Page 176 of Dancing for the Minotaur

“When evaluating food, apparently.”

Marcia covered her smile with one hand. Apparently they amused her somehow.

“I’ll just step in the back for a moment,” she said to them, leaving the table.

When she was gone, Terra pointed her fork at Taurex.

“Fine. You try it.”

“All right—I will.”

Taurex took a bite. The cake was pleasant enough, soft and sweet with a rich cream coating but nothing special.

He swallowed and gave his verdict.

“It is acceptable.”

Terra’s eyes widened.

“Just acceptable?”

“Yes.” He shrugged. “I like it but it’s not exceptional.”

“You know, it doesn’t have to be perfect,” Terra said.

Taurex frowned at her.

“Just because we are only pretending to marry is no reason to serve mediocre cake.”

Terra shook her head, but the corners of her mouth were twitching as though she wanted to smile.

“You’re taking this way too seriously.”

Taurex looked at her.

“No, this is important. I intend to treat this with the same gravity as if we were really getting Joined.”

“Oh…okay.”

Terra’s smile faded slightly and for a heartbeat, the false nature of everything they were doing seemed to hang between them.

Taurex looked down at the plate.

“In Monstrum Joining ceremonies,” he said, choosing his words carefully, “food has significance.”

Terra leaned closer.

“What kind of significance?”

“The newly Joined pair feeds one another,” he told her.

“Oh, we do that too,” Terra told him.

Taurex looked at her.

“You do?”

“Yes—during the cake cutting the bride and groom feed each other the first bites of cake.” She gestured at the different cakes with her fork. “So how does it work in a Monstrum ceremony?”