Chapter 16 #2
"I'll be right back with your cottage pies," Lila says quickly, rushing off to avoid whatever storm is brewing.
And Malakai's eyes... would it be that I were so lucky?
"Answer the question," I say as imperiously as I dare.
"I am attempting to remember," he says slowly. "I'm not ignoring you because I don't want to answer." He frowns. "I do not think I ever made a choice that you did not weigh in on."
His voice is low and husky, and he looks at me with a mixture of despair and desire that I've never seen before.
"Well, that's good to know," I say too fast, breaking my eye contact with him and shoving the nearest sandwich into my mouth without even checking to see what it was.
Flavor explodes upon my tongue, the soft filling sticking to the roof of my mouth.
It's creamy and spicy all at once, and I hadn't realized fully how hungry I was.
I take another. This one looks to be filled with egg of some kind, little herbs poking out of the soft white bread, and that one follows the first. It's equally delicious, and I continue to make quick work of the little sandwiches displayed on the cute, tiered platter in front of me, all while Malakai looks on.
I don't dare glance at him. I don't want to see that look on his face again—that hurt, wounded, needy look.
No one's ever looked at me like that before, and I do not know what to do with it.
"Here's the meat pie and some quiche, all fresh, delivered just this morning.
The meat pie, I think you'll like, Malakai," she says.
"Elder Forest venison, potatoes, some other vegetables in my own special mix of herbs that I send over to Piper.
She's the one who runs the pastry shop down the way.
She's a kitchen witch, best I've ever seen," Lila adds.
"There may be a few other things coming out of the kitchen later.
I have a couple recipes I've been wanting to try, and since you two are hungry and you wanted one of everything...
" She gives a little grin. "...Malakai, I'm only too happy to make sure that you're accommodated. "
"That's really not—" She darts away before I can finish the sentence. "—necessary." I look to Malakai. "This is too much food for me."
"Eat what you can," he says. "Sample a little of everything. See what you like."
"It's all delicious so far." And even though I want to eat another one of the herb and egg sandwiches, there's so many choices that I do want to try everything before my stomach will, no doubt, tell me to stop.
We eat in silence, the sound of other hushed conversations making their way back to our secluded corner as we chew.
My favorite, I think, is the spicy venison pie.
Flaky crust cut with thick slabs of butter, an incredible array of herbs, potatoes and carrots, some celery, all in a hearty, spiced gravy.
Hotter than anything I've been served at Stormspire, and the better for it.
"Incredible," I mumble around my two-large-bites mouth full. It's rude to talk with my mouth full, but I can't seem to help noting just how delicious the food is.
When Lila comes back holding several pieces of cake and another steaming pot of tea, I am so full that I consider unlacing my overdress to make more room.
"I wish I knew how to cook," I say.
"Oh, I can give you the recipe!" Lila says excitedly. "Which one was your favorite?" She leans against the table and watches me with an avid expression.
"The venison pie, for sure."
"That's the one I came up with, believe it or not," she says. "Piper's excellent at everything sweet, but I crave something spicy from time to time."
"It was incredible," I tell her. "I think I'll be dreaming about that meat pie for the rest of my life."
"High praise," Lila says, and a faint flush colors her cheeks. It's not pink, and that surprises me, and then I remember that she is one of the Fae. Not human at all.
"And what do you think of the tea?" she asks.
I take another sip. "It's very good," I answer her. “My second cup.”
"But not your favorite," she says, pursing her lips.
"I didn't say that,” I object.
“Mm-mmhhmm,” she shakes her head. “No, you didn’t. But I consider it something of my own magic to match a client with their favorite drink," she says, tapping the bridge of her nose. "I'm surprised that you didn't like that one."
"I did like it," I tell her.
Malakai’s grinning at me delightedly, apparently amused by seeing me squirm.
"Don't worry, I'll figure you out," she says. And with that, she sets the slices of cake and pie on the table along with all the other gorgeous platters and tiered trays, leaving us to our conversation.
"I don't know if I can eat anymore," I say to Malakai. I still eye up the slice of blueberry pie. The crust is a gorgeous lattice, and I’m fairly certain I could make room.
If I had to.
He's helping himself to his third piece of venison pie. "Do you really not know how to cook?"
"I've never had to cook," I say. "I've always had a cook.”
Hmm," he murmurs, taking a big bite.
"Oh, and do you know how to cook then, Shadow King, oh Elder God, oh huge and terrible Eldritch being?" I ask, making my voice sound just as absurd as his titles deserve.
He lets out a laugh—a real laugh, one I haven't heard before—and I pause, staring up at him. If I had to guess what he sounded like when he laughed, it wouldn't have been that—that rugged rasp, deep-throated noise that he made. I think I liked the way he laughed a little too much.
"Of course I know how to cook," he answers, holding one of the last cucumber sandwiches in his hand.
The tiny slices of white bread and filling are dwarfed in comparison to his fingers, and he eats the entire sandwich in one bite, watching me with raised eyebrows.
"I'm surprised that you don't know how to cook," he adds.
"How does one make it to adulthood without ever cooking? "
"How did you make it to adulthood?" I ask, suddenly fascinated with the idea of him as a child. "Did you not just..." I pause, thinking of the word I want. "...spawn fully grown? One huge man with gigantic hands built to hold a sword and deal in shadows and magic?"
I mean it as a joke, but I can't stop looking at his hands—the calluses, the strength of his grip. Or at least, what I imagine it must be.