Page 28 of Dark Shaman: The Lost Treasure
He forced a smile. "I'm just browsing the news."
"That's a mistake." She took his phone and set it aside. "No doomscrolling allowed at dinner parties."
He pulled her onto his lap, wrapping his arms around her waist. "It didn't start yet. Besides, I wouldn't call it a party."
"What else would you call having two couples over for a home-cooked meal?"
"An interrogation disguised as social niceties?" He nuzzled her neck, breathing in the scent of her hair. "My brother and Kian are going to spend the entire evening trying to figure out what to do with us."
She laughed. "I will welcome their input. It's not like we know what to do with ourselves now that we no longer run a fashion business or pretend to. We need to figure out how to live a normal life."
"We're not normal people."
"Perhaps we are not," she agreed, "but we can pretend."
He studied her face, noting the tension around her eyes. She was worried about him.
"I love you," he said.
Her expression softened. "I love you too, and I worry about you. You are restless, and I can't blame you, but I don't know what to do about that."
"I'm adjusting," he admitted.
"To not having someone trying to kill us?"
"To irrelevance." The words came out harsher than he'd intended. "I need to be more than a refugee from my father's insanity."
Carol cupped his face in her hands. "It's been ten days. Give yourself time. You'll figure it out."
"You're feeling it too. The boredom. The sense that we should be doing something more than playing house."
"I like playing house."
The oven timer beeped, breaking the moment.
"Go get ready." He helped her stand. "I'll take out the roast.” The vegan dish she’d prepared earlier was in the warming drawer. Something Thai that smelled delicious, even though it was made with tofu.
She kissed him, quick but thorough. "Cover it in foil so it doesn't dry out."
"Yes, ma'am."
As she disappeared down the hallway, he turned his attention to the oven. The roast looked perfect, golden brown and crackling. Carol had always loved to cook, and since returning to the village, she'd thrown herself into domesticity. He loved every meal, every moment spent with her in this idyllic, safe community, but they both needed more.
The doorbell rang just as he was done covering the roast as per Carol's instructions, and he added a dish towel on top for good measure before answering the door. He found Kalugal and Jacki standing on the front porch.
"Lokan." Kalugal pulled him into a brotherly hug that felt good and awkward at the same time.
They hadn't been close while Kalugal was still in the brotherhood. In fact, Lokan had been annoyed by how quickly Kalugal had risen in the ranks despite his youth and inexperience. He hadn't known the truth about their parentage, and that out of all his numerous brothers, Kalugal was the only one he was actually related to.
"Jacki." He kissed his sister-in-law's cheek. "You look lovely as always."
"Thank you." She gifted him with a smile.
"Come in." He stepped aside. "Carol's getting ready. As usual, she has prepared enough to feed an army."
"I heard that she's a great cook."
"She is. If I don't get busy soon, I'll get fat from eating too much." He patted his flat belly.
