Page 58 of Journey to the Elderoak
“What? I—” She shook her head. “I don’t smell.”
He crossed his arms and smirked at her. “The smell coming from you and Cas is strong enough to wake the dead.”
“Yep,” Kai said and her face warmed.
She stammered. “Wait…you all can smell…”
“Arousal, yes,” Raine answered.
“Gross.”
Raine laughed. “It’s not gross. It’s normal. No one will say anything, promise.”
“Except Raine, of course,” Kai interjected.
“Well, what happened?” Raine asked again.
“I—um…None of your business.”
Raine narrowed his eyes at her, but his expression softened. “Cas is my best friend. Please don’t break his heart.”
“I would never do that.”
“I know you wouldn’t on purpose,” he said. “Cas isn’t so great with the whole ‘talk about his feelings’ thing. Like you.”
“Hey…I talk ab?—”
Kai let out a small snort.
Raine held his hand up and interrupted her. “Cas pretends he doesn’t care, but he does. Deeply. He wants commitment, companionship. So, unless you’re sure…don’t lead him on.”
“I’m sorry. I promise, I won’t.”
“Okay.” He nodded, heading back to the dining room to join the group.
Ava remained in the kitchen with Kai. “Can I help? I’m a pretty good cook and I’m not ready to go back in there.”
“Of course. Grab that knife and chop those vegetables.”
Back in her seat,Ava sipped on her wine as Kai and Jorrar finished setting the platters of food in the center of the table.
“Ava made a dessert,” said Kai.
“You can cook?” asked Thorne.
“She sure can.” Kai beamed as he carried in the rest of the food—a bowl of freshly baked bread in one hand and a tray of roasted potatoes smothered in herbs in the other.
“What did you make, Ava?” asked Jorrar.
“A berry pie.”
“I love sweets,” said Thorne beside her.
“Me too.”
Jorrar corralled the children to the table, loading their plates with food. “But we want to wrestle with Cas!” Aria whined.
“I know, little one.” He patted her head. “But you must eat first. Once you’re finished, you may wait for Casimir and I bet he’ll wrestle with you.”
