Page 81 of Mercy & Her Devils

Bacon, eggs, sausages, fried tomatoes and mushrooms, along with buttery toast and a couple of strange but delicious smelling meats that I don’t recognize.

Next to them are trays of muffins, pancakes, and scones.

Antonio breaks off a buttered piece of crusty roll and holds it up to Lark’s mouth, hopefully.

Lark narrows his eyes. “Try it, and I’ll bite.”

Antonio holds his hand to his chest. “My feral Omega. Be still my beating heart.”

He’s not even joking.

Lark casts me a helpless glance.

I shrug with a smile.

Kai leads me to the couch on the opposite side of the low table, pulling me to sit down next to him.

To my relief, he doesn’t try to hand-feed me but he does nudge a steaming coffee mug toward me.

My mouth waters, as the scent of rich coffee hits me. When I cup my hands around it, the mug is reassuringly warm in my hand.

I take a sip and can’t hold back the moan. “Morning coffee is the best. It should be illegal for anyone to have to start their day without it.”

“Do you think that I could become elected President with that pledge?” Antonio asks.

“Aren’t you a criminal?” Lark points out.

“There’s nothing in the constitution that says the President can’t be a criminal.” Antonio breezily stuffs the roll into his mouth, before grabbing one of the coffees and shoving it into Lark’s hands. “If you ask me, our President already is the criminal with how he allows Omegas to be treated. You know, if we’re going to be all serious and political about it.”

“Not this early in the morning we’re not.” Kai picks up a plate. “What would you like, beloved?”

I bite my lip. “Can I try a bit of everything?”

It’s the right answer because Kai’s pale cheeks tint, and he looks pleased. He begins to fill up my plate.

Antonio sucks in a breath. “Brave choice. I didn’t know that you liked black pudding.”

“What’s that?” I ask.

Antonio slouches in his seat like a cat sunning himself, and his grin is equally mischievous. “Blood, mainly.”

Horrified, I stare at Kai.

He’s pale and gorgeous enough to be a vampire Alpha.

There are enough romance novels about immortal Alphas stealing unsuspecting Omegas away to their hidden castles, before sinking their fangs and knots into them.

Kai gives Antonio a stern stare. “It’s part of the iconic Scottish breakfast. It’s delicious. So is haggis.”

Antonio hides his grin behind his coffee. “Go for it. I mean, who doesn’t want to eat sheep’s heart, lungs, and liver all stuffed inside the sheep’s stomach alongside their syrup pancake? Yum.”

Lark swipes at Antonio, but he dodges with a laugh.

Suddenly, I don’t feel quite so hungry, until I see the way that Kai’s wavering, unsure.

He’s masking his hurt, but I can see it.

He thinks that I’m going to reject his special breakfast. With a jolt, I realize that he truly did cook this breakfast as an offering for us.

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