Chapter Two #2
“Can Nina have muffinsss?” She gave me a toothy grin before frowning and lifting her hands to lightly pat her cheeks. She didn’t always emphasize her ‘s’s but she got self-conscious when one slipped out. “Bad Nina.”
“Ah, don’t do that,” I told her. “I like it. Makes you unique.”
Her face lit up before she retook my arm, hugging it like we were going to prom. A faint shimmer traveled across her skin, as though dusted with glitter. Or covered with thin, serpent-like scales. She spotted the tray of muffins and took off, an excited little grumble in her throat.
“You should be working, not frolicking around,” a different female voice rang out as Cyan joined us in the kitchen. Vibrant blue hair fell past her ears, and her eyes of the same color narrowed as she crossed her arms. Her long black tail flicked, as though agitated.
Normally, she was bubbly and fun. But right now, she looked annoyed.
A similar expression flickered across Maddox’s face as Nina bounded over to the tray of muffins and grabbed two of them, one for each hand.
Rowan tossed me a grin. “Wonder what pisses off Captain Glutton more—Nina flirting with you or seeing her eat his muffins?”
“Both,” Maddox mumbled, arms crossing. Once again matching Cyan.
The two were kindred spirits in that moment, both glaring at the snake demon as she pranced around the kitchen, taking bites out of the muffins before coming over to me and patting the top of my head. She ruffled my hair.
“Stop that at once, demon,” Callum said, pointing at Nina. He went to stand beside Maddox, matching his pose. “I’m the only one who’s allowed to ruffle his hair. Hands off.”
Sigh. Make that three kindred spirits.
“Evan is Nina’sss friend.” She retook my arm and stuck her nose up at him. “Nina can touch.”
Reign glanced over at Maddox. “You threaten me simply for flirting, but she can touch him without losing an arm?”
“Because her affection for him is innocent in nature,” Maddox responded, his brow heavy and a tic in his jaw. “Unlike yours.”
Even with his mask still in place, I detected Reign’s mischievous smile.
A beauty mark rested beneath his left eye.
That, paired with his sun-kissed complexion and full, dark lashes, left little doubts as to the handsome face beneath that mask.
Something I knew for a fact, as I’d seen it not long ago while staying with them in the Tower: aka, the spies’ headquarters.
Draven shook his head at them before looking toward the window. The storm from earlier had cleared out, revealing a pretty blue sky and puffy white clouds. Sunlight touched the leaves of the tall oak tree, and birds chirped.
What drew my attention more than the pretty scenery though?
The peaceful gleam in Draven’s eyes as he stared outside. It hinted at a gentleness beneath his thick, rough layers.
“Nina.” Cyan put her hands on her hips. “We have work to do.”
“Meanie Cyan,” Nina mumbled, puffing out her cheeks. She released her hold on my arm and shuffled over to the pantry. “Work, work, work. No time for Nina to play with her Evan.”
I pressed my lips together, trying hard not to laugh.
With Cyan trailing behind her, the two of them checked the pantry and refrigerator—similar to the one in the modern world I’d come from but powered by an ice crystal—before making a list of ingredients we needed and leaving the kitchen.
The castle had its own supply of eggs, vegetables, and various other crops, but meat and seasonings were obtained from the marketplace.
As Fane and I continued cooking breakfast, more rumbling laughs and lively voices filled the kitchen. The spies stood against the wall and chatted amongst themselves, while the knights, my gluttonous captain and cinnamon roll included, crowded around the table and talked to Briar and Lake.
Oreo lay curled up beside Lake’s chair and lifted his head to yawn, exposing all of his sharp teeth. He snuggled back down and thumped his tail against Lake’s foot.
“When can we eat?” Quincy whined, staring longingly at the muffins cooling on the counter. “I’m wasting away.”
“Just waiting on the biscuits,” I answered with a laugh, then stepped over to the oven to check on them.
The second I moved in that direction, Rowan looked at me with an eagerness burning in his topaz eyes. Tossing him a flirtatious wink, I grabbed an oven mitt and removed the pan. He pushed from the wall, leaving Reign hanging mid-sentence, and was at my side in seconds.
Smiling, I lightly bumped his shoulder with mine and set down the tray. The silly man didn’t wait for them to cool before snatching a biscuit and tearing into it, doing the hah hah hah dragon breathing technique because they were steaming hot from the oven.
“Look where your impatience got you,” I said with a tsk. “A burnt tongue.”
“Good,” Maddox said as he ate a banana muffin. The thief. He must’ve snuck it when my back was turned. “Perhaps that will keep him from speaking.”
