Page 30 of Fated for Dawn
“It’s good,” I said. “Maybe just a pinch more salt.”
He nodded before scurrying away to look for salt.
As on cue, Chad swooped in, the red bottle of wine in hand, wrapping an arm around me and leaning closer.
“Hold on,” he said with a wicked grin. “Looks like you missed a spot.” Without hesitation, he gave my cheek a playful lick.
“Chad! Gross!” I teased, laughing as I wiped my face with the back of my hand.
“Just making sure I got all the sauce,” he said, straightening up and giving Alister a cheeky look. “And yeah, it’s definitely missing something, Your Highness.”
Alister rolled his eyes. “I’d say dignity, but that’s been long gone where you’re concerned.”
Chad winked. “I live to serve.”
Nearby, Rafe bumped my elbow gently, his eyes soft as he handed me a strand of spaghetti. “Try this. Is it ‘al dente’?”
I took a bite and nodded. “Perfect.”
“Oh no, Chad,” Alister sighed, inspecting the label. “Yourotherright.”
“Seriously?!” Chad whined. “This is the last time I’m going!” He stormed off again.
“I’m finally done with the carrots,” Lucien announced, setting his knife down with the precision of someone who had just conquered a great battle.
I glanced at the sauce and then at the pile of perfectly chopped carrots. “Hmm, the sauce is…kinda ready, but just toss them in. I’m sure it’ll be fine.”
Lucien froze, staring at me like I had suggested setting the kitchen on fire. “You want me to add raw carrots to the sauce?”
I shrugged. “They’ll soften. Probably.”
Lucien muttered something about culinary sacrilege but reluctantly dumped the carrots in, stirring with deep disapproval.
Just then, Ryker reappeared from outside, carrying a large platter stacked with what looked like medium rare steaks, sliced into smaller pieces. Alister rushed to it and stole a couple of pieces off the platter.
“If you eat one more bite, I’ll roast you,” Ryker warned, narrowing his eyes.
Alister shrugged, utterly unbothered. “This constitution requires replenishment,” he said smoothly. “Consider it quality control.”
Before Ryker could lunge at him, Chad stumbled back into the kitchen, slightly out of breath, with yet another red bottle of wine in hand.
Alister took the bottle, inspected the label, then grimaced. His gaze lifted to Chad. “It’ll do…I guess.”
By some miracle, we managed to pull together a decent dinner. The table was set, the food was plated, and everyone sat down with relief.
“Well,” I said, raising my glass of wine. “We didn’t burn the mansion down, and no one got roasted. I call that a win.”
“To teamwork,” Rafe said, lifting his glass.
“To never doing this again,” Lucien muttered, though his lips twitched with amusement.
Chad took a bite and made a face. “Why are the carrots so crunchy?”
12
Evelyn
The week sped by in a whirlwind of lectures, homework, and the constant murmur of hushed conversations. After two weeks back, it almost felt like nothing had changed.
