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It took a bit of strength to open the fridge, but fortunately, the space was well-stocked with beef, pork chops, chicken, and fresh produce. I knew I wanted to make steak with an omelet that was full of fresh vegetables.
I chose the oldest-looking pans, the only nice stainless-steel skillet with a scratch in the pan, and fixed breakfast for Night and myself. I prepared two NY strip steaks for Night and one for myself. I cooked them to rare, where before I’d preferred them medium at pinkest, and I quickly chopped up some vegetables for the omelet. I hummed under my breath as I cooked, losing myself for a bit in the act of bringing my dishes to life.
When I was done, the only normal plates I found were porcelain and rimmed with gold. I grumbled to myself as I served the steaks and the omelets.
I found just the thing to complete our breakfast on the cast-iron wine rack standing in the corner of the counters. I felt no guilt as I grabbed a bottle of red wine with a name I couldn’t pronounce. After all the shit this family had put me through, I think I was owed a bit of wine.
When I returned to the bedroom, I found Night sitting up with his hands stretched over his head. I had to stop and stare. The way the muscles of his arms and torso shifted under his golden, tanned skin made me weak in the knees. His body was the stuff of legends, the kind of thing that women in the romance novels I loved described as “godlike.” I couldn’t believe that we were both alive, together, and that we’d finally claimed each other.
How could a man like him want me forever? He opened his eyes as the door closed behind me, and smirked. Damn, if I hadn’t been starving, I’d have said forget the food and take me to bed right now.
“You read my mind,” he said, his voice enough to make me shiver. “Did you make steak and eggs?”
“Mm-hm.” I forced myself to move forward, though I could have stood there and stared at him all day. “And wine.”
“You get more and more perfect by the minute, love.”
I blushed and handed him his plate and the wine before crawling into bed with him.
“Did you grab a bottle opener?” he asked.
My eyes widened. “I forgot! I’ll be right back—”
“Don’t worry about it.” He used his pointer finger and pressed the cork down into the bottle. It slid into the bottle with a slight pop, and floated on top of the wine.
“My hero,” I said as he handed the wine to me for the first sip.
He winked at me.
The wine was light and fruity and a bit sweet. It tasted like something I would have enjoyed eating with chocolate. I handed the bottle back to Night and watched him take a drink. The way his Adam’s apple bobbed, the drop of wine that slipped from the corner of his mouth down the side of his neck toward the mark I had given him…oh no, he made me want to forget breakfast just for another taste of his skin.
When I let my eyes drift back up to his face, I found him watching me, eyes bright with amusement. I quickly looked away, my heart beating fast against my ribcage.
“You have to catch me up,” I said quickly.
“Oh?”
“Yes! I’ve been gone from our pack for so long. I want to know how everyone is.”
“Our pack?” He grinned.
I took a large bite of my steak. “Don’t tease me,” I muttered around the mouthful.
He chuckled and ate his breakfast more slowly. “Everyone is fine, but they were worried sick about you. They really felt your loss around dinner time.”
I swallowed and smiled. It was nice to hear that the Wargs cared about me the way I cared about them. After days spent in darkness and isolation, I’d started to believe that I had imagined their kindness, or that it had come from pity.
“What about Tavi?” I asked.
Night hesitated, and worry spiked through me. The last time I’d seen her, she had been cuddled close to Dom’s chest, and she had been acting nothing like herself.
“Don’t sugarcoat it for me,” I said. “I want to know the truth.”
He nodded. “I’m sure this isn’t a surprise to you, but she wasn’t in great shape when we arrived. According to Doc, she’s suffering from wounds that hurt her deeper than we can see.”
I let out a breath. What did those monsters do to my friend? “Have you seen her yet?”
“Not yet,” he said, “but she’s still here in Kings’ territory. Your territory.”
