Evaline:
The mont we stepped inside the kitchen, I was hit with the familiar scent of herbs, flour, and the lingering warmth of the ovens.
All of the kitchen staff had already retired for the night which left the massive space eerily quiet.
Alpha Kieran finally released my wrist and moved to lean against the counter, watching expectantly.
I was still pretty much at a loss about what was happening. "You do realize you could just order a servant to make you sothing, right?"
"Yeah." He replied with that lazy smile still playing on his lips. "But this is more fun."
I hated how my stomach flipped at that. I knew better than to read too much into his words. Also, I was aware of the mistake I just made - I was a servant too.
I didn’t move for a while and stood there while he just kept watching . His deep green eyes were heavy-lidded, intense in a way that made my breath hitch.
Sothing was so wrong here... and dangerously so.
I swallowed hard and forced myself to look away. "Fine," I muttered. "But don’t complain if it’s terrible."
His chuckle was low and smooth as he spoke, "I wouldn’t dare."
I exhaled slowly and turned toward the pantry to gather ingredients. But even as I moved around the kitchen, even as I tried to ignore the way his gaze was following my every movent... I couldn’t shake the feeling that this night was going to change everything.
As I collected the ingredients I needed, he settled down on one of the high stools near the counter. He kept watching with a lazy interest. His slightly unfocused gaze made it clear that he was still feeling the effects of the alcohol, but his sharpness wasn’t entirely dulled.
A voice at the back of my head kept reminding that I shouldn’t be here... with him. Yet, sothing about the way he looked at made it hard to resist the mont. There was no outright hatred, instead, he looked intrigued.
And it was rare - being in the presence of one of the brothers and not feeling like I was standing on the edge of a cliff, waiting to be shoved off.
"Can you make sothing quick?" He asked, pulling out of the depths of my wandering thoughts.
I hesitated before nodding. "I can."
I reached for the ingredients. My hands working on their own as I prepared a simple but filling al. The scent of freshly chopped herbs and sizzling butter soon filled the air, mixing with the faint traces of his intoxicating scent.
"You don’t hate the way your brothers do," I said before I could stop myself.
And much to my surprise, he chuckled before asking, "And what makes you think that?"
"You don’t glare at like you want dead," I muttered as I stirred the pot. "You dragged here to cook instead of throwing back into my chamber. That’s sothing, isn’t it?"
"Maybe I just wanted food." His lips curved into a smirk. "And you seed like the perfect little kitchen maid."
I bit the inside of my cheek to keep myself from reacting. I wasn’t a fool. He was teasing . But at least it wasn’t cruel. Not yet.
Silence settled between us for a mont before he suddenly asked, "Why were you sneaking around so late at night?"
I imdiately went stiff and my grip on the spoon tightened.
I could lie. I should lie. But my thoughts had been so tangled that, before I could stop myself, the truth was slipping past my lips.
"The academy’s entrance exam..."
His expression shifted, but just barely. He tilted his head in the slightest and his eyes narrowed in the faintest. Yet, despite how carefully he concealed his emotions, I knew I had surprised him.
"Hmm," he mused. "And why would you be interested in that?"
I opened my mouth, then shut it again. I knew better to expose myself. I knew I should brush it off. But sothing about him made feel like he already knew.
I turned back to the pot and stared at the simring broth as if it held the answers to all my problems. "I want to be safe," I finally admitted softly. "I want a future. And Silver Moon Academy is the best place for that."
He said nothing, letting continue.
"I heard it before," I went on in a much steadier voice. "You and your brothers protect your students. If I beco a student, then you’ll have to protect , too. Or at the very least, you won’t kill ."
I finally looked up at him. I was expecting to see an amused look on his face, but his expression remained unreadable.
"So that’s your plan," he finally said while leaning back against the counter.
"Yes." I exhaled. "Or at least it would be... if I even knew how to get in."
He humd softly as his gaze flickered to the al I was plating. "How do you plan on getting admitted?"
I paused at the question. This was the problem - I had no idea.
I didn’t know where the entrance forms were kept, how to submit them, or what the exams even entailed. The more I thought about it, the more impossible it seed.
As I failed to answer, silence took over the kitchen, making the air feel heavier.
I finished cooking and quickly presented the food to him. Without a word, he picked up his fork and started eating. I was unable to tell what he was thinking, and it unsettled .
I had just exposed my wild plan to one of the brothers. Had I just made things worse for myself? Had I signed my own death warrant?
The tension in my shoulders didn’t ease even as he spoke again, taking by surpise by the complint. "You are a good cook."
"...Thank you."
He continued eating until his plate was nearly empty. Then, just as I began thinking that the conversation had ended, he set down his fork and leaned forward.
"I’ll help you."
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