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“That’s a kouign-amann,” Ruari said. “Breton. Butter, sugar, and laminated dough, and if you eat one you’ll never go back to anything else.” He shifted the basket higher. “Glad to see you’re well, Cass. Was worried when you didn’t come down to see me.”

Cassian’s head snapped up from the kouign-amann.

“I don’t come down to see you,” he said. It was important that Ruari understood this. He knew from My Brother’s Alpha Best Friend and from Dawson’s entire catastrophic season five arc on Dalton Academy that you did not let an alpha know he was the reason you showed up anywhere. The moment an alpha knew he had you hooked, he stopped trying. “I go to Proving Ground for your pastries only.”

Ruari almost smiled. “That so, Cass?”

“Yes. That’s so. Your pastéis de nata are the best I’ve ever had in my life.”

The almost-smile spread. Ruari leaned his shoulder against the doorframe, and the movement brought the basket, and the rest of him, closer to Cassian. Ruari smelled even better than the bread he made, and Cassian’s whole body swayed forward half an inch before he locked his knees.

The words were right there, queued up in his throat and ready to blurt out: You’re the best part of my morning, and it’s not just because of the pastries. I think you know that.

“Cassian!” Colin’s voice came from the top of the stairs, followed by the man himself, Tala propped against his shoulder. “Oh. Morning, Ruari.”

Cassian stepped back from the doorframe so fast he nearly tripped over his own bare foot.

“Brought some bits round,” Ruari said, lifting the basket. “Had a big bake this morning. Thought you lot could use them.”

Colin’s gaze dropped to Cassian’s outfit, and his eyebrow climbed up his head, but he said nothing about it.

“That’s very kind of you, Ruari. Would you like to come in for a coffee?”

Ruari stepped inside the house, carrying in the basket. “Wouldn’t say no to that.”

Cassian’s hand darted into the basket as it passed, closing around one of the golden rounds before Ruari had cleared the doorway. The kouign-amann was warm and dense in his palm, its caramelised shell cracking in his grip, and he was already turning towards the stairs when Ruari’s hand looped around his wrist.

“Sit with us, Cass.” Ruari’s thumb rested on the heel of Cassian’s palm. “I haven’t talked to you in ages.”

Cassian tugged and Ruari’s grip gave immediately. “Why would you want to talk to me,” Cassian said, “when you think I’m a kid?”

Colin, who had made it three steps down the hallway, stopped and watched them.

“I don’t think you’re a child, Cass.” Ruari’s hand came up, and his thumb brushed across Cassian’s cheekbone, even though there was nothing on his face to wipe away. He hadn’t taken a bite of the kouign-amann yet.

“You did the same choo choo thing to me that I use when I’m feeding Tala.”

“I did,” Ruari said. “And it was stupid. I’m sorry. I just wanted to make you laugh because you weren’t acting like yourself that day. I don’t like seeing you upset, Cass.”

Ruari had drawn so close Cassian had to tip his head back to keep his eyes on the alpha’s face. Cassian came up to his collarbone, and Ruari’s shoulders blocked out the hallway behind him.

Cassian looked down at Ruari’s hands. Each one was the size of a serving plate, and Cassian’s stomach flipped at the sight of them. That was silly, because they were just hands, and hands weren’t really very exciting. Most people had them…

“I wanted to hear what you thought of the kouign-amann,” Ruari said, looking at the pastry in Cassian’s other hand. “I haven’t made them in a while, but I wanted to bring you something new.”

The fizzing started behind Cassian’s breastbone. Ruari had made things for him. With his big hands. He bit into the kouign-amann.

The outer shell shattered, and what was underneath was buttery, so deeply caramelised that the sweetness had turned almost savoury. The layers were distinct, each one visible where the dough had been folded over and over, and the sugar had seeped between them and crystallised. It crunched, then dissolved.

“S’good,” Cassian said, through a mouthful.

“Yeah?” Ruari’s grin creased the corners of his eyes.

Cassian placed himself behind Colin as they walked towards the kitchen, using the older omega’s body as a shield between himself and the enormous alpha.

The kouign-amann was the best thing he had ever eaten, and Ruari Thorne had made it for him, but obviously he couldn’t let himself sound too impressed. He’d learned that from Lily.

Chapter Seven