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2
EVANNA
“Are you okay?” My hand almost lifted to Braxton’s cheek, but I quickly chided myself, remembering we were surrounded by my kin and not alone in my room. It was getting harder and harder to act detached around him. I just wanted to be with him.
His nose wrinkled when I stopped before him, and the hint of a smile made his lips quiver. “Just a bit, um,flusteredby my beautiful princess’ presence. Nothing else.”
My eyes narrowed at him with his naughty whisper, my cheeks warming just as Kingston stopped beside us, scowling at my secret mate. When I dared a glance up at him, his scowl shifted to me, making me chuckle. I knew he liked Braxton, but he would probably cut off his own tongue before he admitted it.
Wait. Had I just called Braxton my mate?
Braxton bent low to grab another handful of coffee beans from the pile near him, their wonderful aroma awakening my senses. A thick layer of them extended the length of the terrain before us while our people claimed their fair shares. The moment he stood, he popped one into his mouth, carefully chewing it.
“May I?” I asked, reaching for one and putting it in my mouth before he had a chance to answer.
“Wait!”
His warning arrived too late. I expected the sweet and invigorating taste from the drink he had prepared for me in the Mirror World, instead, I got a bitter and pungent flavor that made my eyes water. EW. Turning, I spit the seed as far from me as I could, wiping my tongue with the back of my hand.
“That tastes horrible!”
Everyone halted around us with my reaction, but laughter burst out of Braxton, and he, too, wiped tears from the corner of his eyes, except for a very different reason.
“It’s not funny!” I scolded. “Why does it taste so bad? I thought it would be sweet and decadent.”
“Because this is just the bean. We still have to brew it, and then I have to mix it with caramel before it can taste like the drink you loved.”
Confused, I blinked. “That’s a lot of steps before it can taste good.”
“Yep.” He chuckled.
“But you put it in your mouth.”
Brax grinned. “That is because I’m used to tasting the raw bean to confirm its quality.” He shrugged and faced the others. “Don’t worry, it’s perfect. Just as we want it to be for brewing.”
Sighing in relief, our people took their sacks filled to the brim and began to gather beside us.
“Shall we?” Brax asked me, motioning to our rides, and I nodded.
“Let’s return to the castle. Braxton has set up an area in the dining hall for everyone to be able to prepare their brew.”
Once we entered the communal dining area, we all walked towards the tables that had been set up along the far wall. Pots of steaming water rested on them, and there was sugar, milk, spoons, and a few other components Brax had prepared with the help of the kitchen staff. People began to form a line to wait for their turn while Brax headed straight for the tables.
Taking one of the bags he had filled, he threw them into one of the grinders normally used to break thecerasusseeds, and make the energy treats for the warriors. A fine powder fell onto the bowl below it. He then used one of the thin cloths he had cut into circles and filled it with several spoons of it. The kitchen staff set up at the other tables followed his every step, finally pouring the hot water onto it, and filling up jug after jug with the steaming brew.
Smiling, he gestured for everyone to start coming forwards, pouring cups for each of them and teaching them to add milk, sugar, or simply taste the drink in its original form. Oohs and ahhs rose into the air with each sip. Wonderous smiles illuminated many of the faces. Some looked surprised, others even shocked as they threw back the whole cup at once, and instantly reached for more. Laughter slowly spread over the hall as groups took a jug with them to the dining tables and sat down to enjoy the fruit of their hard work—tasting something they never even knew existed, yet it had been within our reach the entire time.
Unadulterated joy danced in the entire space, filtering into my pores, and when I glanced up at my guardian, I knew he felt it too. The handsome smile on his lips said as much. Walking to the first table, I grinned at Braxton while he mixed the caramelized sugar with milk, forming a sauce of sorts and pouring it into the coffee and milk already placed in a couple of cups.
“Here you go.” He offered one of them to me, handing the other to Kingston. “It won’t be exactly like the one you tried, but it’s the best I can do at the moment.” He nervously cracked his knuckles, anticipating our verdict.
Kingston and I clinked our cups together and took the first wholesome sip. Holy gods! That was better than I remembered. The drink wasn’t frozen like the one I had last enjoyed, but I dared say it was even better this way. It was hot and delightfully creamy. Thin caramel threads floated in its depths, mixing on my tongue while I drank, making me savor each taste. I kind of wanted to lay back on a cloud and float away into a rainbow; it tasted like pure bliss.
“It is absolutely delicious, Braxton.” I barely got the words out before I took another drink.
When my attention turned to my guardian, I found him handing the cup to Braxton, demanding more. Chuckling, he immediately prepared more, making sure to add extra caramel while Kingston encouraged him to keep pouring.
My gaze swept the dining hall filled with my gleeful kin, seeing more and more of them arrive and head to a table. My guard sat nearby with two jugs of the special brew. For a moment, I had a glimpse of the kingdom we would all enjoy once the war was over, because even if only for a sun-hour, my people had no fears. There were no troubles or burdens, no traumas of the terrors afflicting the world around them. They were just a giant family sitting together, chatting, laughing, and sharing a moment of peace as they enjoyed something new.
