen him put on the King of the Fallen mask when he works. He’s ruthless, dangerous, yet … so gentle and thoughtful.
And I just want … more.
I want to learn everything about him.
Not that I have a lot of time left to do so.
I sit there, in awe of how elegantly he moves. How he crafts those ingredients into a meal. Every move is precise and without hesitation, like he knows exactly what he’s doing.
I’m an all-right cook, but I don’t even have to taste Kieran’s food to know it’s probably a work of art.
Does he do this a lot—cook for someone?
There’s a hole in my chest. It swallows all my words because I’m scared to hear the answer.
And I don’t want to think about anyone, or anything else right now.
Kieran sets the table on the balcony. I’m not sure I want to catch a cold when I’m already injured … but he offers me a hand, and I take it without question.
He gently helps me to my seat. I’m about to make a joke about the cold … then I feel the heat radiating from the chair, pulling me in a like warm hug.
This is—
I glance up at Kieran, who leans in to place a blanket on my lap.
“I thought you might want some fresh air.”
“You heated the chair up,” I murmur, surprised, clutching the blanket.
“What’s magic good for if not to impress a lady, eh?” He winks and sits down next to me. I throw my head back laughing.
Kieran’s made it insanely difficult not to adore him.
“Thank you.” I can barely hold back a smile. Guilt and shame manage to snatch me back every time I feel slight happiness … but not this time. “The food smells lovely. What is it?”
“Pork rib stew with root vegetables. You can say it’s my comfort food.”
“I have so many questions.” I tilt my head. “Where do you get meat? Where are the animals? Do you have farms?”
Kieran laughs, sinking into his own seat.
“Yes, we do have farms. Like I said, there’s so much of the Court you haven’t seen.
When you entered, you practically stepped into a portal.
Usually, contestants only stay at the Court and the city outside it, but even the wine we drink has to come from somewhere. ”
“And you have resources to produce all this?”
“We do steal some from your world when you’re not looking.”
My jaw drops. “Well, that explains it.”
He chuckles, nodding at the stew. “I hope you like it, because if you don’t, the only other option left is eggs and toast.”
He doesn’t know I already love it.
I pick up a spoon and try it carefully. The fragrance of herbs and spices reminds me of something familiar, but the stew tastes like nothing I’ve ever tried before. The broth is rich with flavours, warm and delightfully spicy, and the pork is so tender it melts in one bite.
“Oh, my Gods.” I purr. “This is gorgeous! Is there anything you can’t do?”
“Keep you tame, I believe.”
I grin, reaching to squeeze Kieran’s cheek gently. “You like me messy and wild, I know.”
He scoffs. “A normal woman couldn’t deal with me anyway.”
I giggle before stopping mid-laugh because the damn pain decides to become my reward for being cheeky. Kieran immediately frowns.
“You okay?”
“Yeah, I’m fine.” I nod, trying to change the subject because of the look in his eyes. “Where did you learn to cook like this?”
He sighs. “Again, if I can’t make a decent meal after living for centuries, I might as well stab myself with an iron blade.”
I get the joke, but this time I don’t laugh.
Hearing him say that after what happened … I just …
“Please don’t,” I whisper, but it sounds like a plea. Kieran lowers his spoon, blinking at me, like he’s wondering if his ears are playing tricks on him. “Don’t die … okay?”
And I don’t really know what’s gotten into me.
Or why my chest is so tight at the thought of Kieran doing that to himself.
I know he wouldn’t … but that doesn’t change how I feel.
Kieran presses his lips together, and for a beat, he doesn’t say a thing.
Then, his hand finds mine, fingers intertwined.
“If I die, it won’t be by suicide.” The corner of his mouth curves into a grin. “Besides, you said you were going to beat the crap out of me earlier.”
And it works—one line and I’m laughing again.
I shake my head, but I can’t shake the smile on my face.
“Tell me more about you,” he says, letting go of my hand and starting to eat. I do the same.
And suddenly it feels like we’ve shared this moment every evening.
This thing we have is so familiar and comfortable.
And no matter how hard I try, I just know nothing will prepare me for the day it ends.
“I think it’s possible you know more about me than I do myself.”
“So?”
I bite my lip. “Fine. I’m twenty-three.”
Kieran rolls his eyes. “Why do I even try to be romantic? Mother of the stars. You know exactly what I mean.”
I do. Kieran wants to learn more about me like I do him, and it’s cute and romantic.
But it wouldn’t be me if I didn’t try to tease him a little.
“Well, I’m a caffeine addict,” I start, and Kieran scoffs.
“I did all right in school, but I’ve never been a scholar.
All I ever wanted to do was own a café—and I know, you probably think ‘If all women’s dreams came true, we’d probably have a million cafes,’ but that’s genuinely the only thing I want to do. ”
“I didn’t think anything.” He smiles. “Apart from the obvious fact that you’re adorable.”
Gods, I can’t do anything around him.
It’s so hard to focus. Every damn second I’m not touching him is harder than the last.
“I grew up in a loving family, and I was fortunate enough to have a small house of my own. I don’t have that many friends, but every single one I do have is a friend for life.”
My voice is barely a whisper. I haven’t allowed myself to think about everyone I left behind—Scarlett, my best friend. Joanna, Devon—they must be worried sick. I wonder what Noah told them about me.
I abandoned them all after Declan died. In my grief-stricken state, I pushed everyone away.
Kieran seems to sense my sadness. He says, “Well, you probably have more best friends than me, because I only have Gideon.”
I offer a faint smile. “What about Atticus?”
“We used to be closer, but let’s just say he’s not entirely happy I broke his little sister’s heart.” He winces.
“Yeah … I can imagine.”
“Did you have any pets growing up?”
I’m pleasantly surprised by that question—a very common one, but from the mouth of the King of the Fallen, it’s unexpected.
“We had a dog, but he died when I was fourteen. I cried for days.”
“Maybe I should get a dog.” He taps on his chin.
“Did you not hear the part when I said I cried for days?”
“I did, but would a puppy not make you feel better?”
I frown. “Yes. Until it dies.”
“We’ll make him immortal. I can do that.”
And now I’m laughing again, the pain be damned.
Our nonsense conversation has started, and I know damn well it won’t stop anytime soon.
The stew is probably cold. The moon is casting a soft light over us, and Kieran looks too perfect, and all I want to do is sit on his lap and kiss him until we’re breathless after drinking too much for our own good …
Mother of the stars.
There is no way out of this grave I’ve dug myself into.
“Come on, how many dogs should we get?” he presses. “What about cats? Horses? Goats? Hairy little fluffy cows? You fancy those too? I’ll buy them all.”
My laughter spills out, loud and careless until my chest aches.
But the pain fades into nothing with Kieran in front of me.