Page 111 of Serpent In White

“Be careful,” he laughs. “It’s hot, you weirdo.”

“I don’t even care.” I’m smiling while scarfing it down. “This is awesome. Are you sure you made this??”

“Positive.” He beams. “I love to cook.”

“That’s great. No one in my house cooks. Except the housekeeper.” I roll my eyes.

“Housekeeper?” His forehead creases.

“Yea. Betty. She doesn’t cook like this, but she makes healthy shit. Salmon and brown rice. Pretty boring. But that’s what my mom eats, and she forces me to eat like her.”

He tilts his head like a puppy. It’s the cutest thing I’ve ever seen.This kid is seriously adorable.

“Ahousekeeperis like… a Domestic?” He asks, and I stare at him for a moment.

“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” I mutter in between practically licking my bowl clean like an animal. “A housekeeper is like a maid, I guess. Someone who takes care of the house.”

“Ohhh.” He purses his lips. “Yea, we call it aDomestic.” I shrug. “That’s what I do.”

“Really?” He nods again. “For who… Darian?”

He nods once more, something flashing over his face as he stares at the pan, biting his lip while swirling his spoon around in the soup. Squinting at him, I pick up on something. Something… interesting.

“Is Darian yourboyfriend?” I ask, fully invested in this juicy gossip like it’s reality TV.

Abdiel’s eyes shoot up to mine, and I realize his cheeks are flushed. I gasp.

This Darian guy is fitting more and more into the cult leader mold with every little detail I learn about him. I wouldn’t be surprised to find out he’s banging multiple members of thisfamilyof his… thisPrincipality.

“He’s not… we haven’t…” Abdiel stutters. “We haven’t figured out what we are to each other yet. But I… I’m in love with him.”

I give him a sympathetic little pout. “Of course you are.”

His gaze narrows at me. “Why did you say it like that?”

Sighing, I place my bowl down. “Look, I don’t know you, or Darian. But I just hope you aren’t letting him take advantage of you because he’s in a position of power. You might not know it, never having been in the outside world, but that happens a lot. So much so, in fact, that I’m able to piece it together without even meeting the dude, just based on things you’re telling me.”

He scoffs and shakes his head, clearly not wanting to hear what I’m saying. “Has it happened to you?” He cocks a brow at me, and I freeze.

My stomach crawls up into my throat, and I glance down at my hands, picking off more nail polish. “No. We’re not talking about me. We’re talking about you, and your secret relationship.”

“It’s complicated,” he hums. “I wouldn’t expect an Outsider to understand.”

“Right.” I fight not to roll my eyes. “So, what… are you out here to escape the drama or something?”

“No,” he grumbles. “I came up here to…” He pauses and brushes hair away from his eyes. “I needed to find answers. I wanted to find myself, or some closure orsomething, but when I saw that clearing, I just sort of freaked out.”

Memories of myself in the clearing flutter through my mind, and I cringe. Abdiel’s gaze jumps up to my face, and he gives me that look again, like he can hear what I’m thinking. It brings the unease, fast.

“Maybe there was a point to all this,” he says quietly. “It led me to you, after all.”

“Some luck.” I let out a sarcastic puff. “I’m not exactly a prize.”

“You are,” he whispers with confidence. “And I don’t believe in luck.”

Something about the way he’s looking at me, and speaking to me, feels good. It’s comforting and intriguing. There’s something about this guy, and I really have to hope I’m not crushing on him or anything. Because not only is he gay and in love with his cult leader, but I just can’t fall for anyone.

It’s a dead end and it won’t happen. It can’t.