“It’s a risk I’m willing to take to keep you safe. Always.” Lake ghosted his fingers over my cheek before finally making contact. His skin was so warm. “Besides, the knight may have sensed my presence, but he wouldn’t have been able to catch me even if he’d wanted to.”
“Let’s not test that theory, okay?” I leaned into his touch, seeking more of that warmth. “I’d be devastated if something ever happened to you.”
“Don’t worry about me. I can take care of myself.” Lake pressed our lips together. “Your café awaits. It’s busy today.”
I wrapped my arms around him. “It can wait a while longer.”
Chapter Twelve
Bandits are Assholes
“Holy crap, Miles, this is unbelievable.” I squatted at eye level with the counter to admire the dessert in all its glory.
The fifteen layers of sponge cake had chocolate ganache and raspberry jam alternating between them. He had also tempered milk chocolate to perfection—the kind you could see your reflection in it was so damn shiny—and created a design on top of the cake.
“T-Thank you,” Miles said, a blush darkening his full cheeks. “I appreciate you letting me try out the recipe.”
He had asked to come in early that morning before the café opened to use the oven. He lived in the lower district of Bremloc. The buildings were crammed together, each room like a studio apartment. He didn’t have a big enough kitchen, or the equipment, to bake some of the things he wanted to.
“Anytime you want to bake something, just let me know and we’ll make it happen,” I said, then gushed over the cake again. “Look at that delicate detail work. It’s a freaking masterpiece. You should make this for the autumn ball.”
The reminder of the ball jostled the nervous jitters in my stomach. I kept having visions of me tripping and falling on my face in front of all the fancy nobles and royals. Probably while holding a cake, and that cake would then fly out of my hand and land on the king. Or, god forbid, Prince Cedric.
Miles became shy again, his cheeks still with that endearing redness. “I’ll be allowed to attend the ball with you?”
“Of course,” I said, baffled he’d think otherwise. “This café only runs so smoothly because I have you, Peter, and Alice. There’s no way I’d leave any of you behind. We’re a team.”
He smiled before nodding to the cake. “Would you like to taste it?”
“Um, yes. One thousand percent. I need it in my belly.”
Joy radiated from him as he grabbed silverware and a plate. He cut a slice for me and averted his gaze as I took that first bite.
“Oh my god.” I moaned as chocolatey-goodness and raspberry burst across my taste buds. “It tastes just as good as it looks.”
His rounded ears wiggled with the praise. “Please eat as much as you like.”
“Cake!” a voice exclaimed before something slammed into me from behind. “Kuya wants some.”
I had been in the process of taking a second bite and nearly stabbed myself with the fork. As I fought for my life, choking, Kuya snatched my plate and ran away with it.
Miles patted the center of my back. “Are you okay?”
“Yeah,” I choked out. “He tried to kill me, then stole from me.”
Kuya sat at the table, his feet up in the chair as he bent over the plate, shoving cake into his mouth. “Evan is speaking, so Evan will live. Kuya didn’t kill him.”
“Do you like it?” Miles asked, wringing his hands in front of him.
“Miles made this?” Kuya stooped lower to examine it, his reddish-orange tail shooting in the air behind him, the tip curled up and under. “It makes Kuya’s tummy happy. The best cake Kuya’s had all day.”
“Traitor,” I mumbled.
Miles laughed. It had a rich fullness that somehow made him even more wholesome.
I looked toward the archway, expecting to see Noah come in like he normally did when Kuya stopped by unexpectedly. Seconds ticked by with no sign of him. “Did you come alone?”
Kuya had devoured the slice and was slumped in his chair, licking chocolate off his fingers. His expression seemed off, lacking his usual playfulness. His rainbow eyes had lost their shine.
