Iron Cage: Dark Urban Fantasy Novella (Quest for Shifter Magic Book 1) by Melle Amade

Author:Melle Amade [Amade, Melle]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Agropoli Publishing
Published: 2017-04-11T05:00:00+00:00

6

I’m surprised to find the enormous kitchen empty when I creep in. The pre-dawn light of the low horizon hasn’t even reached our castle yet, but usually Mrs. Stankoven is around, even at this hour. Especially with all the guests to feed. But now there’s no smell of fresh baking bread and only dark shadows hiding the overstocked shelves. I skipped dinner last night and avoided everyone. Restless dreams woke me up and I my rumbling stomach drove me down to the kitchen.

Resting a second in the doorway, I widen my eyes, trying to see in the pitch blackness. The early morning is freezing cold, yet there are a few embers still glowing in the hearth. A fire will be nicer light than the glaring overheads. I grab a couple of pieces of wood and some paper from the piles next to the fireplace. Squatting down, I ball the paper up and shove it between the two logs, blowing on it gently. The embers catch the crumpled pages and flames jump up to heat the frigid morning air. A loud purring startles me as our gigantic tabby leans up against me.

“You best not let Mrs. Stankoven find you in here, Aardappel,” I murmur as her tail curls around my hand. “And can you hush? I’ve a fat headache.” Despite going straight to bed last night after arriving back at the castle, I still felt sick. I press my forehead against hers and let her purr massage my pain.

“You know kissing a cat can be bad for a bird’s health.”

I yelp and spring to my feet, my voice shrill in the early morning darkness. My hair slaps me in the face as I whirl around. Giancarlo sits up on a bench at the long table. It looks like he may have spent the night right there.

“Good God.” His dark brown hair waves around his hands as he covers his ears. “Was that really necessary?”

“I didn’t expect to see somebody in the kitchen at four in the morning,” I say. “Anyone other than Mrs. Stankoven.”

I quickly take in his crumpled pants and loose shirt. Heat rises through my face as I notice his pants are undone. He probably wasn’t alone in the kitchen all night. God help the one of us who’s going to have to marry him.

“I fell asleep.” He shrugs, like it’s a normal pastime that one does on a kitchen bench. I stare at him, expecting he will get up and leave me in peace, but he doesn’t make a move, just sits back on the bench, spreads his arms on the table, and does nothing to fasten his pants. He must sense my discomfort and relish it.

I turn my back to him and go to the enormous stainless steel fridge.

“Hangover?” I speak loudly just to grind against his headache, and I keep my voice shrill to hopefully annoy him. It hurts my head, too. But it’s worth it to watch him wince. He groans and smug satisfaction seeps over me.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.