“How long are we going to stand around staring at an empty cart in the produce section of this store?”
Albrecht’s smile was hidden under his hood. “I have the list; let’s get started.”
“I need fresh herbs,” Brynnius said. “Arvandus and Albie are going to get the vegetables later this week.”
“I don’t even have to look at the list to know we need oregano. It’s in Victor’s pizza sauce,” Cassius said as he pushed the cart to the greenery.
“I’m sorry Alaric didn’t immediately give us shared duties over the menu,” Brynnius told Victor as Albrecht let go of Arvandus’s hand to make sure they were collecting the right things by placing a checkmark next to each item laid into the cart.
Victor shook his head with a rueful smile. “It doesn’t surprise me. You guys treat me like I’m made of glass. I know he just didn’t want to place anything he thinks might be a burden on me. In the end, we’ve done everything together anyway, and I’m willing to pitch in wherever you need me.”
“Except for the desserts; they are your recipes.”
“Brynn, that’s because you chose them and made sure they were included. I’m glad we both decided on items that are popular in our family.”
“Except for Ben and Bax,” Arvandus pointed out. “But they don’t count since they wouldn’t know good stuff if it bit them on the ass.”
“Close your eyes and imagine a world without pizza or pasta,” Cassius demanded as he straightened his broad shoulders. “Think about it. You don’t want to, do you? That’s right, because it sucks.”
“Bax would no doubt respond to that with a sex joke,” Albrecht said.
Cassius shrugged. “I don’t know what half of them even mean. I guess after I meet my mate, I’ll be able to decide if they’re funny.”
“We have all our herbs,” Albrecht told the group. He held the list and pen in his grasp as Cassius led them to the first aisle past the produce section.
“I can’t wait to find out who your mate is,” Victor enthused.
“Me either,” Cassius responded. “I keep trying to figure out what race he might be.”
As Brynnius piled an enormous amount of sugar containers into the cart, Albrecht’s eyes widened. “Are you going to use that much?”
“I want plenty of extra.”
“I’m going with elf,” Arvandus said.
“What do elves have to do with sugar?” Albrecht demanded.
Arvandus laughed and pressed a kiss to Albrecht’s cloaked temple. “I was talking about Cass’s mate.”
“Why elf?” Brynnius asked once he’d finished cleaning the store out of sugar.
“Just a wild guess based on his jack-o-lantern.”
“I chose an elf because my pumpkin was white,” Cassius argued as he maneuvered the cart to their next stop at the dried spices Brynnius and Victor wanted. “I was inspired by Elf, and His Majesty already has a mate.”
“Well, it’s not like I can ask you what race you prefer. You lack sexuality,” Arvandus pointed out.
“At least I’m not convinced my mate might be an apple as you were,” Cassius snarked.
“Excuse me, but I was right. Aren’t Apple’s eyes the exact color of a granny smith?”
“He’s got you there, Cass,” Victor responded. “Plus, he’s cute and so are apples. Oh man, I can’t even find false eyelashes as nice as Albie’s real ones, and I’ve looked everywhere. I can’t think about how gorgeous Albie is, or I’m going to fall down a shame well.”
Albrecht still had no clue how to deal with the effusive praise Victor used to describe him. Every couple of weeks Victor still trimmed his hair, and the shifter complimented him throughout the process. All Albrecht knew, and frankly cared, was that Arvandus enjoyed his face. A sentinel had no use for vanity, and that trait was apparently missing from their resurrection spell. When he saw the joy Victor took in a new eyeliner or shade of lip gloss, he mourned his inability to understand, but the other ninety-nine percent of the time he was just fine with the way he’d been summoned.
“He’s gorgeous, but that doesn’t make you any less so,” Arvandus told Victor.
“Oh stop,” Victor said with a light smack to Arvandus’s arm. “I wasn’t fishing for compliments. I’m just saying that I love his face.”
