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Yet, Amaru surprised him by dropping the screwdriver with a clatter on the table and hopping to his feet. “Of course I want to have lunch with you!” He scurried over and snatched up the plate from Luka’s left hand, then furrowed his brow at the contents. “What is it?”
“This would be called a very simple meal: hamburgers, pasta salad, potato salad, and a brownie for dessert.”
Amaru narrowed his eyes at Luka. “Didn’t they call that pile of greens we had last night a salad? These don’t look like the same thing at all.”
Luka’s shoulders shook as he fought down a laugh. “There are actually a lot of things called a salad that probably shouldn’t be. But my favorites are the desserts.”
“That. I need to be introduced to more of those types of things.”
“We definitely will. Once we return to the clan house, the cooking will massively improve. We don’t have all our supplies or a full kitchen to work with here.”
Amaru quickly shook his head, his large eyes going impossibly wide. He pulled the paper plate close to his chest as if he was afraid Luka would try to take it back from him. “No! I’m not complaining. All the food I’ve eaten so far has been amazing.”
“Do you want to sit outside? There’s a nice breeze right now and the sun is actually out. I thought we could enjoy it before the next storm moves into the area.”
Amaru nodded and followed Luka out of the opening of the tent. Luka started to lead him over to where some old logs were set in front of a firepit. It was where much of the clan sat in the evenings and chatted before tumbling into their respective tents. He glanced back to find Amaru had stopped a few feet away, frowning as he searched the area.
“Amaru? Something wrong?”
“Where’s Vasily? Isn’t he going to join us?”
Luka’s heart sank. Of course Amaru would rather have lunch with Vasily. They were mates, after all. He clung to his smile while parts of his soul fractured and flaked off. “He’s supposed to be having a meeting with Dimitri, I think, and ate earlier. But if you would rather have lunch with him, I can go get him for you.”
“No!” Amaru practically shouted. He scurried over to Luka’s side and plopped down on the log. Patting the open space beside him, he directed a dazzling smile at Luka. “No! I was just thinking we could eat together. All three of us. But if he’s busy, I’m happy to have time with just you.”
Something twisted and fluttered inside of Luka’s chest, as if Amaru’s words were picking up the pieces of his broken soul and gluing them back into place. He hesitated for only a second before sitting next to him.
“Are you sure? Vasily would be happy to see you.”
“Of course I’m sure. I don’t get to spend time with just you much. All three of us can be together this evening.” Amaru leaned close and placed his head on Luka’s shoulder. He tipped his face toward Luka and fluttered his ridiculously long eyelashes. “Aren’t you happy to see me?”
A chuckle escaped Luka and some of the tension balled up in his chest eased so he could breathe. “I am, but I think I’m mad at Vasily for not warning me how wickedly adorable you can be.”
“Yes, but I only use my wicked adorableness for good, such as extra desserts.”
“Uh-huh. I’m not sneaking you an extra brownie unless you eat the other food on your plate,” Luka warned, even as he knew he’d sneak Amaru an extra brownie regardless of what he ate.
With a smirk and a little bounce, Amaru straightened and attacked his burger. He moaned softly with the first bite, losing himself to the delicious food the Valerii cooks had made.
“I feel lucky to have caught you,” Luka murmured after they’d both settled in.
“Really?”
“You’re always in talks with the other mages. It’s not easy to grab a moment with you.”
Amaru’s grin was back as he leaned over to bump Luka with his shoulder. “If I’d known you were trying to get me off alone, I would have made it easier for you.”
Luka choked on his burger. Not what he was expecting the man to say. “You’re crazy,” Luka rasped when his throat was clear.
“Maybe a little. You have to be with my clan. We’re always trying crazy new things and cooking up new devices. Half of them are blowing up in our faces, but that’s how new discoveries are made.” Amaru paused with a forkful of potatoes halfway to his mouth as he cocked his head at Luka. “Do you get to spend a lot of time with Vasily? He said you both work on the same team.”
It was on the tip of his tongue to say that lately he didn’t get to spend nearly enough time with Vasily, but that didn’t seem helpful right now. He also hadn’t been expecting Amaru to ask that question. Certainly felt like the question was from left field.
