Page 67 of Their Offering

“Stop looking at me like that.” A big smile was plastered on her face. Even her eyes twinkled.

“Like what?” I asked, putting my hands up in defense.

“Like you’re going to eat me again.”

“Is that a request?” I asked her, wiggling my eyebrows and groaning when the oven timer went off.

“It’s done,” she squealed, perking up. She grabbed the pan from the oven and turned with a nervous look on her face.

“It looks fucking delicious,” my twin said, though his eyes were on Lilly.

She laughed and handed him the stack of plates and forks. “Set the table?” she asked.

The elevator opened with a ding the moment we all sat down. Keir was home.

“Something smells delicious,” he said when he stepped into the dining room.

“I made it,” Lilly announced with an eager smile.

Keir looked at her andactuallysmiled, a rare sight these days, especially when he was in the room with her. “Good job,” he told her, her eyes filling with hope at his compliment.

“Want to eat with us?” Her voice was full of that hope too.

I watched as Keir contemplated his choices, and I fought the wince as I saw him settle on a decision. “I’ll take a plate to my room,” he said, tearing his eyes away from her.

Lilly looked crushed, and her lip trembled just a bit. I fought the urge to storm after Keir and drag him back in, but that wouldn’t help anything. Instead, I cleared my throat and filled my plate.

“I can’t wait to taste this,” I said, licking my lips with an inward groan. There was still the faint taste of Lilly in my mouth. I started to take a bite, but Lilly’s hand landed on my arm, halting me.

“Wait.” She filled her plate along with Nicholas. “Let’s try it together.”

I smile, and my heart swelled. I nodded at her and gestured with my fork. “Ready?”

She looked at her place and then at each of us before she hurriedly snuck her bite into her mouth.

“Why you little…” I stuffed my bite in my mouth along with my brother. I closed my eyes and chewed the food, the juices exploding in my mouth.

“Hail Satan,” I heard my twin say.

I nodded and grunted in agreement. When I opened my eyes, Lilly was staring at me expectantly.

“So?”

“You may have hope when it comes to cooking after all, little one.” I took another bite. “This is amazing. I told you it would be good.”

She smiled. “I had a great teacher.”

I smiled back, then dove in for another bite. Itreallywas good. Much to Lilly's delight, I even went back for seconds and thirds.

Once we’d cleaned up, we sat on the couch with Lilly between us and watched a movie until she fell asleep. Nicholas carried her to the room, and I watched her sleep until my own tiredness lulled me into the darkness.

Chapter 32

Lillian

After a week, I’d decided I’d had enough of Keir avoiding me. He was about to leave for the day, so I asked for the one thing that’d been burning in the back of my mind since leaving Earth: Austin. I hadn’t been able to stop thinking about what ‘taken care of’ meant. Had they killed him? Part of me was okay with that, but another part of me hoped he didn’t get off that easily.

“Wait.”

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