Chapter Eleven

By the time we were done burying the bodies and helping the freed Corrupted get home, it was late in Fress. So, we returned to the citadel instead of the celebration.

“Damn,” Kel grumbled as we walked out of the arrival chamber. “It's the worst luck to be summoned from a party. And Nex's mating party, no less.”

“It's what we do. Nex will understand,” Rath said.

“I don't care if he does or doesn't,” Kel said and headed for the dining hall. “I'm disappointed for myself. And I'm fucking starving.”

“Me too,” I followed his twitching tail. “We'll have to scrounge for something in the kitchen.”

“I'm good with that,” Vex said as he joined us.

The other men tagged along too, because warriors need to refuel after a mission. And we hadn't eaten much at the party. But when I headed for the kitchen, Vex grabbed my arm.

“I'll get you something,” he said. “Just sit down and relax.”

“Oh. Uh.” I glanced at the others, but they were pointedly looking away.

All but Xae, who nodded at me. Right. It was a Ladrin thing—feeding your lover. It was part of claiming them, especially when done in front of others. In essence, Vex was saying that he wasn't going anywhere. He wanted to join the team.

“All right,” I said.

A tightness around Vexen's eyes eased, and he smiled at me before hurrying into the kitchen. Xae sent me a smirk and then did the same.

There was always a selection of beverages and bowls of fruit out on the buffet table no matter the hour. The Creen staff knew that lords were summoned at all hours and would return from their missions hungry. So I headed for the buffet instead of our usual table and poured myself some water. After downing nearly the entire mug, I refilled it, grabbed a few grapes, and went to sit down. I had just finished my last grape when the men emerged from the kitchen carrying wooden trays of bread, cheese, and cured meats. Food that didn't have to be cooked.

Vex wasn't with them.

My stomach rumbled when my lovers sat down and started to eat. I looked at the kitchen doorway.

“He's cooking something for you,” Kel said with a chuckle. “Do you want some cheese to hold you over?”

“Yes, please!” I gave Keltyr a pathetic look.

“Eat it fast,” Xae said. “You don't want Vexen to see that you ate something another man brought you after agreeing to be fed by him.”

“That other man is my boyfriend,” I said as I took a hunk of cheese from Kel.

“Yeah, I'm more important,” Kel said.

“That doesn't matter.” Taroc gestured at me with his mug. “Vex has already established that he's feeding you tonight. Keltyr shouldn't have given you anything. It's offensive.”

“What's offensive is leaving me to starve while everyone else eats,” I said around a mouthful of cheese.

“He won't be long,” Rath said. “He just wanted you to have something warm in your belly.”

“Well, I can do that for him without cooking.” Kel grinned.

I snorted a laugh and nearly choked on the cheese.

And then came the delicious aroma of fried sausages. I hurriedly brushed off my lips and straightened in my seat. Everyone turned to look as Vex came out of the kitchen carrying a tray piled with sausage, bacon, cheese, bread, and pickled vegetables. He even had a pot of butter and one of mustard.

My lovers stopped eating to stare hungrily at Vexen's platter when he sat down beside me.

“Holy fuck!” I exclaimed and snatched a sausage. “Thank you.”

“Wait!” Vex growled. “You need to eat it like this.” He took the sausage back and slipped it into a length of bread that he had sliced down the center and slathered with mustard. It was the perfect size to hold the sausage. Then he slipped a piece of bacon alongside it, then little bits of cheese, and, finally, he topped it with some pickled veggies. “Try that.”

“Uh.” I took the thing and frowned at it.

“Trust me. The flavors work well together.”

“All right.” I took a bite. Then I groaned. I took another bite. “Holy fuckballs!” I exclaimed. “This is amazing!”

“It's how we eat sausages back home,” Vex said as he made one for himself. Then he looked at the salivating men. “I made enough for everyone. He pushed the platter into the center of the table. “Help yourselves.”

Plates of cold food were shoved aside as warrior hands reached for the hot meat (yes, I meant that to sound naughty). Everyone followed Vexen's lead and put the sausage into some bread, then covered it with all the other stuff. Then they groaned as I did.

“Shit, Vexen!” Keltyr exclaimed. “I'm never going to call you a creepy watcher again. I think I'm in love with you.”

Vexen chuckled. “It's tasty, isn't it?”

“So very,” Xae said.

Taroc just grunted as he took another bite.

“Thank you for sharing,” Rath said. “I don't think I'll ever eat a sausage in another way.”

“You're welcome,” Vex said and shot me a satisfied look.

I finished my sausage and looked at him expectantly.

“Another?” he asked, his expression bright.

“Yes, please.

“You got it.” Vex happily made me another of his sausage-in-a-bun creations.

Damn Ladrin. They had their quirks. But those quirks often worked out well for me. I grinned at Vex as I ate his sausage. Again, I meant it to sound naughty. I was hoping that this feeding thing meant I'd be getting a taste of his other sausage real soon.