Page 133 of Never Kiss a Fae

“Right,” she said, her teeth grating at the mention of Cyrus. “Well, at least he won’t be getting any dragon steak. Right?”

I nodded. “I didn’t get enough for him.” A lie, but Sol would help cover that up with his mighty appetite.

She crossed her arms and seemed pleased by that. “Honestly, I vote we never let him have any of the meals we cook together.”

Together.

Why do I like that?

I cleared my throat and continued folding the salad patties. “Agreed.”

We worked on the last of the meal in amiable silence, Sol displaying one of his rare bouts of patience until the dragon steak and patties were done.

We all sat around the table, and Titus joined us, his skin steaming as he used his magic to dry himself. He grinned as he settled next to Claire and gave her a kiss. “It smells delicious.”

Claire laughed and leaned into him, but her eyes were on me. “It was all Vox, really.”

Sol grabbed his steak with both hands and ripped into it. He chewed and swallowed the enormous bite, then smacked his lips. “Delicious,” he agreed.

I took one of the leaves from my salad patty and used it to pick up my portion of steak. “Bon appétit,” I said with a grin.

We dug into our food, and for the first time in a long while, I didn’t feel uncomfortable around other fae. Food always had a way of bringing everyone together, which, I guessed, was why I’d learned to cook in the first place. I didn’t exactly have the most stellar social skills, so I let a good meal do the work for me.

By the way Claire looked at me—like I’d just given her a piece of her life back—maybe it worked a little too well.

“So, tomorrow,” Titus said, putting down the last of his leaves with a satisfied sigh. “I’m off to Fire Quad without you, sweetheart.”

She appeared slightly uneasy at the notion. “And where am I going?”

He lifted his glass and gave Sol a salute. “Earth Quad.”

Sol’s eyes went wide. He was well into his second slab of dragon steak, and he paused midbite. “What?” he said, his mouth still full.

I chuckled and began clearing the table. “Titus is right. Claire hasn’t had any earth training, and you’re the only one who can show her around the Earth Quad.” I grinned at Sol’s open horror. “Welcome to escort duty, big guy.”

“Well, fae on a spit,” he cursed, dropping the tainted piece of meat. “That’s why you brought home dragon steak.”

“No.” Because I didn’t know her schedule. “But I assumed you’d need something positive in order to remain here.”

“Damn it. I knew a great meal was too good of a thing coming from you, Vox.” He crossed his arms and glowered at me.

I sent him a whisper of wind so my words only made it to his ears. “Remember, a month of credits!”

Excitement lit his eyes. Even if it was a silly bet that Claire would make him admit he’d met his match, it was one way to get him to agree to take the Halfling to class.

He nodded.

Challenge accepted.

Chapter9

Claire

Earth class was not what I expected.

Sol had painted a picture with his size, giving me the impression that all Earth Fae were, well, ground shattering. I mean, the man’s fist could crack stone.

So when we entered the outdoor arena surrounded by trees and buzzing life, I blinked. And as the students who were half of Sol’s size began to stroll inside, I blinked again.