Married to Krampus - Marina Simcoe Page 0,56

people even buy baked goods around here?” Daisy asked. “Everyone has an AI, don’t they?”

“They do,” Lievoa nodded. “And an AI is great at replicating recipes, but nothing beats the taste of food made by a real person. Bakeries don’t release their recipes to the public, either. So, some things can only be bought there and nowhere else. Your parenting course is now over, isn’t it?” Lievoa slid him another reproachful glare.

His cousin really seemed to be after his blood now, but she was mistaken. He wasn’t against Daisy having a job outside of the house, as long as he could make sure the place was safe. If getting a job would keep Daisy in Voran, he’d do anything to make it happen.

“You could work at the bakery a few mornings a week,” Lievoa carried on with her “Liberating Daisy” campaign, “and be with the kids on the weekend. There is a very good bakery at the Eastern Mall. The owner, Scurad, is a really nice guy. I can talk to him if you like. I’m sure he’d love to add some Earth flavor to his baked goods.” She giggled, wiggling her eyebrows.

“No.” Grevar shook his head before Daisy had a chance to reply. The idea of her spending any time in a company of another male, even if on a strictly professional level, made the fur on his back rise with ire. “Eastern Mall is on the other side of town,” he explained when both women stared at him. “It’s too far.”

Lievoa narrowed her eyes at him suspiciously.

“Or you could always open your own bakery,” she said to Daisy, without taking her stare off him. “It’ll give you some freedom and independence to fully enjoy life in Voran.”

Chapter 15

WHEN EVERYONE WAS DONE with their dessert, the Colonel, Lievoa, the children, and I moved to the large sitting area in the main room.

The sunset had drawn a glowing haze of red and orange over the sky. Omni kept the lighting in the room on low, which created a soft, cozy atmosphere.

I glanced at Omni’s screen nearby. “Time to go to bed soon, boys.”

“But we’re waiting for more guests!” both objected in unison.

“Governor of Voran, Ashir Kaeya Drustan, and Madam Governor,” Omni announced at that moment, with a formal flare in his voice.

My stomach dropped at the sound of Shula’s name, as it did when the Colonel had first told me she and her husband would be coming over after dinner tonight.

Shula had made it clear she hated me. She’d also given me some good reasons to dislike her back. The Colonel considered her and her husband his dear friends, however, and I had no choice but to be civil and tolerate her presence. Hopefully, since everyone would be in earshot this time, she wouldn’t try to insult me again.

The doors to the parking platform slid open, and the first couple of Voran walked in.

The Governor was dressed in a lime-green suit that highlighted his lemon-yellow eyes. His wife wore a floor-length gown in shimmering gold. It was just as opulent as the purple-green one she’d had on at the ball. No longer pregnant after the delivery of the senator’s triplets, she was slimmer and even appeared taller somehow.

“Uncle Ashir! Aunt Shula!” the twins bounced over to them.

Apparently, they were more than just the Colonel’s friends. The children obviously considered the Governor and his wife their family.

“Ahh, there you are, little rascals!” The Governor grabbed each of the boys, one by one, tossing them up into the air in greeting.

“Hello, hello, my darlings,” Shula cooed, ruffling the fur on their heads. Bending over, she placed a kiss on the forehead of each. “How do you like being home more often now?”

“It’s fun!” Olvar twisted out of her arms to hop around with his brother, their tiny hooves beating a staccato rhythm against the tiled floor.

“Dad and Daisy took us to a museum today,” Zun announced. “And next weekend, we’re going to the Zoo.”

Shula slid her gaze my way. For a moment, my heart froze. What would be the appropriate way for the kids to address me if I was indeed their stepmom and their father’s wife? I cursed at myself for not verifying this earlier. Would she see through the lie that the Colonel and I had created around his family life? I felt like a fraud.

Despite currently living a lie, I was generally not in the habit of lying. Sooner or later, lies had the tendency to catch up with