Chapter 20
Radu appeared with Barney at his side as the first batch of donuts rested in a fresh strawberry sugar glaze.
“Your creature tells me it’s time for food,” Radu muttered. He looked sleepy, hair pulled back from his face in a thick braid, and shirt half unbuttoned. Yuri paused to step in close and get a kiss, for which Radu hummed happily. “Delightful start to the day.”
“I think it’s midday, uncle,” Lucian teased as he gathered his cooled shortbread, flipped them, and piped a creamy layer of filling between them to make sandwich cookies. He held out one for Theo to try who took it and bit in without hesitation.
“Oh, that’s good,” Theo said. “What sort of biscuit is this?”
“Peanut butter,” Yuri added as he swiped one to try.
The exterior thin and extra crispy, the interior a slightly sweet creamy peanut butter.
He savored the first bite and offered the second to Star who hesitated.
“It’s okay if you don’t like it,” Yuri said.
“Not everyone likes peanut butter. I’m still making donuts, and bread.
I can fry you up a few eggs if you’d like. ”
Star took the piece of cookie, examining it, though it looked nothing like Lucian’s previous attempts. He stuffed it into his mouth, holding it there for a few seconds before chewing. Yuri studied his expression.
“Good, right?”
“Yes,” Star admitted. “Peanut butter cookies?”
“Sandwich cookies, yes. It’s a type of shortbread outside. Lots of other things to make.”
“You shouldn’t be working all day,” Star protested. “We’re not great with cooking, but we can share.”
“Okay,” Yuri agreed. “If you’ll nap with me after we eat.”
Star blinked, trapped by his attempt to make Yuri’s day easier. He glanced at the others as though expecting backlash. “Just me?”
“Is that okay?”
“Fine by me,” Radu said, picking apart a donut he shared with Theo. “I need to stop in to see Raphael for some paint. He had some ideas about colors I want to discuss, and I want to check on Uriel. Perhaps we could make enough of these donuts to share?”
“On it,” Yuri said as he flipped the batch in the oil, then fished out the finished ones to put on the rack.
Theo painted them with the glaze while they were still warm.
The bread was in the oven, filling the house with its delicious scent.
He’d gone with a crispy focaccia bread and couldn’t wait to try it.
“I want to nap outside,” Theo said, his gaze straying to Lucian.
“Yes, angel. I have a book to read. We’ll sit over in the garden while you rest.” He glanced at Yuri, “If that works for you?”
“None of you are too far, right?” Yuri asked. “Not even going to Raphael’s?”
“It’s a ten-minute walk,” Radu said. “They are out of sight and earshot, but if you need me, I’ll fly back in a heartbeat.”
Yuri nodded and turned his smile on Star. “Nap after food. In my room if that’s okay? I’d like to snuggle under those blankets you picked for me.”
Star flushed again but nodded. He accepted the donut Theo brought him, and a plate of cookies from Lucian.
They finished up baking, and Yuri doled out plates of bread with olives and sharp cheese, which everyone devoured. He packed up a basket to send with Radu, and watched Lucian set a blanket out in the grass for Theo to nap beside him while he read.
Star lingered in the shadow of the doorway, uncertain, but Yuri snagged him around the middle and coaxed him upstairs. Inside Yuri’s room, he wrapped his arms around Star and held him tight, unable to hold back the tears.
“What’s wrong?” Star hissed. “Did someone hurt you? I’ll kill them.”
Yuri couldn’t help but laugh. “You were with me the whole time. How could anyone hurt me?”
Star wiped at Yuri’s falling tears. “But your eyes drip pain.”
“I left you in the dark for too long,” Yuri admitted. “I failed you.”
“You didn’t. I’m here.”
“And afraid of the light. You were supposed to be light like them.”
Star sighed. “I’m working on it. But I don’t want you to think it’s your fault.
You didn’t curse me. You freed me. Brought me home.
” He wrapped his arm around Yuri’s waist and rested his forehead on Yuri’s shoulder.
“I promise, while it’s hard to accept this is all real and not a dream, I am trying.
Sometimes I fear I’ll wake, and you’ll be gone. I’ll still be chained in the dark.”
“Wanna know a secret?” Yuri asked as he dragged Star to the bed and pulled back the blankets so the two of them could snuggle beneath the warmth.
“What?”
“I’m afraid of that, too.”
“How can we be sure this is real?” Star asked in a small voice as he nestled himself against Yuri, his face the only part of him visible beneath the blankets piled over them.
“Time?” Yuri asked. “I don’t plan to let go. It sounds selfish of me to need all of you. But you’re mine, Star. I spent lifetimes barely existing, and now I just want to hold you forever, is that okay?”
“Yes,” Star agreed, tucking his face in close to Yuri’s. He blinked sleepy eyes. “I don’t know why I’m so sleepy.”
“Warmth, snuggles, and yummy food with the people you love, the only thing better would be the patter of rain on the roof while we napped,” Yuri said.
Star snorted. “I can make that happen.”
“How about you rest?” Yuri wondered if Star had gotten any real sleep at all.
“What if I open my eyes and you’re gone?”
Yuri held him tight. “Sleep, Star. I’m right here.
” He ran his fingertips down Star’s back in soft comforting circles.
He was surprised when he woke to a burst of rain on the roof over their head blasting down with a sudden downpour.
He hadn’t recalled falling asleep, but Star tucked in beside him breathed deep and even.
Finally resting? Yuri held him and listened to the rain even though the room had lost a lot of light in the downpour.
Lucian paused outside the door, looking a little damp but with a slight smile tugging his lips.
Theo buzzed down the hall behind him. They must have gotten caught in the rain.
He hoped Radu was okay out there, but tucked his face back beside Star’s and breathed his other half in.
He didn’t fall asleep again until he sensed Radu walk in the door downstairs.
How he knew, he wasn’t certain, but Yuri sighed, relief filling him that all his men were safe and home.
He couldn’t imagine a better place to be.