“Then Kuya will go with Evan.” He grabbed my hand and pulled me in the opposite direction. I could tell he was forcing a lighter tone. In an attempt to make me feel better? “We will not be sad and instead have fun.”
“Doing what?”
“Exploring,” he said, flashing his canines as he gave me a toothy grin. “The kingdom of Bremloc awaits.”
Chapter Fifteen
Did We Just Become Besties?
The market was less crowded than it’d been the previous time I’d visited. Which I didn’t mind. Fewer people meant less anxiety.
Kuya bought a bag of roasted almonds from a vendor, and we munched on it as we walked the lanes. One woman was selling wind chimes made with colorful stones, and Kuya’s eyes sparkled as he watched them move with the breeze.
Spotting a bookstore, I asked if we could take a look. As I stepped inside and browsed the shelves of books, I was hit with that familiar comfort I used to feel when being in bookstores in my old world. The smell of the books. All the stories waiting to be read. I found the latest book in the series I’d borrowed from Briar and bought it, along with a cool bookmark with a wolf engraving and a leather journal I thought my handsome physician would like.
Things would never be the same as they were in my old life, but the bookstore had given me some of those same feelings.
“Good. Evan found a present.” Kuya’s ears flicked. “Now Kuya wants one.”
“Anything specific?” I asked as we exited the bookstore.
“Cake.”
I laughed. “I think there’s a bakery around here somewhere.”
“This way.” He looped his arm through mine and steered me around a corner and past a line of shops.
Finding the bakery, we ducked into it. My mouth watered as the scent of freshly baked bread wafted around me.
“We have both savory and sweet,” the baker told us. “If you want anything other than bread, we also have a selection of pastries and cakes.”
“Do you have anything with strawberry?” Kuya asked.
The baker’s eyes narrowed. “No.”
I skimmed the items and stopped at one in particular. “Is that not a strawberry pastry right there?” It looked similar to a Danish, made of multilayered, flaky dough and topped with jam and cream. Sliced strawberries were also on top.
“Oh,” the baker said. “That’s not for sale. Apologies.” He didn’t sound—or look—sorry at all though. Annoyed would be a better description.
“Why not? That’s not good business practice to offer something and then claim it’s not available.” I then realized where his annoyance had come from. Suspected, at least. It was because Kuya was a demi-human. “One would almost think you’re discriminating against your customers.”
He glared at Kuya again before looking back at me. “I suppose I can make an exception this once. Shall I bag it for you?”
“No,” I said. “You can stick it up your ass though. I’m sure it tastes like shit anyway.”
I then looped mine and Kuya’s arms back together and left the shop. He offered me a small smile and gently bumped me.
“Does that happen often?” I asked once we were back outside.
“Yes. It’s why Prince Sawyer doesn’t like for Kuya to go anywhere without him.” He led us over to a fountain in the center of the square and sat on the ledge around it, bringing his knees up. His tail curved in around him, the tip slowly moving across the stone slab. “When he’s with Kuya, humans aren’t mean.”
“Fuck that guy. If you want strawberry cake, I’ll make one for you.”
“Evan bakes?”
I sat beside him. “Yep. I haven’t gotten the chance to do much of it since coming here, with the exception of baking a few things for the knights. I miss it.” My job at the café was one of the main things I missed about my world. Baking and making coffee had relaxed my mind and made me happy.
“Then you should bake a cake,” he said, nodding. “And allow Kuya to eat it.”
