Chapter 10 #2
"Meat, any meat will do." He stood and headed toward the door.
Ulric's gaze fastened on Ezra again. "He needs meat?"
"Maybe he's low on protein."
Shaking his head, Ulric turned to Farkas but stilled with his mouth open. Ezra looked too. Farkas was fast asleep on the couch, his long legs hanging over the armrest.
Ulric spluttered. "And he needed to sleep, I take it."
"You already knew he needed to sleep."
Nodding, Ulric rubbed his neck. "He needs to eat. Why wasn't he hurrying out into the kitchen like Geri did."
"He most likely needed sleep more." Ezra pushed a sheet into the oven.
* * * *
The corridor smelled of cookies, and Rourke poked his head out of the office. He'd been able to focus better today, and he hadn't missed the smirks Due had given him. He refused to tell her she was right, that cuddling with Ezra in bed this morning had helped clear his mind.
Geri came heading in the direction of the office.
"Who's baking?" No one ever baked.
"Ezra. Magic cookies." Geri shook his head, but he was smiling.
"Magic cookies? Magic how?"
"Packed with magic."
Shit, this wasn't good. "And you allowed him to?"
Geri shrugged. "He was already baking when we got there. Didn't want to waste the cookies."
His pack was a bunch of idiots. No wonder they hadn't defeated the witches. "You're kidding, right?"
"Nope." He grinned at Rourke. "Don't worry. Ulric ate half the batch before he allowed anyone else a taste."
Fear gripped Rourke's heart. "Is he okay?" Fuck, did it help to throw up when you'd eaten something laced with magic?
"Sure, mellow as fuck. You'd think he'd been smoking something. I guess he's been a bit high-strung lately."
Rourke growled and flung himself through the corridor.
The door to his room banged against the wall as he threw it open.
"What the fuck do you think you're doing?
" His words were more snarl than anything else, and Ezra dropped the spoon he'd been holding.
It clanked against the kitchen counter, and he backed away from Rourke, fear etched on his face.
Ulric slowly got up from a chair and stretched. "It's cool, Rourke. I volunteered as a test subject."
Rourke glared at him. "You stupid fuck." He couldn't lead this pack without Ulric by his side. He needed him, and the idiot allowed a witch to hex him.
He grabbed all the cookies and threw them in the trash. "Are you out of your mind? He's a witch!" He gestured at Ezra who was pressed against the wall next to the window, as far away from Rourke as he could get.
"Rourke..." Ulric's voice was mellow, and his body relaxed. For a moment, Rourke was reminded of a much younger Ulric. He'd been carefree, chosen joy over worry, but then the wars had started, and that version of his friend had gone away.
Seeing your nearest and dearest ones get killed changed a person.
"You know better." Rourke shook his head at him. "Never trust a witch. You know how vicious they are."
Ulric widened his eyes at him. "Right." Then he dipped his head and walked out of the room.
Rourke flashed teeth and heard something close to a whimper coming from Ezra.
He ignored him and focused on Farkas who slowly got up from the couch.
What the hell was Farkas doing here? He, if anyone, was aware of what witches were capable of.
He didn't think he'd ever be the same after the months he'd spent in their care.
He didn't say a word as he walked toward the door, didn't so much as look at Rourke.
Once he'd left the room, Rourke shoved the door so it closed with a bang.
His claws threatened to push through as he took a step closer to Ezra who edged away from him. Rourke took another step forward, and Ezra's gaze jumped around the room for a second before he chose the path between the kitchen table and the couch.
"I forbid you to go near any food." It would be a miracle if Ezra could make out the words in the growl. "You're not to bake, not to cook anything."
Rourke hadn't believed it possible for him to get any paler, but he did.
He took another step forward, and Ezra skidded to his right, getting closer to the bed now.
Rourke could grab him. He was much faster than Ezra and could've had his hands on him in a second, could tackle him to the bed, but he didn't.
"Do you understand?" He put all his authority in the words, and Ezra nodded before running toward the bathroom. The lock clicked into place, and Rourke stood staring for a few seconds.
Anger was still simmering in his veins, but maybe he could've handled this differently. He looked at the locked bathroom door again, then he shook his head and left for the office.
Geri stared at him as he entered.
"What?"
An eye roll was his only reply.
"Something you want to say, Geri?" Rourke peeled his lips back to show sharp fangs.
"No. You handle your relationships as you see fit, but he used to be the coven cook."
"Meaning?" Coven cook? Did they have a cook?
Geri shook his head. "Meaning he likes to do stuff in the kitchen, and I, for one, like to eat."
"Yeah? You like being poisoned too? Being cursed?"
"I'm not saying not to be cautious, but it's Ezra."
"Don't underestimate him."
Geri raised his hands in the air, then he left the office. Rourke looked at Due, who ignored him.
* * * *