Page 30 of The Broken Elf King
She shrugged. “His mother is dying. Old age, nothing that can be done.”
He was the only chef I trusted.
“Very well. Until he returns,Iwill be cooking all of the king’s and my meals,” I informed her.
Half the kitchen staff stopped then and turned to me.
Mrs. Tirth frowned. “You cook?”
I shrugged. “Kept my aunt and I alive, how hard can it be? You’re all excused until further notice!” I said loudly.
They froze, looking worriedly from Mrs. Tirth back to me.
“You heard her,” Raife’s voice boomed from behind me, and I jumped a little.
They set down what they were working on and began to leave. Mrs. Tirth sensed this was a private moment, and chose to see herself out as well.
“You can cook?” he asked.
I turned, drinking him in. He wore a high-collared gray silk tunic, and his hair was tied into a knot at the back of his neck. There were dark bags under his eyes indicating he hadn’t slept much either.
“It may not be up to a king’s liking, but I can make stew and basic flatbreads. I can keep us fed and not poisoned.”
He reached up and brushed his fingers across his chin. “I thought you hated doing dishes?”
I nodded. “I do. I won’t be doing them. We’re calling the maids back every night to clean up.”
A grin pulled at his lips and his gaze traveled down my gown. My body heated when he did, and I hoped it was from arousal and not injected apple poison. I wanted to ask him what happened last night, what the purple breath healing thing was, why he looked so good in a simple gray silk tunic…
“Are you okay?” He reached up and ran the back of his finger along the outside of my neck, down my throat and to my collarbone.
I froze, melting under his touch.
He pulled his hand back as if realizing what he was doing. “I mean, my throat is still a little raw,” he said.
I shook my head. “I’m fine… physically speaking.”
He nodded. “And emotionally?”
“A total wreck inside,” I confirmed, which caused him to bark out in laughter.
Hades, I loved that sound.I couldn’t help but grin, as his joy was infectious.
“Well, that makes two of us,” he said, and eyed my apple in the trash with the missing bite.
I fingered the white lock of my hair at the base of my neck and Raife reached up to touch it.
“I was in the library late last night and read that a traumatic event can cause the hair to go white,” he said.
“It can?” I asked.
He nodded, and I tied my hair up in a bun, tucking it away so neither of us had to look at it.
“The council is waiting,” I told him. I wanted to ask what that purple breath was, but I honestly couldn’t handle the answer. Had I saved him? Was that really what happened? Because if so I was really starting to freak out and I didn’t want to think about it anymore.
He nodded, gesturing that I lead the way as his hand came to the small of my back to usher me out of the kitchens. I turned back and looked at the small space. “Post two of your most trusted Bow Men at each kitchen entrance and exit. No one in or out but me and the dishwasher.No oneelse. Not even Mrs. Tirth. This is my kitchen now.” I liked the woman, but I didn’t trust anyone right now.
He frowned, looking concerned, but nodded.
