Page 10 of The Blood Widow

“No. I don’t know what my demon is telling you, but can you back off. Flirting with you would just hurt Cole, and I’ve done that enough,” I grunted out.

He backed up with a wrinkled brow. “Sorry, I didn’t know you have no control of your demon. You know, it’s not very safe…” I quirked an eyebrow at him. “Never mind.”

Good, I didn’t need to be lectured. There wasn’t a teacher willing to help me, so it didn’t matter. I couldn’t figure my demon out even after the dozens of books I’ve read. Regardless of his opinion about my demon being untrained, he let the topic go and didn’t seem to care about me being a halfling. Compared to most people I knew, he was respectful and kind. Those were odd traits for a demon, but I was proof that species didn't always matter.

After a few minutes of tense silence, I whispered, “Thank you for not being a dick about it.” Dominic winked like it was no big deal.

I didn’t know if the feeling was because he was a demon, or he had some incubus magic, but I liked the guy. It was weird how at ease I was with him being close. Images of him coming overto my place to teach me how to cook more meals flashed in my mind. Then, the musings turned erotic. Him licking food off of me...

A wave a guilt almost overpowered the lust coursing through my veins. Cole seemed close with these men. I would never disrespect him by sleeping with his friends. Cole did nothing wrong. He was the best lover and friend, he just wanted to be more.

As Dominic explained about pancakes, flashes of my time with Cole threatened to make me cry. Our time watching movies, cuddling, the heat that blazed between us every time we got near each other, the nights I slept nightmare free, the sweet words that he gave me when I wasn’t able to save everyone.

I shook my head and blinked several times to focus. I couldn’t keep doing that to myself. I could never be in a relationship without feeling guilty. The only thing I could give him was an early death.

“We’ve mixed it well, now pour onto the warm skillet. We have to wait for the topside to bubble slightly to flip them, or it’ll make a mess and look horrible.”

I nodded and focused on my warped circle of off-white liquid like it held all the answers to the universe. Anything to get my mind off the dark subject.

Dominic bumped my arm. I glanced up at him.

“This isn’t rocket science. Just enjoy the moment. Let the cooking take your mind off whatever is making your forehead wrinkle so cutely.”

I scoffed and turned back to my now bubbling assignment. I didn’t like how he seemed to read me so well. I barely knew this man. With a sigh and a sinking sense of failure, I flipped over my pancake. My eyes popped opened as I stared at the almost matching one on Dominic’s side. Mine was darker and warped, but I think it was edible.

“I did it!” I tapped his muscular arm and did a little bounce as I spoke. My smile was full of wonder. The only time someone had ever taken the time to help me learn to cook, I almost burnt the house down. “Look! Nothing is burnt, and there’s no smoke.”

Dominic’s strong arms wrapped around me when my movements got too frenetic. I blamed my exhaustion. Cooking shouldn’t have made me this happy.

“Look at you! My first pancake was wrinkled and soggy,” Dominic said as he swirled me around like we were ballroom dancing.

My smile just got bigger.

The weight of the night seemed to vanish in this one accomplishment. My eyes grew blurry. I stepped back as embarrassment hit. He probably thought I was loony for crying over a damn pancake.

“Now, I really am sorry I didn’t take the time to teach you a few things,” Cole said from the same spot he was in before. He leaned against the wall with his arms crossed, watching me. I couldn’t look at him. My cheeks were on fire.

“It’s not that big a deal. I just got excited,” I said and cleared my throat, stepping further away from Dominic and closer to the food.

I took the pancake out and placed it on the plate Dominic had ready for us. As the two men glared at each other in a silent conversation that was annoying me, I continued to practice. I would definitely have to make Beaut pancakes to thank her for her help tonight. Brownies loved getting paid in food. I could cook a few things like top roman, microwave meals, and toast but they didn’t count as cooking according to Dominic.

After thirty minutes of learning, I managed to not burn anything too badly. The eggs weren’t as pretty as Dominic’s, and the bacon was too crispy, but my pride swelled at my accomplishment. I was just happy that I could make breakfastnow. Cooking never even crossed my mind as a skill I should acquire, but it was on my top ten list now.

I made the kids each a plate and excused myself to take it to them while Dominic made the food for the others. There were tons of people here. The three men, four women that they saved, and the two children I had - that was ten of us in the tiny cabin. I didn’t want to keep the kids locked up, but they probably wouldn’t feel safe around all these adults.

I knocked before going in, the little startled cries hurt my heart all over again. Peaking my head in, I said, “It’s just me, can I come in?”

“Do we have a choice?” Ben said a little grumpily. I must have woken them.

“Of course, you do. I won’t come in if you don’t want me to. I can leave the food by the door. Would that be okay?” Ben was probably around eight or nine years old, whereas Pen was around four to six years old. With kids a bit older like Ben, control was everything. Who knew what they didn’t to him while being a prisoner, giving him a little power over the situation would boost his confidence.

“Yes, you can just leave it there.”

“Wait, what if they poisoned it like last time,” Pen’s tired voice chimed in. She rubbed her face. Just waking up, they probably didn’t remember being safe here. It would take a long time to get out of the habit of being scared. I hoped Bell found their parents out of the people I saved and got them a great home where they had the chance to heal. I knew she would, but I always worried.

Pulling on my magic, I spoke, “I swear nothing I ever give you will be poisoned or have drugs in it.” I let my magic dissipated while I continued. “And I made these myself. First time ever really, so I hope they’re okay.”

Pen untangled herself from the thick comforter and fluffy pillows to waddle her cute chubby little body over to me. Her bare feet patted over to me as I studied her plump body covered in black clothes and pudgy cheeks with little lines on them from her sleep. She was freakin’ adorable. She moved her curly hair out of her face.

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