Page 17 of Sanctuary and Spices (Tales of the Ardent Veil #1)

JANI

I ’d barely sat up in bed when I heard the crash from downstairs, followed by a string of muffled curses.

“Just a small adjustment!” Pix’s voice floated up through the floorboards. More banging. “Nobody panic!”

Another crash made me jump.

“That sounded expensive,” Jun called from somewhere below.

“It’s fixable!” Pix insisted.

I threw on clothes and hurried down the stairs, the scent of burning metal hitting my nose before I reached the bottom. Smoke curled from the communal kitchen doorway. Inside, residents clustered around the stove, which now tilted at an improbable angle. Blue sparks shot from exposed wiring.

“Morning !” Pix waved cheerfully from behind a tangle of cables. “Don’t worry, I’ve almost got it!”

“What exactly are you trying to get?” I asked, picking my way across the cluttered floor.

“A next-gen cooking system! Auto-temperature regulation, built-in recipe database, crystal-enhanced flavor optimization...” They yanked on a wire. The stove shuddered ominously.

Ven’ra sat in the corner armchair, sipping tea with remarkable serenity given the chaos. “The dance between order and disorder shapes all things,” she mused to no one in particular.

“There won’t be any dancing if this explodes,” Mai muttered, while Jun bounced excitedly beside her.

“But think of the possibilities! Crystal-enhanced cooking could revolutionize—” Jun’s words cut off as another shower of sparks erupted.

“I’ve got it!” Dex lunged forward to help, knocking over a rack of spice jars in the process. The crash made everyone jump.

“Careful!” Mai and Jun said in unison.

I pressed my fingers to my temples, fighting back a laugh. The whole scene was ridiculous - and somehow exactly what I needed this morning.

“Alright everyone, step back,” I said, letting my old kitchen voice take over. “Pix, talk me through what you’ve done so we can stabilize it.”

“Well, I rerouted the primary power coupling through a crystal matrix to enhance the energy flow, but then the secondary systems started overloading so I tried to compensate by...”

I nodded along, translating Pix-speak into practical solutions. “Hand me that wrench. Now disconnect the blue wire - no, the other blue wire.”

Working together, we managed to get the stove mostly level again. The sparks died down to occasional flickers.

“There.” I wiped my hands on my pants. “It won’t explode now, but let’s hold off on any more upgrades until after breakfast?”

The gathered residents broke into applause. I felt my face heat.

“Masterfully handled,” Ven’ra approved from her corner. “Creation and destruction, always seeking balance.”

“Speaking of creation...” Mai hefted a bag of fresh bread. “Who’s hungry?”

As everyone settled into the breakfast routine, I claimed a quiet corner with a cup of tea. The familiar bustle wrapped around me like a blanket - Dex zipping between tables delivering messages, the Khiul sisters’ cheerful bickering, Ven’ra dispensing cryptic wisdom between bites of toast.

My fingers traced the rim of my mug as thoughts drifted to yesterday’s kiss. To Ronhar’s hands cupping my face, the heat of his skin, the way his markings had streaked light across both of us...

“More tea?” Jun appeared at my elbow, startling me from the memory.

“Oh! Um, yes, thank you.” I held out my mug, hoping my face wasn’t as red as it felt.

She filled it with a knowing smile. “You seem distracted this morning.”

“Just... thinking about the festival menu,” I lied.

“Mhmm.” She didn’t sound convinced. “Well, if you need any special ingredients, Mai and I would be happy to help source them. For the festival menu, of course.”

I was saved from responding by Dex bursting through the front door, clutching a package to his chest.

“Delivery for !” He skidded to a stop by my table, almost upending it in his enthusiasm. “From the Khiul sisters!”

“We’re right here,” Mai pointed out drily.

“Oh. Right.” He thrust the package at me. “Anyway, special delivery!”

I unwrapped it carefully, gasping at the contents. Rare spices filled small glass jars, their labels marked in flowing script. A note tucked between them read: “For the festival. Let’s make something unforgettable.”

