Of course she would sting his vanity to get him to do what she wanted. “Challenge accepted.”
He ushered her to a nearby cafe, white and bright in its decor in contrast to the old-school brasserie at which he’d stolen her fries.
They slid into spindle back chairs made of honey-colored wood.
Raya took one look at the menu and slid it across the burnished grain of the table. “Do your magic.”
“Don’t you want to know what’s on it?”
“Surprise me.”
Phoenix ordered a little of everything. No harm in giving her choices.
When the waiter delivered her orange juice, Raya wrapped her hands around the glass and drank in a way that made her seem younger than she really was. It was her air of enthusiasm, even over the smallest things, that gave the impression.
Phoenix gestured toward the large windows facing the street. “So why haven’t you partnered up with one of those mortals running around out there?”
Raya slammed the glass down and started coughing. “What?”
“You heard me.”
She cleared her throat. “I haven’t ‘partnered up’ because I haven’t met anyone I want to partner up with.”
“You’re young, you’re attractive, you’re successful. I don’t see the difficulty.”
Raya looked at him like he had two heads. “Everyone is young to you, Phoenix.”
“Given.”
“Why do you ask?”
“Just curious.” He stared out the window at the people passing by.
“How about you? Has there ever been a special demon in your life?”
“I’ve known the lot of them for so long that most of them are like siblings now.”
Raya carefully took a sip of her juice. “Mortals, then?”
He shrugged eloquently. “Nothing serious.”
She snickered. “Could’ve predicted that.”
“Oh, do I amuse you? Doesn’t sound like you’ve ever been that serious with anyone, either, witch.”
“Be quiet, little prince, before I spoil your perfect hair with this orange juice.”
It took two waiters to deliver the food, piled high on an assortment of sturdy white stoneware plates.
Raya’s eyes widened. “Is this all for me? There’s no way I can eat this much.”
“I didn’t know what you wanted. So I ordered everything.”
She pointed to a bowl. “What’s this?”
“That’sshakshuka. Baked eggs with peppers and spices. And these are orange water pancakes with ricotta, and that’s a full English breakfast. Baked beans, mushrooms, fried eggs. And I believe this is a brioche bun stuffed with bacon, eggs, and spinach.”
“Holy cow.”
