Page 191 of Fated or Knot

“No way! We love serving the princess.”

What they were asking really sank in. “Oh, you want to beintroduced.”

Their fuzzy antennae shot straight up in either shock or embarrassment. “No, Prince!” they squeaked about the same time.

“I want to learn how to be a head moth,” one squeaked.

“No,I’mgoing to be the head moth,” said the other.

I glanced between them, brow wrinkling in confusion. Wirr could figure this out. I took a moment to locate the big alpha to make the introduction. One of them whispered their names to me as I waved him over. “Wirr, this is Jani and Lon. They’re proven themselves to be hard workers and excellent handmaidens for my mate,” I said.

Rennyn had taught me that youalwayscompliment a house moth’s work ethic, especially to an alpha mothkin, otherwise you’ve wounded their pride. They held grudges and their gossip spread like wildfire after a drought. But they were excellent allies for a spy wanting to know who was sleeping where and plotting with whom in as busy a place as the palace. He kept his thumb on everything going on just by listening to the head moths, who sorted through their eclipse’s gossip to offer him the juiciest details.

While the pair of betas peppered Wirr with questions, I headed back into the kitchen to start cooking. I got into a groove of chopping, slicing, and seasoning, only interrupted when Kauztapped the pack bond to let me know he’d come inside. He’d remained at a polite distance behind us, but within range of our bond the whole day, just in case either of us spotted danger.

I sent him the equivalent of a thumbs up to ask if everything was still okay. He sent back a yes and I relaxed, getting back to work. I wasn’t a master chef by any means, but I enjoyed the tasks, especially the bespoke-level roasting I could offer with my fire. I’d packed enough food for everyone to eat well off my efforts.

Lark poked her head into the kitchen. Oddly, I smelled her coming. Her sweetness wafting ahead of her and arrowing straight into my nostrils. Her white hair still damp around her rosy-cheeked face fresh from a shower.Adorable, as always.Her chocolate-coated honey crackers scent wafted from her, pure and free of any contaminants. And wow, her scent would always be a more indulgent dessert than the one I had brought for her.

Her eyes widened in surprise. “Tormund? Are youcooking?” she asked.

I blocked her view of my work by covering her star-flecked eyes with one palm. “Aye, li’l bird. I’ll bring it out to you when it’s done.”

“It smells really good.”

“You smell really good.”

“Oh?” She tried to peek around my hand.

A flush of heat raced over my skin. I thought it was my rage, rekindling from its embers by the gentle warmth from her breath on my palm. “Go sit down, please,” I said.

I was a little disappointed when she left and took her sweet pheromones with her, just as I requested. Maybe expelling some of my fire was stirring the rage, as I hadn’t felt it at all since Lark took my knot like a champion. I hadn’t missed it.

My cock jumped to full life the moment I thought about our last encounter. I scowled down at the tent in my pants.That’s not very chivalrous,I chided it and thought about unpleasant things until it relented.

I needed to make sure the meat didn’t burn and that I finished roasting the potatoes properly, one long exhale of flame at a time across their metal pan.

I peeked into the common area before doing my final plating. Kauz was sprawled in the middle of a couch with a stack of books on the table in front of him. One of his wings was curled over Lark. Our mate rested her head on his shoulder, gazing up at him adoringly as she giggled at something my brother said.

A spike of jealousy skewered me. Kauz glanced up looking straight at me with his unusual eyes, brows raising in surprise. His expression smoothed out to his usual knowing look. I scowled back, disliking the touch of smugness that overgrown bat wore so well.

I went back into the kitchen to split the food fairly and cut the bread. I covered the main course and loaded it all on a platter to carry it out with me. “Dinner’s ready,” I announced with my usual cheer. “Good news. Kauz and the li’l moths aren’t going to starve today!”

Jani and Lon’s restlessly wiggling antennae showed their obvious confusion when I slid a covered plate toward them. “You’re feeding us, Prince?” Lon, I think, asked. Her sister framed her fuzzy face with her hands in glee.

“It might not be as good as something from the palace kitchens, but I made it with love,” I said, grinning. “Lark, I was thinking we could eat in my room.”

“Okay.” Beaming, she turned to kiss Kauz—briefly, I noted with some satisfaction—and stood as I slid him some dinner too.

“Be careful,” my brother murmured in an undertone as Lark headed for the staircase.

“Ach.” I followed her without another glance at him, though I knew exactly what he was talking about. I had plenty of practice with my self-control. I’d gotten through the train ride here, and my rage’s worst spikes for years. Two days of being by Lark’s side without mating with her would be a cake walk compared to that kind of torture.

Stars,cake. I could’ve baked a cake and prepared the other layers of a berry trifle for her, if we hadn’t been rushed. Something so delicious, she’d moan over it, just like the last one. Hopefully she’d love what I’d made for her instead.

“Um, small problem,” she said once we were both in my room and I’d kicked the door closed behind me. “Your desk only has one chair.”

The desk was a scarred thing in one corner, with a handful of slim poetry books lined up against the wall and the remnants of a wood carving project lying forgotten in the center under a thin layer of dust. I’d tried more than once to take up carving—it was a nice masculine activity I could do at clan meetings, if I were good at it—but all I usually got for the experience was splinters and cuts on my fingers.

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