Cold Mark (7 page)

I peeked over my shoulder. All I could see were two green eyes glowing near the front of their bedroom. Having Human eyes in this situation was more than frustrating. That green gaze bore directly at me, and I watched as they narrowed to thin slits.

"She's not Mian," the intruder, Winslet, whispered. "What is she?"

"Human," Malik grumbled harshly. I felt the bed shake, and then he growled, "Get out. Our sleep has been interrupted enough this day."

There was a minute pause, and then I squinted when their bedroom door jerked open, allowing a brief glare of bright light inside. I saw a flash of a Mian woman with deep crimson hair wearing a black robe disappear out the door. It shut with a booming slam hard enough for the steel door to vibrate. I blinked, gazing at where the woman had disappeared. "Acquaintance of yours?"

"She's one of our lovers," Leo huffed, lying down. "You know, for our
barbaric
needs."

In the blackness of their bedroom, my cheeks flushed. "Do you want me to leave?" I knew they did not have a Harem. It had been obvious by the fact they wore no rings other than mine, but they had explained as much when they had shown my bedroom to me. But even in my own discomfort, my brows began to furrow. I grumbled, "You two weren't very kind to your ...
friend
."

Malik snorted, getting comfortable once more. "I was growing bored of her."

"Same here," Leo muttered, his voice muffled with his face smashed against his pillow.

Interesting. "You didn't answer my question."

"For the love of all that is holy, just go to sleep," Malik growled.

I grunted, whispering in English, "Someone's grumpy when he doesn't get his beauty sleep."

There was a long pause, then a hard snorting laugh erupted from Leo. "True enough."

I had just learned their hearing was also exceptional—even in English. Another fact to ponder.

After I got some sleep.

My stomach growled. "I'm hungry." These Mian seriously did not eat. "I haven't eaten since I left Joyal."

Malik peered up from the book he was reading on Human genetics. "What?"

"Food," I expounded, throwing my hands up in the air. We had been inside their bedroom since we had woken. The only time I had left was to take a shower in my own bedroom and change into a t-shirt of Leo's and a pair of pajama bottoms of Malik's. Both were utterly enormous on me, but at least they were clean. I pointed at my stomach. "Humans obviously eat more than you people." More jabbing motions at my stomach as it growled again. "Food. In my belly. Please!"

Malik blinked, then flipped to a page in his book. He read from it a moment and then leaned to show Leo, where he sat next to him. He pointed at the page. "It does say here that
Humans
should eat at least three times a day. At the minimum."

I stared in frustration, crossing my arms.

Leo read the passage and then lifted his glowing eyes to me. "You should have told us before now." A golden brow rose. "What do Humans eat?"

My nostrils flared. "I want meat. Bread. Maybe some damn pasta." I glared. "Even pets on Joyal are respected better than this. Humans do research before we own a living, breathing being."

Malik actually rolled his eyes. "We know plenty about Humans, but Leo and I didn't expect to have to deal with one so ... closely." He tossed the book aside and stood. "Come. I'll take you to the kitchen. You can pick out what you want and, hopefully, quit whining. The cook will help."

I grumbled under my breath but stood from the recliner I was designating as my own.

I glanced at Leo where he still sat. "Are you coming?"

He shook his head and continued reading from the halo-pad he had been perusing. "No."

My brows furrowed as I rubbed at the center of my chest. "Okay." And still, I did not move.

Bit by bit, he peered up. His lips pinched. "Why are you watching me?"

My cheeks flushed, and I clasped my hands behind my back to keep from fidgeting. "It's just ... " I cleared my throat. "Being
bound
. I don't particularly like the feeling when you guys are too far away, and the kitchen is on the first floor." Our bedrooms were on the top floor. "Yesterday wasn't pleasant when you two left me alone." They knew this. They had dealt with the aftermath of the guards.

Leo chuckled softly. "Yesterday, Malik and I traveled to the wall bordering our city when the Human slaves arrived. You going to the kitchen will not be as bad as it was then."

My eyes widened. "Oh." I had no clue they had left the palace. I had assumed. Turning embarrassed eyes away from him, I peered up into the silver glow of Malik's gaze. "Let's feed me."

