Page 77 of Blood Oath
And then there’s a growing part of me that just…doesn’t want to give them the slip.
It’s a bad idea to get close to them. I know that. I’m already on thin ice. If I let myself get attached to them any further, my thin facade will shatter, and everything I’ve been working towards will be ruined.
But even if I already know how my story will end, would it be so terrible to allow myself one day? One chapter of good memories in a book of darkness?
Probably.
But right now, I want it. And for the next twenty-four hours, I’m done pushing them away.
23
MAVEN
I step into the long, luxurious kitchen that gradually turns into an ornate dining room. One wall along all of it is solid glass. Maybe it normally has nice views, but right now it’s a dark gray obscuring everything outside.
In the middle of the dining room is a table already set for dinner with crystal glass and burning candles flickering happily along the length of it. As soon as I walk in, Baelfire lights up with a smile in my direction from where he’s tossing salad and…wearing an apron.
Who knew dragons could be domestic chefs? It’s an odd sight, yet at the same time, somehow it also makes sense that he’s comfortable in the kitchen.
Silas is on the phone in the dining room, facing the large window so I can’t see his face, and his voice is too quiet to hear what he’s saying. I can’t see Crypt, but I can sense him somewhere in this room.
Baelfire uses his bare hand to reach in and retrieve two trays. Must be nice, being a heat-and-fire-proof dragon shifter. He shows me the sizzling offerings with a bright smile.
“I hope you like your butter-basted pork chops well done.”
Damn. He’s so proud, I almost don’t want to pop his bubble.
Before I can decide whether or not to say something, Crypt appears leaning against the wall by the fridge and drawls, “She’s a vegetarian, you fucking buffoon.”
Bael blinks. I can practically see the last few days rewinding in his head as he no doubt recalls all the times he piled food on my plate—usually meats I never touched. I didn’t expect them to notice or care, but evidently, Crypt takes his stalking seriously.
“Shit. How did I miss that?” Baelfire grimaces and sets down the pans. “Is it because you have a soft spot for poor little animals? Because if so, I have some bad news. I hunt to kill, Maven. Like…a lot. So if you’re one of those bleeding heart types…”
A morbid smile tries to pull on my mouth. “Nope. No bleeding hearts here.”
His gaze snaps to my mouth. “I saw that. You just smiled.”
“Barely.”
“Still counts as getting you to smile.”
I roll my eyes. “Want a gold star?”
His eyes heat and he rounds the counter to lean close without touching me, dropping his voice to a whisper that even Crypt won’t hear.
“No. I want your praise. And just like you said, I’m going to fucking earn it.”
Something greedy and curious pools low in my stomach at his hungry rasp. My eyes shift to Crypt leaning against the wall, and I expect to see him glaring at Baelfire, but when he catches me looking, he winks.
Why isn’t he jealous? I would be. If I saw someone else with one of them like this…no matter how illogical it would be, or how not mine they are, I would be snapping more bones.
Wondering how far I can push it, I try not to think about what I’m doing and hold Crypt’s stare as I stand on my tiptoes, pressing my lips against the corner of Baelfire’s jaw under his ear. Bael exhales raggedly and cages me against the counter with his arms, still careful not to touch me.
But the Nightmare Prince doesn’t look away as he smiles slowly at me, amused. “Taunting me, love? You should probably know I very much enjoy that. Edging. Teasing. The torment is delicious.”
Well, then. That backfired.
“Maven…can I please touch you now?” Bael whispers.
