Page 26 of The Warlock's Kiss

But this simple act—even if it violated the boundaries Merrick had established—showed a different side of humanity. A side that had been so easy for Merrick to ignore in his isolation and bitterness. Because Danny and Adalynn both exemplified the human capacity for loyalty, for compassion, for sacrifice.

Merrick had gone hungry many times in his life, especially during his youth. Though it had been long ago, and his appetites for physical food had diminished since—even if his enjoyment of it had not—he’d never forgotten. He never would forget. The pleasure Danny had expressed in that taste of peanut butter reminded Merrick of himself as a child.

But in setting a cracker aside—with more than he’d taken for himself—Danny had proven his maturity, his appreciation, his thoughtfulness. And that spoke to Merrick more deeply than he would’ve thought possible.

Merrick stepped into the kitchen and approached the table.

Danny lifted his head, meeting Merrick’s gaze, and his entire body went taut. Guilt and fear gleamed in the boy’s eyes and paled his skin. He gulped and forced a wide grin. “Morning?”

“It certainly is,” Merrick replied as he slowly pulled out the chair across from Danny.

The boy’s grin crumbled. “Please don’t kill me.”

Merrick sat down and dipped his chin toward the cracker on the table. “Who is that for?”

Danny glanced at the cracker. His shoulders sagged. “Addy. But you can have it if you want it.”

“I think she’s earned it, don’t you?”

The boy cocked his head, his brows furrowing. “You’re not mad?”

Reaching forward, Merrick picked up the peanut butter jar. He kept his eyes on Danny as he unscrewed the lid and set it aside. This had been a fairly fresh jar—Merrick himself had only eaten a little after opening it—and Danny seemed to have used a negligible amount.

Merrick slid the jar in front of the boy. “I should be.”

Danny stared at the jar for a moment before returning his gaze to Merrick. “But…you’re not?”

“Eat some more.”

The boy perked. “Really?” He reached for the jar and dragged it closer only to pause suddenly, his features falling in suspicion. “Wait…it’s not poison, is it?”

Merrick’s brows rose. “Youjustate some, Daniel. Now that I offer it freely, you ask if it is poisoned? Should you not have considered thatbeforeyou snuck a taste?”

“Did you forget how you were acting about it yesterday?”

“No, but you must have.”

“Um, sorry, but if you’re so protective over your peanut butter youclearlyunderstand that this stuff is like the greatest thing ever invented. How was I supposed to resist it?”

Merrick couldn’t hold back a smirk. “I should drag you out into the storm by your ear for violating my wishes, boy, but I find myself impressed by your restraint—and your thoughtfulness toward your sister.Thatis why you may have more.”

Danny grinned. “I changed my mind. You’re pretty cool.”

“And all it took was some peanut butter?”

“You mean the nectar of the gods?”

“Nectar implies a liquid.”

Danny shrugged and dipped the butter knife into the jar. “I could drink this stuff.” He smeared a bit on a cracker and held it out to Merrick.

“No, thank you.” Merrick was hungry—more so than ever since reaching immortality, perhaps—but there was no food that could sate his current appetite.

“So what’d you do? Before all this?” Danny took a bite of the cracker and released a satisfied hum.

Leaning back in his chair, Merrick rested a forearm on the edge of the table. “I was an eccentric millionaire. Little has changed for me.”

“Huh. So, your family was rich?”

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