Hey Everyone!! ☺
Happy Thanksgiving Weekend to all my fellow Americans, and happy Friday to everyone else! 😉 Since it's a holiday here, I thought I'd share an excerpt that, to me, represents what holidays are all about... Good food and difficult conversations.🤣 Enjoy!
At one end of the table stood the Erlking, decked out in a green tunic that was heavily embroidered with gold thread and which hung to mid-thigh. He wore green trousers underneath, with black leather boots that laced up the backs of his legs and ended just above his knees. The green of the tunic deepened the green of his eyes, so that they looked like sparkling emeralds in his face. His red hair shimmered in the firelight, the golden thread in the embroidery bringing out his gold highlights.
He bowed to her and indicated she should take the seat next to his. He didn't appear to be overly concerned that she was not wearing a dress. She moved to the chair, and he politely held it out and pushed it to the table once she was seated. When she was settled, he took his seat.
As soon as the two of them were seated, servants began bringing in plates of food. There was a roast of some kind, swimming in gravy and smelling heavily of onions and garlic. What appeared to be mashed potatoes that had been whipped into a fluffy cloud and were glittering with melted butter were brought in next. And then another dish that held cooked greens. It smelled salty and spiced, as if the vegetables been sautéed with a flavored meat.
Steam rose from a covered basket that smelled of fresh bread. And a small plate sat next to it with what looked like whipped, flavored butter. A soup tureen was brought out that smelled of tomatoes. Then, a servant placed plates of green salad in front of them and drizzled vinaigrette of some kind over the tops of them.
Cassie was speechless. After a week of nothing but trail-mix biscuits and mushrooms, not that she wasn’t grateful for them, her mouth watered at the sight and scent of such a feast. Looking around at the splendor that surrounded her, she understood why Maeve had been so upset that she hadn’t dressed up. She was also overwhelmed by the size of the meal. She hadn’t seen so much food in one place since she worked in a restaurant.
“Is all of this for the two of us?” she asked.
The Erlking smiled and said, “It’s for us, but we aren’t expected to eat all of it. Anything that is left will be shared among the staff or placed in storage for another day.”
The Erlking thought of the meager fare he had found in his Anamchara’s abode. A few cans of vegetables that smelled as though they contained more salt than food, some processed grain chips that smelled like the cardboard they had been stored in, and he wouldn’t even try to describe the "meals" he’d found in the cold-storage box. The only thing he’d been able to find that was recognizable was a small cardboard box with some cow’s milk in it, and even that seemed less than fresh.
Of all his lady’s possessions, he had left only the "food" behind. If she insisted on such fare, he could obtain it from the human world for her. But he hoped she would realize how much better her board would be in his household…now their household.
Besides, that "food" had been rife with the human pollutants that sickened Fae. He hoped he wouldn’t have to contaminate his home with it, but if it was necessary to please her, he would. He’d also left behind the container labeled "cat food," but he had since had his kitchen staff research the food such animals required to be healthy and learn how to prepare it. He wondered if she would acknowledge all of the steps he had taken to see her happy.
Cassie had always had a healthy appetite, though she often couldn’t afford to indulge it. But she couldn’t abide wasting food. She had felt hunger too many times in her life to countenance throwing perfectly good food away. Now that she was reassured that the leftovers wouldn’t be wasted, she dug into her salad with gusto.
The Erlking also ate his salad and then reached for the soup tureen. “Would you care for some tomato bisque?” he asked.
Cassie, also finished with her salad, said, “Yes, please.” While he served the soup into their bowls, she reached for the basket of bread and the plate of butter. She buttered a roll and offered it to him. He accepted it and thanked her, and she buttered a second roll for herself.
As she was eating her soup, one of the goblets at her place setting, there were several, caught her eye. It was cut glass that alternated red and blue pieces to create a mosaic that somehow suggested a sun setting over an ocean. She wondered if Ellyn had made it. The Erlking noticed her regard and picked up a pitcher. “Some wine?” he asked.
Cassie placed her hand over the top of the goblet and said, “No, thank you, water is fine.” She didn't want her thinking muddled by alcohol.
The Erlking nodded and put the pitcher back on the table.
