Page 71 of Dancing for the Minotaur

He nodded again.

“The starter grows. I will season and finish it at my domicile.”

As they watched, one of the enormous pods gave a soft pop! and split down the middle. A puff of fragrant steam drifted into the air and inside was a warm, pale loaf with a golden crust.

Terra’s mouth fell open.

“No way. That’s amazing!”

“And delicious.”

The vendor—a furry Monstrum with long pointed ears and a face that vaguely reassembled a bat—lifted the loaf free using broad green leaves.

“Fresh fargas,” he announced. “It doesn’t get better than this!”

Terra breathed in deeply. The fresh fargas loaf smelled incredible–almost like fresh-baked sourdough mixed with rosemary and something sweet she couldn’t identify. Suddenly her mouth was watering.

“Can I try some?” she asked.

Taurex smiled.

“I had hoped you would want to. I know my food must be strange to you, but it can be very delicious.”

“A slice for the lady.”

The bat-faced vendor produced a long silver knife that looked more like a serrated sword. With a flourish of pure showmanship, he sliced off a piece and handed it to Terra with a bow.

“My finest fargas for you, my lady,” he said gallantly.

Terra tried not to giggle at his display.

“Well…thank you very much,” she said as she took the warm slice of bread. Then she took a bite and sighed in delight.

The crust was crisp, but the inside was incredibly soft, almost melting on her tongue, with a rich savory-sweet flavor that made her immediately want another piece. It wasn’t bread exactly–it actually tasted better than bread. All she needed now was some fresh butter and some strawberry jam and she would be content to abandon her diet forever.

“Oh, that’s dangerous,” she murmured, taking another bite and letting it melt on her tongue.

Taurex frowned.

“Dangerous? How could fargas bread be dangerous? It’s not spicy like the skarra pods.”

“No but if I lived here, I would eat this every day and gain twenty pounds,” Terra explained. “That’s why it’s dangerous–it tastes too good.”

His golden eyes swept over her curves.

“I see no problem with that.”

The way he said it made heat rise into Terra’s cheeks.

The furry vendor smiled knowingly.

“Your woman is already beautifully formed,” he remarked. “A true Elite. You are a fortunate male.”

Terra almost choked on her bread.

“Oh, I’m not⁠—”

“I know,” Taurex said simply, before she could finish. “I have been blessed by the Goddess, indeed.”