Page 178 of A Silent Prodigy for the Lycan Princess

“I want to cook something,” I say.

“You said that half an hour ago, but I have my doubts at your approach.” Eric eyes the ingredients and my test tube rack skeptically.

“Cooking is just chemistry,” I say.

“Yeah, that’s exactly what I was talking about,” Eric mutters.

“I want to get Aurelia’s mind off her worries,” I admit. “Which is why I decided to cook something fancy. Saffron risotto and some medium rare steak.”

“Risotto and steak?” Eric asks in disbelief before he sighs. “Couldn’t do something simpler, huh? Alright, I will help you.”

I look at him confused. “I didn’t ask for help.”

“You need it, though,” Eric says dryly. “Toss that sheet of paper aside and grab the rice instead. I can’t believe that you wrote equations down there.”

“But—”

“You are testing my patience,” Eric says. “I’ve been watching you for almost half an hour. Believe me, I’m your savior. So, say thank you like a good kid and do what I say.”

“When did you turn out so bossy?” I say but do as he told me to.

“I’ve always been, just hid it well.” He grins.

Then, under Eric’s instruction, I indeed manage to make dinner for Aurelia and me. I first thought it was just rice and that Eric was being overly fuzzy, but I’m glad I accepted his help. Without him, I’d have been doomed.

“Please tell me you can set the table on your own,” Eric says when we are done.

I can’t help but glare at him. “I am a functioning adult.”

“Of course you are,” Eric says with an infuriatingly nice smile. “Well, make sure to do other functioning adult stuff today. Just not in Val and my apartment, please.”

I know he is teasing me; probably has been the whole afternoon, but I can’t help but smile when I grab a serving tray and put two plates with risotto and steak on it. Then, I grab a bottle of red wine and two wine glasses. “Thank you, Eric,” I say.

He chuckles. “Have fun.”

My date with Aurelia is amazing. We spend it on the highest floor of the building, in a loggia I had booked for us. “This tastes amazing.” Aurelia beams. “I didn’t know you could cook that well!”

“I can’t,” I admit. “Eric tutored me.”

She looks amused. “Then I should probably feel sorry for you.”

“Yeah, he enjoys teasing me,” I admit, trying to sound annoyed, but in fact I feel happy that he treats me like a brother.

Aurelia tilts her head, smiling. “Let’s make sure to visit him and Val as much as possible.”

“And invite them over to us,” I say.

Aurelia looks happy at my suggestion. “I’d like that,” she says. “And I bet Val would like that too. Also, Eric is hellbent on having my father take leadership of the Council and claim the throne, so it’s a win-win for Eric, too.”

“If Eric has his mind set on it, it will happen,” I say.

“That’s what Mom and I keep saying.” She chuckles.

She looks a lot happier and more relaxed than during the last couple of days, ever since she heard the news about her brothers going missing. There is no new information, though in this case, no news is good news, I guess. I make sure to distract her further by talking about all kinds of things.

Tomorrow would be Vander’s birthday, and we want to go to his favorite coffee shop and then go to Disneyland with Léna. He wanted to take her to it but .... Léna is still mourning him, but she is doing a little better. I’m glad about that. She is still so young, and I hope she will move on with time. Not that I want her or anyone to forget Vander, but I know he wouldn’t want her to be miserable.

Eric and Val will come as well, and we even invited Gustave with Coralie and also Zoé. All of them want to honor Vander on this day. As for Coralie, I don’t have any bitter feelings towards her anymore. She and I weren’t supposed to be. I’m glad she didn’t use me the way I thought she did and also that she was able to move on and found her mate. It’s still weird for me when she is around, but she gets along really well with Léna. That’s more important than my own awkwardness.