Page 36 of Smoke, Mirrors, & Misdemeanours

She served them tea and its fixings, slipping a clam-shaped ginger cookie beside each cup. For Ark, she poured a cup of homemade apple cider, flavoured with nutmeg and black pepper.

“For today’s lunch,” she told them, “we have roasted parsnip and chestnut soup, served with thick slices of sourdough and rosemary butter. If you want something heartier, there’s lamb and winter vegetable stew, slow-cooked overnight until the meat falls off the bones.”

She didn’t miss the way Rhodes perked up slightly at that.

“There is also mushroom and caramelized onion quiche with shortcrust pastry. For something lighter, we have pumpkin and ricotta hand pies, as well as rosemary and thyme scones that pair well with whipped goat cheese.”

She seemed to have garnered their avid attention with her lineup of dishes. She loved, loved this moment—when diners sat straight in their chairs, their eyes twinkling with interest, ready to pounce the moment she took out her pen and notepad to take their orders.

Her lips curled. “And if you’ve got room for dessert, there’s a dark chocolate torte, or a poached pear pie with almond frangipane, served warm.”

Cassia met Ark’s gaze. “So? What will it be?”

Before he could answer, Rhodes intercepted. “I’m not someone with good decision making skills, so let’s go with all.”

She blinked. “All of them?”

He nodded solemnly. “It’s the only reasonable choice.”

Caius rubbed his temple. “For once—especially when we’re trying to make a good first impression—could you pretend to have restraint?”

She bit the inside of her cheek to keep from smiling. She had a feeling this was a familiar argument.

“You say that now,” Rhodes countered, “but you’ll thank me when you don’t have to regret not ordering something.”

Ark added dryly, “Or when we don’t have to watch him steal food off our plates.”

She eyed their table, already knowing there wouldn’t be enough space. “I’ll bring you another table.”

Ark rose. “Let me help you.”

She didn’t miss the way Caius winked at Rhodes, his expression far too knowing. “Our Ark is so gallant—I never knew.”

Rhodes answered just as glibly, “Well, she is his Chosen.”

Cassia nearly tripped over her own feet. Silence slammed into the bakery. A fork clattered to a plate. Opalina and Lilibeth, who had been watching closely from their table, gaped.

Then, as if rehearsed, they both stood at the same time. The sharp scrape of chair legs against the wooden floor punctuated the hush.

“You’re his what?” Opalina gasped.

“And why,” Lilibeth demanded, hands planted on her hips, “did his friends find out before we did?”

Cassia shot Ark a panicked look. This was not how she’d wanted her friends to find out! His jaw tightened—the only crack in his composure—but when his gaze met hers, it softened. Rhodes at least had the decency to look chastised, eyes on his lap. Caius exhaled through his nose, pinching the bridge of it as if he could physically undo the last thirty seconds.

For a long, terrible moment, nobody spoke. Even Mrs. Tilly had stopped mid-sip, eyes bright with intrigue over the rim of her teacup. Cassia’s pulse roared in her ears. Arkenoth, however, simply looked at her. Not at her friends, not at the audience they’d unwittingly gained, but her. And something in his expression—regret? apology?—made her stomach twist.

She inhaled sharply, forcing a bright smile. “Opalina, Lilibeth.” Her voice was tight, controlled. “I think we should have a quick chat.”

Lilibeth crossed her arms. “Oh, I cannot agree more.”

Cassia didn’t wait. She grabbed both her friends by the wrists and dragged them to the back storage room, letting the door slam shut behind them. Silence stretched for all of three seconds before⁠—

“Chosen?” Opalina’s voice, usually soft and measured, carried a dangerous edge. “I wasn’t even aware you were courting.”

Lilibeth, on the other hand, had no such restraint. “Aura Cassia!” She threw her hands in the air. “Tell me I misheard. Tell me that towering slab of a demon out there didn’t just walk into your bakery with his friends and announce to everyone that you’re engaged!”

Cassia groaned, rubbing her forehead. “It’s not what you think.”