Kuya shook his head.
“It’ll be a good learning experience, then. Just don’t cut yourself. Otherwise, my head will be on the chopping block instead of this zucchini.”
Sawyer would kill me if his precious Kuya got even a scratch.
He watched as I chopped a zucchini, and then I supervised him as he chopped the second, showing him the proper way to hold the knife.
“Let the knife do the work for you,” I instructed.
“Kuya did it!” he exclaimed, beaming with pride. “What can Kuya chop now?”
“Easy, killer,” I said with a laugh, eyeing the knife as he tapped it on the cutting board. I grabbed two yellow squashes. “Chop the ends off first, then cut them the same way you did the zucchini.”
He was too cute as he got to work, tail flicking as he chopped the vegetables. Uneven cuts, but it was okay. Not bad for his first time. Once he’d finished, I tossed them in a cast-iron skillet on the stove. Earlier, I had marinated chicken breasts and thighs in a mixture of olive oil, lemon juice, dried rosemary, garlic, and salt and black pepper. In a separate skillet, I started cooking the meat.
Voices filtered into the kitchen from the other room where Maddox, Briar, and the knights waited. I loved the sound. Growing up, I had been shuffled from one foster home to another, often feeling neglected. Alone. Family wasn’t something I’d ever had. But warmth filled my chest as I heard their laughter.
I’m not alone anymore.
Love wasn’t all I’d found in Bremloc. I had found a family too.
Once the cake was done baking, I pulled it from the oven and set it aside to cool. I’d frost it after dinner. I had also made a batch of chocolate chip cookies earlier, some with pecans and some without.
Just call me Evan, the baking machine.
“It smells incredible in here,” Briar said from the doorway. His cheeks held a slight flush, a sign he’d been drinking. He had brought over his homemade wine to celebrate a job well done after moving everything into the café. “Need any assistance?”
“Just finished.” I set the chicken breasts on one platter and the vegetables on another. “Wanna help me carry it out?”
He smiled. “Of course.”
The three of us took the platters to the main dining area where the men had scooted tables together. We then sat and loaded food onto our plates; chicken, vegetables, and buttered rolls. Maddox was to my left and Briar sat on my right.
Kuya fluttered around the table, switching seats until he found the one he liked best.
Sir Noah had accompanied him that evening and stood against the far wall. His raven black hair was combed back, but a strand fell forward, falling into his whiskey eyes. He kept a stern expression as he stared straight ahead.
Sawyer could’ve sent any number of knights that evening to watch over Kuya, yet he had chosen his personal knight. Further proof of the prince’s feelings for the demi-human. He trusted only the best to keep Kuya safe.
“Come sit,” I told him. “There’s enough food for everyone.”
“I’m on duty,” Noah responded. “Though, I appreciate the offer.”
“Duty or not, you can still eat. Please?”
Callum stopped stuffing his face and glanced between me and Noah, a dimple surfacing.What was so amusing?
“Very well.” Noah took the vacant seat beside Duke. “Gratitude for the meal.”
“You’re welcome.”
The knights ate like they hadn’t eaten in weeks, scarfing their first plate in record time before diving in for seconds. Maddox shook his head at them and said they needed better table manners; however, he nearly fought Baden to the death over the last bread roll in the basket.
“I’m your captain,” he then said. “My rank says I get the last roll.”
“Pulling rank? That’s low, sir.” Baden surrendered the bread, his upper lip snarling as Maddox tore into it.
I nearly choked on a squash medallion as I laughed. “You’re just as bad as they are.”
