Married to Krampus - Marina Simcoe Page 0,19

can use for the ingredients.”

“What are you planning to make?”

“Cupcakes.” I raised my chin with a smile. “With pink frosting.”

Chapter 6

FINDING THE RIGHT INGREDIENTS for my cupcakes hadn’t proven easy. Omni and I started the process before lunch. It was late afternoon already, and we were still sorting through the contents of the Colonel’s pantry, which occupied a spacious room just off the kitchen.

I had rows upon rows of cups filled with different powders lined up on the kitchen counter. My notebook in my lap, I was perched on a barstool, writing down English ingredients with the corresponding Voranian substitutes.

The huge bronze-colored metal sink was filled with dirty dishes from my experiments to determine the qualities and the necessary quantities of each powder. Omni’s frame was hovering nearby, displaying pictures and Voranian names of the different flours and spices.

“Well, I think I could try again, using this one here as the rising agent and this one instead of vanilla...” I mumbled to myself, making notes in my book.

Absorbed in my work, I didn’t hear the sound of the hooves hitting the tiled floor of the main room right away. When it registered, alarm spiked through my chest.

“The Colonel is home?” I jumped off my seat by the counter.

I knew I needed to talk to him. At the same time, I desperately wanted to avoid facing him.

The sky beyond the dome above us had changed into sunset colors already. Omni must have increased the lighting in the kitchen gradually without me noticing that the day had been slipping by. I had lost track of time and felt flustered and unprepared for the upcoming conversation.

Maybe, the Colonel would just go straight to the dining room, like he did last night? Then I could sneak upstairs quietly and pretend I went to bed early?

No such luck.

“What is all this?” The Colonel suddenly stood in the entrance of the kitchen, surveying the mess I’d made of his property.

“I—I was just trying to make some cupcakes,” I replied sheepishly, realizing I’d spent the entire day on something that would normally take me an hour or less, and I had not a single cupcake to show for it. Not to mention that no one had asked me to bake anything in the first place. “I’m sorry. I’ll clean it up right away...”

“Omni can clean it,” the Colonel waved me off.

A couple of drones whizzed over to the sink. The water turned on as if on its own, and the drones started scrubbing the dishes.

I remained motionless, unsure of what to do with myself.

He stared at me with his unsettling eyes. I quickly swiped at my cheek, wondering if I had flour all over my face.

“Last night...” He rubbed the back of his neck, shifting his eyes from mine.

“It’s fine,” I took a step to the side, trying to figure out the best route to escape. “No need to apologize.”

“Apologize?” He stared at me in confusion.

“Dammit,” I cursed softly. “I guess you weren’t going to do that anyway.” I should’ve expected that. “Never mind. If you’ll excuse me...” I inched to the door, aiming to squeeze past him.

“Daisy.” He grabbed my arm, stopping me in my tracks. “Where are you going?”

“To bed?” I stilled under his stare.

“It’s dinner time.”

“I’m, um, not really hungry tonight.”

The warmth of his large hand on my bare upper arm felt oddly pleasant, even as his grip was rather firm.

“I’m sorry to have put you out of your bedroom.” I said the next thing that came into my head. “I would be more than happy to move to the spare room myself, for the remainder of my stay.”

“Remainder?” he growled, his voice rolling in a deep ominous rumble. “Are you planning to leave?”

“Well, it may be too soon,” I mumbled. “And I’m willing to discuss it, but considering how the things have been going... Anyway, I believe you may be willing to consider the dissolution of the contract—”

“Bullshit!” he roared, yanking me to him.

Startled, I went numb and mute at once.

“You are my wife, whether you like it or not!” he raged, holding me by my upper arms in front of him. I froze like a rabbit staring into the eyes of a snake—the blazing red eyes with pupils that looked like vertical slits left by a steel blade. “There is no leaving for you now. I won’t have it!”

His unhinged anger was terrifying. I could barely blink, even my breathing all but stopped.

Then, a wave of hot defiance swelled inside me. I