Normally, the servants would bring the courses out one at a time and serve them individually. But the Erlking had anticipated he'd be having a conversation with his Anamchara that he’d rather not have an audience for. So he had instructed them to bring all of the food out at the beginning of the meal and leave it on the table. This necessitated that the Erlking do the serving, something he was more than willing to do to ensure a private meal with his mate.
Next, he carved the roast and offered some to Cassie. She regarded the meat with a little trepidation. It smelled wonderful, but she’d learned from the Goblins that the Fae sometimes consumed meat that a woman from the 21st century United States considered a…little…odd.
One of the red caps had carried a pouch attached to his sword belt that contained what appeared to be rodents preserved whole and uncooked. Periodically, he would pull one of the carcasses from the pouch and pop it into his mouth, devouring it bones and all. None of the Goblins had the opportunity to hunt while she was in their company, but she had gotten the distinct impression that they weren’t at all picky about how they came by the meat that they ate raw.
The roast, at least, was obviously cooked, but she was still leery about eating it.
The Erlking noticed her hesitation and guessed at its cause. “This roast is beef, Cassandra. I assure you that all of my household is familiar with the dietary preferences of modern humans and will be sure to respect them in what they offer you.”
Cassie looked at him, a bit surprised that he would have thought of something like that, and said, “Then, thank you, yes, I will have some.”
The Erlking served her and himself, and they passed the potatoes and the greens between them.
Cassie found that the roast was soft enough to cut with a fork, of which she also had several, and that it melted in her mouth. She tasted the potatoes and involuntarily her eyes closed with contentment.
The Erlking watched her eat and was gratified that she was enjoying her meal. When they were both finished, Cassie was so full she thought she might need to unbutton her jeans. But she couldn’t remember the last time she had enjoyed food so much.
“Your cook is amazing,” she said.
“I’ll be sure to tell her you said so,” replied the Erlking. “She’ll be thrilled to have pleased you.”
Now that the distraction of food was gone, Cassie and the Erlking regarded each other a bit awkwardly. Then they both tried to speak at the same time.
“Why do you…”
“Would you like some...”
They both fell silent.
Cassie said, “You first.”
“Would you like something sweet to finish the meal?”
“Lord no, I’m stuffed.”
He nodded.
“Why do you always call me ‘Cassandra’?”
“That was the name that was written on the cards you carried, is it not your name?”
“It is, but people usually call me ‘Cassie’.”
“And that is what you prefer?”
She nodded.
“Then, that is what I will call you from now on.”
“Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
“Are you just called ‘the Erlking’?”
“I have many names, but you may call me Cadeyrn.”
“Cadeyrn? Is that your name or another title?”
“It means ‘battle king’ in the old tongue, but it’s what my mother called me, so it is my name.”
Cassie nodded. “Is your mother still alive?”
“Oh yes, she lives and is well.”
“Will I get to meet her?”
“I don’t know, she comes and goes as she chooses. It’s impossible to predict when she will reveal herself.”
Cassie thought that was an odd way to express that his mother liked to travel, but she let it go. She hadn’t thought it would be difficult to confront him about why he had kidnapped her. For days, she had wanted answers. She was livid that he had thought that it was okay to completely disrupt her life without even consulting her. But now that he was sitting here beside her, she was having trouble framing the question.
The strange compulsion that she felt towards him was still there. Her eyes kept straying to his lips. She felt like she wanted to throw herself into his arms, but she didn’t know why. Cassie was certainly no virgin; she’d slept with her share of men. But she had never felt so drawn to another person.
Sex had never even seemed all that wonderful to her. Yeah, it was pleasant while it happened, assuming the man had any skill. But the pleasure was fleeting, and she was usually just left feeling empty afterwards. So why did she feel like she should drag this man back to that humongous bed in her room and beg him to quench the fire she was feeling?
She shook herself. She had a life to get back to, and she needed answers to do it. Cassie had always been a straightforward, blunt person.Since she couldn’t think of a polite way to phrase her question, she just came right out and asked, “Why did you kidnap me?”
If you'd like to know the answer to that question...as well as if any fire-quenching happens, grab your copy at the link below. 😉 Happy reading!
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