“These must have cost...” I looked up at Mai and Jun.

Jun waved away my protest. “Consider it an investment in the future of crystal-enhanced cuisine.”

“And in our new friend,” Mai added softly.

My throat tightened. I’d spent so many years focused solely on my career, moving from kitchen to kitchen... When had I last felt this kind of connection?

My grandmother’s cookbook sat in my bag nearby. I pulled it out, already imagining possibilities. The blank pages in the back slowly filled with notes as breakfast chaos swirled around me - crystalline teyrith paired with Jun’s imported nyxbloom, Jhrya essence to enhance Mai’s Vereth moss...

My tablet chimed, breaking my focus. I hesitated before opening the notification. It was from my father.

Subject: Follow-Up Required

,

I haven’t heard from you. I assume you’ve been busy, but silence won’t fix anything. You’ve always had a stubborn streak, but you need to understand that mistakes like this don’t go away on their own.

That said, I’ve been reviewing the details of the incident. It’s clear you were under significant pressure, but that doesn’t excuse your actions. I’ve always taught you to maintain control—of yourself, your team, and the situation.

I hope you’re finding a way to rebuild. Your grandmother always said you had a gift, though I wonder if you’ve forgotten what that means.

Update me when you’re ready.

—Dad

I stared at the message, my fingers hovering over the screen. He wasn’t wrong, but the words still landed like a weight, pressing on my chest. My grandmother’s name felt sharp, like a thread tugging me in two directions—toward the comfort of her memory, and the sting of everything I’d lost.

Eventually the residents dispersed to their daily routines. I gathered my things, tucking the spices carefully into my bag. The walk to the café felt shorter than usual, my steps quick with nervous energy.

Would Ronhar mention the kiss? Should I bring it up first? What if it had just been a moment of impulse for him? The questions chased each other through my mind as I approached the Wanderer’s Rest.

The scent of herbs wrapped around me as I entered through the back door. My fingers brushed the spice jars in my bag, seeking courage in their solid presence.

Ronhar stood in the garden, early sun catching his markings as he tended the plants. My heart skipped when he turned, meeting my gaze. For a moment neither of us spoke, yesterday’s kiss hanging in the air between us.

“Good morning,” I managed finally.

“Good morning.” He moved closer, markings pulsing softly. “How was your morning?”

“Chaotic. Pix tried upgrading the boarding house stove.” I set my bag down, pulling out the spices. “But look what the Khiul sisters gave me for the festival menu.”

His hands brushed mine as he examined the jars, sending sparks along my skin. “These are rare.”

“I was thinking...” I stepped closer, drawn by his warmth. “Maybe we could experiment with combining them with some of your herbs? See how they interact with different crystal resonances?”

“I’d like that.” His voice dropped lower. Had he moved closer, or had I? “The Jhyra have been particularly responsive lately.”

“Have they?” I couldn’t seem to catch my breath properly.

“Mmmm.” His fingers traced mine, barely touching. “Ever since you arrived, actually.”

Before I could process that, Pix burst into the garden. “Good news! I think I’ve perfected the kitchen upgrades at the boarding house!”

I groaned, tossing a sprig of teyrith at them. “I’ll deal with you later.”

“But—”

“Later,” Ronhar and I said together.

Pix bounced away, trailing enthusiasm and probably several loose wires.

I turned back to Ronhar, caught him watching me with an intensity that made my stomach flip. “So. Shall we experiment?”

His markings flared brighter. “Let’s start with the Jhyra.”

The garden hummed around us as we worked, testing different combinations. Each brush of hands sent electricity through me. Each shared discovery drew us closer together.

I’d come to the Ardent Veil seeking escape. Instead, I’d found... home. Connection. Possibility.

And watching Ronhar’s markings paint light across the herbs we’d gathered, I wondered if maybe I’d found something else too - something I hadn’t even known I was looking for.

“?” His voice pulled me from my thoughts. He stood close enough that I could feel his warmth.

“Yes?”

His fingers brushed my cheek, and the rest of the world fell away.