With his mouth still full of biscuit, Rowan snatched the oven mitt I’d just set aside and chucked it at him. The cushion smacked Maddox in the face before dropping to the floor with a soft plop.
That’s when I lost it, laughing so hard I slumped against the counter.
Fane organized food on a tray, along with a pot of green tea and a small dish of honey, before tipping his head to me. “I’m off to deliver milord’s morning meal.”
“Okay,” I said. “Tell him to join us next time.”
The demon lord hadn’t shown his face all morning. Much to my dismay. After the incident in the throne room last night, I needed to talk to him. To explain myself. Problem was, I didn’t exactly know how I was going to do that.
A worry for later. For now, I had a group of hungry men to feed.
“Grab your plates,” I told them, clapping once. “Breakfast is served.”
Didn’t have to tell them twice. The horde of hungry men swarmed the stove and counter, piling food high on their plates, before finding a place to sit. A few sat on barstools at the kitchen island, while the others squeezed in at the table near the window.
Apart from two, anyway. Draven and Reign remained against the wall, masked and with their empty stomachs grumbling.
“Nuh uh.” I shook my head at them. “No one goes hungry while I’m around. Both of you go make your plates right now. I’ll force-feed you if I have to.”
The two spies exchanged a look before pushing from the wall and doing as I said. They didn’t remove their masks though. Instead, they muttered something about eating in private before leaving the kitchen. As long as they ate, I didn’t care where they did it.
Maybe one day soon we could all eat a meal together though.
Conversation flowed as everyone ate their fill, devouring all the muffins and scrambled eggs, every scrap of sausage gravy, hash browns, and all but two of the biscuits.
With their bellies full and with the power of coffee fueling them, my men, friends and lovers alike, started to disperse, one by one.
“Don’t miss me too much, little treasure,” Rowan said before kissing me. We stood about the same height, giving me perfect access to his mouth. I didn’t even need to stand on my tiptoes.
“Too late.” I touched the golden cuff that kept his hair in place and pulled over one shoulder. “Am I allowed to know where you’re going?”
“It’s spy business.” The edge of his mouth quirked up. “And muffins aren’t—”
“Spies, I know,” I interjected with a huff. “Excuse me for wanting to make sure my boyfriend is safe.”
He sighed. “We’re meeting with Varys to discuss the situation with Nocturne.
Draven and Reign learned a few things before coming here.
” I opened my mouth to ask a question right before he touched his finger to my lips and cut in, “No, I’m not tellin’ you anything more about it, so shut that adorable trap of yours. ”
“I wasn’t gonna say anything,” I mumbled against his finger.
“Uh huh.” He lowered his hand from my mouth to place it on the side of my neck instead. “Still a horrible liar.”
I fought the urge to bite him. “Do you think we can convince Draven and Reign to stay? I don’t want them to leave yet.”
“Reign will be happy to hear that.” Rowan smirked. “But I reckon it’s Draven you’re most worried about, eh?” At my confusion, he added, “I caught you starin’ at him earlier.”
“I know not what you mean, good sir,” I said in a poor attempt at a British accent.
His lips curved even more. “It’s his pecs, ain’t it?”
I sighed. “Yes. Curse those muscled mounds of perfection.”
He laughed.
“Okay, I know you need to go.” I hugged Rowan’s slim waist. Black cardamom wafted from his hair, and I turned my face to breathe more of him in, running my nose along his temple. “Tell Varys I said hi.”
The demi-wolf was Lord Onyx’s closest advisor. Also the former advisor of King Eidolon, right before he’d rebelled against Bremloc and took many demi-humans with him. All because he learned King Eidolon had played a role in my dad’s death.
Varys had been in love with my dad. Imprinted on him in the same way Lake had with me. It made me feel that I could trust him.
“Will do.” Rowan drew back and gently bopped my chin. “Don’t go stumbling down the stairs or fall into the oven while I’m gone.”
“Oh stop. I’m not that clumsy.” I crossed my arms Maddox-style, then glanced down at Oreo. The puppy had come over to sit by my foot. “Ain’t that right, boy?”
Oreo sneezed.
“See? He agrees.”
After nipping at my throat, Rowan left the kitchen to find Draven and Reign. Oreo growled low in his little throat before padding after him. The puppy played tough, but he cared for my men and watched over them.
“We should leave as well,” Maddox said before pulling me in for a kiss that lasted longer than the one Rowan had given me, almost as though he were silently one-upping our favorite redhead. “Seraphina will be expecting us for morning drills.”