Page 2 of Sweet Dominion

Shit. I need to be paying attention. Stop that.

I blinked a few more times.

Alright. The tea ceremony. Focus.

My vision cleared and I found myself back in the present, surrounded by over sixty ornate bowls arranged on a long, polished wooden table. The dried tea leaves inside varied in color from rich emerald-green to deep amber.

It was a stunning visual display that was currently freaking me out.

How the hell am I going to know what leaves to pick?

Some leaves were rolled into tight curls while others were spread out like miniature palm leaves.

Plus, they all had their own unique color and texture.

The chef pointed at a bowl filled with deep green leaves. “Gyokuro has a sweet, grassy taste.”

I cleared my throat, attempting to pay attention.

“It is known for its smoothness and richumamitaste.”

“Okay.”

The scents were intoxicating; each one more alluring than the last.

There were earthy, robust aromas that spoke of ancient forests and deep, rich soil.

Sweet, floral notes wafted up from bowls filled with petals and herbs mingling with the fresh, grassy fragrance of green teas and the smoky slightly bitter scent of black teas.

This is going to be impossible.

My nose twitched as I inhaled deeply, trying to absorb the complex fragrances enveloping me.

The colors were breathtaking—a mesmerizing rainbow of teas.

Chef Foo bowed. “I will now give you time to pick. Good luck, Mountain Mistress.”

Shit.

He left and I just sat there wondering which ones to grab.

The bowl in front of me held a deep, rich red tea Hibiscus. The dried petals looked like crimson velvet, their tart floral scent bold and invigorating.

Mom used to drink Hibiscus because it was high in vitamin C and helped lower blood pressure. But I liked the idea of using it because. . .that deep red made me think of the intense passion Lei and I shared last night.

I picked up the bowl and handed it to Lan. “This will be the first ingredient.”

“Sounds good, Mistress.” Lan smiled and took the bowl.

I glanced at my other ladies-in-waiting, taking a moment to appreciate their presence and support today.

Each of them wore formal blue designer suits, tailored to perfection. All of their black hair had been braided back into tight cornrows and then twisted into buns behind their heads, as if they wanted to be ready to fight yet not have their long hair used against them.

Thandi, tall and commanding, stood close to six feet. Her height was intimidating to some but I knew that Duck seemed to be the most intrigued by her when I introduced them.

I nodded at her as she remained by the door.

Thandi nodded back. “Excellent choice, mistress.”

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