“Aunt Pearl!”
Her body seemed heavier than a human child of her stature, but no matter. I held her tight, feeling the warmth radiating from her small body and breathing in her sweet, earthy scent. I sensed Jutuk’s gaze fixed upon me and felt the uptick of his heartbeat as he watched us. Nearby, Jala and Praxxan chuckled happily.
I blinked back tears of happiness, laughing. For the first time in my life, in this endless expanse of space, I grasped the true meaning of contentment and experienced what it truly meant to be loved.
Chapter 14 -Jutuk
The kitchen was a sensory delight. The air held an enticing mix of fragrances, from the savory aroma of herbs and spices to the sweet scent of baked goods. The sound of pots and pans clanging together added to the lively atmosphere, like strange, upbeat music. Despite the bustling energy of so many people moving about, there was a comforting vibe that enveloped the space. It felt like a warm hug—the kind that Priemba excelled at giving.
Of course, the people were the thing I enjoyed least about the kitchen right now. It was nothing personal. Just with Deema and Aqsa helping and the constant influx of deliveries, it was hard to get my hands on Pearl. In the past few hours, we’d been limited to exchanging heated looks, unable to touch or kiss without prying eyes.
The way the harem girls giggled each time they caught us sharing a glance, I’m not sure we’d succeeded at hiding anything. I wondered how Deema and Aqsa would giggle if they knew the table they chopped vegetables on had been—as Pearl called it—christened by us last night. We’d christened a lot of the kitchen, the storage closet, tables, and the freezer. Only one virgin countertop remained, and we would have christened that last night if not for the damn delivery men.
My mate.
Pearl was my mate.
I wanted to shout it through the halls of the space station, but I held my tongue. Technically Pearl still belonged to Baron Oappo and I worried about his reaction to finding out we’d mated. I possessed no doubt it would be unpleasant and make our escape all the more difficult.
I felt my heart kick up a notch as I watched her taste the recipe Deema was working on. Cooking was one of the things that kicked her heart into a happy beat, echoed by my own. She had donned her chef garb once again, the baggy pants and jacket with her thick locks pulled into a low, messy bun. Despite her disheveled appearance, she was still the most stunning female I had ever laid eyes on. As I returned my attention to dicing chunks of behia, I couldn’t help but feel grateful for the height of the tabletop, conveniently hiding the sign of the growing desire for my mate.
“Very good, Deema. We just need to add a little salt.” Pearl smiled at the girl, who seemed to swoon under the praise.
With the utmost patience, Pearl grabbed the dish of small yellow crystals from the counter, showing Deema how to crush the stones into a fine powder before sprinkling it into the dish. Steam rose, the sweet scent morphing to savory, as Pearl’s fingers wriggled over the pot, wielding more magick than just a simple spice.
“Hello!”
The abrupt clamor at the doorway startled Pearl, causing her to jump in surprise. I furrowed my brow as Baron Oappo made his grand entrance, adorned in the lavish red robes befitting his high status. Qaimus trailed behind him, flanked by a pair of guards carrying a mysterious bundle swathed in gauzy fabric. The air shifted with an air of tension as they entered the room, like a sudden gust of wind before a storm.
Deema spun away from Pearl, her dress swirling around her knees as she joined hands with Aqsa. Together, they movedto the back wall of the kitchen and huddled in a submissive pose. As I watched them, I couldn’t help but think that it could have been Pearl in their place if not for her extraordinary talent. Just the thought of what she might have endured made me want to throttle the Baron as well as figure out a way to rescue all his harem.
“Human chef Pearl!” The Baron held his arms wide, dark eyes dancing.
Pearl shot me a glance that held the minutia of an eye roll before greeting the Baron.
“Baron Oappo, Chancellor Qaimus, what brings you to my kitchen?”
Her voice sounded friendly and pleased, but from the echo of her heartbeat in my chest, I knew she was anything but.
“The dinner is tomorrow night. I wanted to check your progress.” Baron Oappo strode around the room, eyeing the piles of meat, vegetables, and tools. He stopped near my table, frowning as he looked me over.
Pearl was at my side in a minute, her hand resting on my forearm. Perhaps with the mating bond, she’d felt my desire to punch the slimy bastard.
“Baron. Do you know my sous chef, Jutuk?”
The dark eyes sitting atop the flat skull narrowed. “You are Vaktaire.”
He said the word as though he felt it beneath him.
“Yes, my lord.” I inclined my head graciously, ignoring the gag reflex in my throat as I said the words.
“I wouldn’t have won the competition if not for Jutuk. His knife skills are legendary.” Pearl gushed, and the hand on my arm gave a gentle squeeze before moving away. Her meaning was clear.
Show him.
The blade I held was not a warrior’s knife, but it was long and sharp, and the weight felt good in my hand. I flipped it, going through a series of motions in which I balanced the blade on my fingertips and appeared to narrowly avoid slicing off an appendage.
Younglings play.
