everyone’s focus. I realize there are more than just Dracul here, there are also humans. Luc notices me watching, and shakes his head.
“Everyone is here willingly,” he says with a small smile. “Some are in love, others are friends, some just enjoy the bite, but we don’t take people unwillingly, despite what your Elders may tell you.”
“I didn’t…” he waves off my words.
“It is fine, it’s been a long time. You and I are good, no matter what anyone else says. We always have been.”
“Thanks, Luc. I appreciate it. And thank you for being on babysitting duty.”
He grins at me, and shakes his head. “It’s an honor. Plus, we haven’t hung out in forever, obviously. I wasn’t going to let Danerius take his shot.” I shiver, and he laughs again.
“Yeah, he has something of a crush still it seems.”
“Oh, fates help me,” I groan as he opens a door, and the smells hit me.
So. Much. Food.
The kitchen is packed with people, all doing a dozen different things at once, but they stop when I walk in with Luc on my heels, and stare. Luc doesn’t notice, or chooses not to, as he walks through the huge kitchens to the back of the room and I follow.
“Nonnie! Looking beautiful as ever! How are you sweet thing?”
“Oh Luc, you charmer. Where have you been hiding, look at you, you’re getting skinny, need to get some more meat on those bones.” I smile as they talk back and forth, he obviously adores the older woman, she might be covered in flour and god knows what else, but she still looks like she could have walked off the cover of GQ before she came here. Her blonde hair is pulled back in a severe bun, but it just enhances her sharp cheekbones. Despite it all, she looks so warm and happy, like she personifies sunshine.
“Nonnie, I want you meet my friend, Remy, this is Nonnie.”
“Oh dear, well aren’t you just a beauty. Luc, you had better lock this one down, or I might not forgive you.”
“Oh, Nonnie. You know you own my heart,” he gushes with a cheeky grin, and she lets out a belly laugh.
“Oh boy, such sweet words you have, but I am serious.” She walks to me, and takes my face in her hands before wrapping me in a hug. I never expect the Dracul to be such warm people, but this lady is just kindness incarnate, and so I hug her back, not caring that I’m going to be covered in flour.
“It is lovely to meet you, Remy. Hopefully my grandson is being the gentleman he was raised to be.”
“Nonnie,” he groans. “She is bonded to Kain.”
“Well, that man always did have good taste. Welcome to the family dear, but Luc, really, why would you let him swoop in on your girl.” I laugh as she teases him, and his face and neck reddens.
“She was never my girl, Nonnie. Please stop.”
“Well, she should have been. Such beautiful babies you would have had.”
“Nonnie, she is not a Dracul. Now please, can we just grab something to eat before her stomach growls at me again.” I hide my face in my hands at his words, at the same time as hiding from her now intense look.
“I know what she is boy, babies between our kinds aren’t common but once upon a time, they weren’t unheard of either. Trying to tell me what I know, this boy.” She throws her hands up in the air, but heads back to the counter, and starts preparing two bowls of the broth in the pan beside her, then pulls a loaf of bread from the oven across the room, before shooing some girls away from the small table in the back corner, and waving us to sit.
“Here, you have some of my chicken soup, it’ll help fill you out some more boy.”
“Thank you, Nonnie.”
“Thank you ma’am,” I tell her, and she smiles at me.
“Oh, you can call me Nonnie too my dear, you’re family.” She places the food in front of us and then yells in French at the people in the kitchen, clapping her hands, and Luc tries not to laugh.
“That woman could command an army,” he says before taking a mouthful of the soup and groaning. “And no-one on this earth cooks like she does.”
I take a bit for myself, and he might be right, this is fabulous. I bet her and Everly would be fast friends. I smile at the thought of my