Page 115 of My Monster’s Keeper

“A common fallacy to make us seem less inclined towards homicide,” Frost says and squirts whipped cream into his mouth.

I watch as he swallows it and then fan myself. Is it getting hot in here? It feels like it’s getting hot in here.

“So, you can lie?”

“Yes.”

“And the name thing?”

Frost rolls his eyes. “I think humans needed to make us soft in order to comprehend how we could exist. Fairy circles don’t exist. If you go to my world and eat, you won’t be caught. You’ll be potentially eaten, raped, or killed, but don’t get your hopes up for golden dresses and dancing.”

“Do you miss it?”

“Not at all. I was sent away when I was young, and I became this. By the time I came back, I was far different from the people of the Unseelie Court, and I was dangerous. After multiple attempts to kill me, I left and found myself here.”

“That’s horrible.”

“That’s court life for a Fae. For a human, unless you are entertaining, you’re going to end up food.” Frost pulls open a bag of cheese, sniffs it and puts it back.

“Sit down, I’ll cook for you,” I say in exasperation.

I pull out the ingredients for spaghetti. It’s only of three recipes I’ve been able to master, and it’s not too bad, if I say so myself.

Frost watches me work, occasionally asking a question about what I’m doing. He gets closer and closer until he’s standing shoulder to shoulder with me.

I’m not sure what’s going on with him, but he’s growing more upset by the minute. When I finally present him with the plate of food, he stares at it with huge eyes and reverently takes it from my hand.

“You would cook for me,” Frost murmurs.

“Of course.” I wipe down the counter and open my mouth to call the others to come get their food, but I catch a glimpse of Frost’s expression, and I pause. “Is something wrong?”

“You made me something to eat.”

“Well, yes. I mean, it’s a thing here.”

He inhales roughly and reverently, picks up a strand of pasta, and puts it in his mouth.

“It’s really good,” he whispers.

“Frost, I’m a little lost at the moment. What’s going on?” I edge towards him, but he turns away from me, protecting the food.

When Puppy explodes into the room, sniffing through his oversized nostrils, Frost vanishes.

“Wait!” I shout at Puppy. “Human form, and use a fork.”

Puppy hisses at me and thumps his tail on the floor.

“Fork and two legs,” I snarl and narrow my eyes.

He shifts into his human form and picks up his plate with the fork and goes to the door.

“Wait!” I call out, but he springs through the door, shifting shape, and catches the plate and spaghetti in his mouth in one quick move. I wince at the crunch and lean against the counter.

Luckily, Wilder and Stix come in and calmly sit and eat their meal.

“What’s wrong?” Stix asks after a while.

“Oh, nothing. Well, something.”