“You must be hungry.” She smiles. “Sit, please. Your boy just tried my newest recipe for spinach rolls and claims they’re incredible. But he also seems to be a bottomless pit, so I’ll be happy to know your opinion on them, too.”
That surprises a laugh out of me, and I let her guide me to the seat beside Vee. No matter where you are, food is the universal language of all cultures. I pick up a roll and take a bite, pleased when a mixture of sweet and salty zips across my palate. I don’t do anything so crass as moan, but I do give Yimirisé a huge thumbs up.
She chuckles and nudges Tanisira. “See, I told you the Tellurians don’t experience it the same as we do.” When she sees my confusion, she explains. “There’s an ingredient that we taste as bitter which your people tend to find salty instead. It’s why I’ve been tweaking the recipe. I don’t mind making a treat the Tellurians like, but my business is mostly Suryavans.”
I wipe my mouth on a napkin. “Business?”
“I recently opened a bakery,” she says proudly. “It’s something I’ve always wanted to do.”
“That’s incredible.” And I mean that with plenty of awe. Yimirisé must be in her late fifties, at least; I don’t know anyonewho took on such a venture at this stage in their life. Tellurians are always encouraged to have everything figured out by our mid-20s, otherwise we’ve undeniably failed to be productive members of society.
She wrinkles her nose in a sweet gesture and taps me on the shoulder. “I like you. Would you like a hot drink?”
“A coffee would be amazing, please. But I can make it myself if you show—”
“Don’t be silly,” she titters. “Milk? Sugar?”
Tanisira cuts in. “I’ll make it,Nayya.”
She’s been silent this whole time, and I take note of the tension in her shoulders, the closed off expression. She seems wildly uncomfortable, which is not something I’m used to seeing in the captain’s demeanour. I want to pull her aside and ask what’s up, but something tells me not to—not right now, anyway.
At Vee’s feet is a gorgeous ball of fur. He lifts his head, pants at me, and then loses interest when he realises I’m not giving him food. He looks like a mix between a Beagle and a German Shepherd, but I don’t know if the Suryavans have their own breeds. Either way, those liquid brown eyes convince me to stroke the soft fur on his nose.
Kiran plonks her chin into her palm and stares at me. “So, Gryphon Tech, huh?”
“Yeah, unfortunately.”
She laughs, and the light glints off herVahrin; an exact match of Tanisira’s. “I hear you. My ex is a dick too.”
“Kiranavi!” Yimirisé scolds her, but I wave it away. Dominikisa dick. Plus, Vee’s up to his eyeballs in baked goods and pays us no mind.
“If it makes you feel better, you’re way too good-looking for him anyway.”
This time, it’s Tanisira who makes a noise of exasperation as she slides a steaming mug in front of me.
“What?” Kiran asks, rolling her eyes. “I knowyouhaven’t told her.” Under her breath, she mutters, “Emotionally constipatedsota.”
I think she just insulted Tanisira and called her an endearment at the same time? I also think the phrasing was a little suggestive, as if she believes we’re together. The idea sends a thrill through me, but things are such a mess right now I can’t fully enjoy it. I look from Kiran to Yimirisé, but they give nothing away, and Tanisira has distanced herself again.
Filing that away for later, I sip my perfectly made coffee and watch the three manoeuvre around the kitchen like a well-oiled machine. As uncomfortable as Tanisira looks, everything she does is seamless. I offer to help, but all three tell me in no uncertain terms—though not unkindly—to sit my butt back down. Biting into another spinach roll instead, I lean on Vee’s shoulder while he plays the Suryavan version of a Rubik’s Cube.
The police now know that Vee’s with me, having informed them before my shower. I told them he’d left the gala with a friend and just didn’t think to tell anyone in the chaos. With no charges against me yet, the only thing they can do is let Dominik know he’s safe. The petty side of me hopes he worried about Vee all night, but the realistic side of me isn’t sure he even noticed. I hate being able to say that.
I also hate that, despite evidence of blackmail, I don’t believe Dominik will face consequences. With his connections and wealth? History dictates otherwise.
Tanisira finally sits down with her own drink and the smell of fragrant tea wafts from the mug. In the chair next to me, she’s close enough to touch, and it makes my fingers twitch in my lap. It takes everything in me to stop myself from leaning into her, but my gaze does dart to her face every few seconds. She musthave napped at some point, too, because the circles under her eyes aren’t nearly as bad as they would be otherwise.
“If you ask myNayyavery nicely, she might let you help her make the next batch of rolls,” Tanisira says to Vee in a conspiratorial whisper.
His eyes pop open wide. I groan. There’s a reason I don’t let Vee help me in the kitchen, and it’s because he’s like the devil from that old cartoon, leaving destruction and mayhem behind. I suspect Tanisira knows what she’s getting Yimirisé into because her mouth twitches in the corner as we watch Vee ask her, oh so politely, if he can help. She’s delighted by the request. Tano jumps to his feet, wiggling his tail like a little whip, feeding off the excitement in the room.
“He’s a little too easy to distract,” Tanisira murmurs, watching the scene intently.
“It’s a double-edged sword,” I reply drily. “Is there a reason why you did that?”
“Do you want to take a walk? You look like you could use it.”
Words die in my throat.Ilook like I could use a walk? She’s about a minute away from crawling out of her own skin. I don’t say that, though, because growth.
