Page 75 of Queen of the Wicked
“It’s nice to meet you.” Alessia smiled warmly, attempting to ease the woman’s nerves. “The meals havebeen delicious. I was roaming the halls when I smelled your cinnamon rolls.”
“I am pleased to hear that.” She gestured to the other cooks, who had stopped what they were doing to focus all their attention on her. “Apologies for the rough introduction. We are preparing for the ball tomorrow, so there is much to be done. It can be stressful.”
“Don’t apologize. I should be the one apologizing since I was the one who interrupted.”
Jamila stared at her like she’d grown a third head. “My Lady, you do not need?—”
“Has everyone been instructed to call me that?” She glanced at Ambroz, who solemnly nodded. “Please, call me Alessia.JustAlessia.” There was no reason to treat her like anything but the human girl she was from Earth. If this was how they reacted now, she couldn’t imagine what would happen when they learned she was the harbinger.
Jamila dipped her chin, showcasing her floral-patterned headwrap. “Would you like to try a cinnamon roll? You are free to take as many as you please.”
She didn’t need to tell her twice.
Practically lunging for the sweet treat, Alessia moaned when the stickiness hit her tongue. This was one of the best things she’d ever tasted, and she contemplated telling Jamila to put it on the menu permanently so she could have one every morning. “It’s delicious, Jamila. Do you need any help?”
“Help?” Jamila exchanged a look with Ambroz. “That is not required. We can handle it ourselves.”
“Oh, I firmly believe that after tasting quiteliterally the best pastry I’ve ever had, but I have nothing else to do. Iwantto help.” And maybe eat another cinnamon roll or two in the process.
Stealing another wary glance at Ambroz, Jamila eventually sighed in defeat and pointed to the dirty aprons hanging by the fridge. “You can help me make the rest.”
An hour later,the second batch of cinnamon rolls was in the oven, and Alessia was covered head to toe in icing and flour. Jamila had eventually warmed up to her, and together, they fell into a comfortable silence as she rolled the dough and Alessia iced. The head chef was highly respected here, but Alessia had learned she’d worked for Erebos for two decades, choosing to remain in Hell after the lord had freed her. She held rank amongst the other demons in the kitchens, and they were quick to abide by her orders.
“What do we have here?”
Alessia’s eyes shot to Erebos, who had entered the kitchens with raised brows. He leaned against the wall with his hands in his pockets, eyeing the mess of a kitchen and Alessia in an apron with a scrutiny she couldn’t decipher.
“Your Majesty.” Jamila dipped into a curtsy, eyes cast on the floor. “Alessia requested to help with the desserts for the ball tomorrow. I hope that is all right.”
Erebos couldn’t hide his smile, and it got so silent in the kitchen that Alessia was certain a pin would be heardif it dropped. The staff stared at the lord with gaping mouths, as if they couldn’t believe he could produce a happy emotion. “You like to bake?” he asked.
“Well, I don’t think I’m any good at it.” She grimaced at her mess of an apron. “Jamila has been a great instructor, though.”
“I am glad to hear it.” He nodded his thanks to the head chef, scanning the bowls and pans around them. “You made icing?”
“For the cinnamon rolls,” Alessia supplied. “Again, I don’t know if it’s any good. I followed Jamila’s instructions, but I could have easily messed it up by not measuring?—”
Words stalled in her throat when Erebos closed the distance between them, lifted her finger covered with icing, andlickedit. His dark, foreboding eyes that promised nothing but sinful pleasure remained locked on hers as he sucked the digit clean before releasing it with a loudpop.“Tastes sweet,” he drawled. “You did a great job.”
Alessia glanced around the kitchen, expecting everyone to be shell-shocked since Erebos just did averyhard launch for his intentions towards her, but the cooks had resumed their tasks, and the same with Jamila. No one thought his actions were out of the ordinary. They even ignored the scent of cherries that wafted between them, and it definitely wasn’t from a pie cooking in the nearby oven.
“We agreed that we could touch each other, no?” Erebos grinned and placed his hand on her waist. “Or is that off the table now?”
Alessia swatted his hand away. “Touching andsuckingare two very different things.”
“Are they?” Erebos laughed, and one of the cooks dropped a pan in response. “I guess you’ll have to show me the difference.”
“Erebos!” Alessia moved without thinking, taking her other hand and swiping frosting on his nose. She held her breath, fearing how he’d react, but all those fears melted away when he produced a belly gut laugh and said, “Jamila, we need more icing. I have revenge I need to bestow upon someone.”
“Jamila, we donotneed more icing,” Alessia said with a roll of her eyes. She giggled and passed him a napkin beside one of the mixing spoons. “And to think I was going to ask if you wanted to spend time in your study tonight. What a shame.”
“Oh? Are you missing my fireplace that badly?”
She shrugged, loving this new, flirty banter between them. “Amongst other things.” The cozy chair she slept so well in. The blanket he always covered her with. The peace she felt when he was there.
Him.
“That is a shame indeed. However, I still intend to review some paperwork there. Perhaps you will find a semblance of forgiveness for me in the next hour and join me, Little Mortal.”
