Page 55 of House of Mages and Raven

Did he seriously think that he was doing me a huge favor by letting me confide in him?

“So, what’s your favorite color, Barbie?” He gave me a nudge, looking pleased with himself.

“I can’t think about colors or anything else while I’m hungry,” I said, looking in the direction of the buffet tables. Why did it take so long for the two shifters to fetch me food? I’d rather pick my own food, since I knew what I wanted.

“Hurry the fuck up!” Silas barked across the hall. “You’re bringing food, not gold. I don’t want Barbie to faint in front of me due to malnourishmentwhile we’re having a meaningful conversation.”

I darted a glance upstairs. Shit, Killian had moved from his former seat, and now I was in his direct line of view. Aided by Sy’s superior sight, I could see him clenching his jaw. When I was in his house, he’d always made sure I had more than enough to eat daily, as if feeding me was one of his most important tasks along with protecting me. There’d always been guards shadowing me, and there’d always been food in the common area outside my room, even at midnight. And I’d still raided thekitchen on a daily basis. The chaos prince had been harsh toward any complaints about me from the kitchen staff until eventually no one else dared bitch about it.

I was out of his hands and out of his house now. I was no longer his burden. But I hoped that he wasn’t relieved about it. I hoped his conscience, if he still had any, bit his ass hard and made it bleed. I hoped he’d never get his HEA with that demon queen and her ward. Even now, I kept sending bad vibes his way and thinking bad thoughts about his two women.

I promised myself I would read a mindset manifest book tomorrow just so I could learn how to shoot potent negative energy toward the trio, so bad luck would fall on them. Or I should just beg Bea to curse them with mage spells.

Mila came back with a winning smile on her chubby face. She dropped two plates of salad in front of me. The reindeer was a vegetarian. I groaned inwardly as I stared at the salad, and Sy growled at the broccoli.

“Thank you,” I said.

Instead of acknowledging my thanks, Mila beamed at her prince before she returned to her table, her gait light and proud, as if she was walking on clouds. I bet this was the first time Silas had even spared her a glance and a nod. But she didn’t know the heirs as I did. He’d already forgotten her face.

The power game was inbred into every supernatural in Mist of Cinder. They did not care about being nice. It was all about power. And obviously, everyone regarded me as a bottom feeder after I had been tossed out of the House of Chaos. No one seemed to appreciate the fact that I belonged to the House of Mages instead of being homeless. This might have to do with Grace’s mind power that perfumed the air.

A large hand came forward while I stared at the plates of undesirable salad, and three more plates were laid out in front of me one by one. The first plate contained my favorite smokedduck and roasted rosemary chicken, the second was full of cakes and puddings, and the third had peaches and berries.

Mouthwatering, I still remembered my manners. I raised my head, my eyes widening at who had brought me the dishes. Rock bowed slightly at Silas, despite the shifter prince’s scowl, before turning to smirk at me.

Why was the chaos warrior still taking care of me even though I wasn’t his charge anymore? And he’d done it in public while his boss watched from his upstairs throne. Rock was loyal to Killian to a fault. He’d never go against his boss’s wishes. What kind of message was the werewolf sending? Wasn’t helping an outcast who belonged to another house a conflict of interest?

Was he declaring that his house never really gave me up? Or was he acting on his own? I couldn’t help but dart a glance at the balcony. Grace’s full pink lips that looked exactly like mine parted in surprise, her smile half freezing. Anger flashing in her eyes, she turned to look at Killian, as if expecting him to discipline his man. If anyone, including the chaos heir, tried to hurt Rock, I’d make them regret it.

Killian drank his wine with the same bored look.

“Thanks, Rocky,” I said, looking between him and the smoked duck. For what it was worth, I didn’t want to get him in trouble. I also had to say something that wasn’t tacky or emotional to dampen the tension, since everyone was watching. “Can you find out if this duck I’m about to eat was raised free-range? It’s wrong to put animals in cages.”

Rock stared at me, then chuckled. “You must be really hungry if you’ve started to forget my name or you’re worried about a duck.” He set a tall cup of smoothie on the table and pushed it toward me. “Just so you know, your room in the House of Chaos won’t admit anyone else.”

I fluttered my eyelids to fight back the moisture at his loyalty and friendship. Rock nodded and strode toward the exit, not looking at anyone else.

Quite a few girls’ gazes traced him, glued to his taut butt. Not everyone could get a prince charming, but some would have a better chance at landing a powerful werewolf and the second-in-command in the House of Chaos.

I pushed away the plates of salad then dragged the three plates Rock had brought me closer and dug in right away. The flavor of smoked duck cooked with paprika, cumin, and chili exploded on my tongue.

The day was finally getting better. I sighed in contentment. Despite the war being waged against me, my life was still heaven here compared to the horror I’d gone through under Ruin’s thumb. If I would have a future and be able to look back on this day, I’d say that I had no regrets. But I knew that this sheltered life would end. The bubble of illusion would burst. Even so, Sy and I had a life here, no matter how briefly. So, I smiled, my golden curls bounced, and my chipped heart was full of gratitude for what I still had.

O how much more doth beauty beauteous seem…

The rose looks fair, but fairer…”

What the fuck?I paused in my chewing, my reverie disturbed, as Silas’s deep voice rumbled, rough and sensual at the same time. Something squeezed in my middle, not in a good way, though not in a bad way either. It was just weird, man.

The shifter prince gazed at me, trying to conjure up a romantic spark in his amber eyes. His firm and curvy lips continued reciting, as if he was greatly encouraged by my puzzled expression that he must’ve interpreted as awe.

I didn’t need that shit to weigh me down. I dropped my gaze to a red velvet cake on my plate and bit into it mercilessly.

“…Of their sweet deaths are sweetest odors made…”

Odors? What odors? I fought the urge to smell under my own armpits or Sy’s.

Did he mean we smell?Sy had to ask. She’d dozed off when Silas started to recite sonnets.The shifter prince is the rude one, but he’s smoking hot.

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