The kitchen was normal, except for the severed arm in the sink. There were no tattooed marks on the wrist, so it had to be a Mian limb. Though, that recognition gave me no sense of relief. I held both of my hands over my mouth and tried not to gag. "Please tell me that is not what Mian eat." I had not read anywhere that they were cannibals, but I was learning that our books on them were missing a lot of information. Like, you know, pertinent details about being
bound
to them. "And please tell me that you have something other than that to fill my belly."

Malik snorted and strolled to the colossal sized, steel refrigerator unit. "That is for one of our pets." He opened the fridge and gestured for me to peruse the contents. "Unless, of course, you'd like to share with Blaze instead of having what we eat."

I rushed to the fridge and firmly kept my eyes away from the gore, not thinking about what kind of pet Blaze was. My gaze raked over the bizarre items on the shelves. I picked up one container, with what appeared to be chicken inside of it. "How often does a Mian eat, anyway?" I popped the lid and sniffed the meat. Nope. I put it back in a hurry, pushing it to the far back where it belonged, and kept rifling through the goods.

Malik leaned a hip against the counter next to me. "Mian eat once a week. It is all we need." He shrugged. "Unless a female is pregnant. She'll eat three times a week then."

I tilted my head and glanced up and down his muscular frame. I grunted. "No wonder. It's not like you have many calories to burn."

His thin black brows lifted. "Meaning?"

"Nothing," I muttered, then bent and searched the lower shelves. I absently lifted a blue container. "Is this safe for me to eat?" It had smelled all right, and it appeared like ground beef.

"Yes."

"Okay ... " I straightened and shut the fridge door. "Where's the pantry?"

He pointed to our left. "There."

I hit the motherload of sane food in the dry goods section. Happy as a butterfly on a sunny day, I walked out of the pantry holding dry pasta and tomato sauce. I grinned in pure delight. "Spaghetti with meat sauce. Yum."

Still leaning against the counter, Malik crossed his arms and watched as I searched for pots and pans. "We do have a cook who can prepare that for you. I only need to call her."

"Nah. I can do it myself." And make sure none of the blood from the severed arm made its way into my spaghetti sauce. "Have you eaten this week? Do you want me to make you some?"

His reply was not immediate. He eyed my actions as I filled a pot with water. Eventually, he shrugged. "I could eat."

I did a small dance in front of the stove as I clicked the burners on. "Lunch for two coming up!"

My stomach growled in agreement.

I made a lot. I was going to
eat
!

Inside the kitchen, Malik sat across from me at the wooden picnic style table. His plate sat in front of him untouched. He eyed the food warily and narrowed his gaze as he watched me take my first bite.

I groaned in pure satisfaction. I was not sure if they had cloned cows here, so I was not going to ask what kind of meat this was. All I knew was it tasted scrumptious. I pointed my fork at his plate. "I didn't poison the food." My shrug was timid. "It's really good. I promise."

Malik's silver iridescent gaze continued to watch while I piled the pasta into my mouth. Those eyes slowly narrowed as they focused on my mouth. My chewing halted as he reached across the table. His warm thumb brushed the corner of my mouth. I was proud I did not flinch at the contact. Staring at his thumb, where a smear of red sauce now lay, he muttered, "You are a messy Human."

I grunted and lifted another fork full. "I'm starving. I don't care about etiquette right now."

His nose crinkled, but he hesitantly put his thumb into his mouth. His brows furrowed as he slid his digit out, tasting the sauce. "I suppose it isn't dreadful."

"Thanks," I muttered at his horrible compliment. "My teachings on Joyal were not to be a chef, but I can do the basics." Occasionally, I had helped the cook at the boarding house.

He hummed quietly, watching me for a few moments longer. Ultimately, he picked up his own fork and twirled his pasta onto it. "You seem to find much delight in this."

I shrugged. It was food in my belly. And it was good. I had already explained that.

His wide lips parted, taking a large bite. His brows lifted marginally as he chewed. "Thank you."

My resulting smile was small, almost bashful with his gratitude. "You're welcome."

We ate in silence though it did not feel uncomfortable.

I was merely evaluating him while he did the same in return.

Exiting the kitchen with a full belly, I heard masculine war cries from the back of the building. My attention slammed to Malik in alarm. "Is the palace being attacked?"

Malik peered down at me with raised brows and asked with extreme slowness, "If my palace was under siege, don't you think I would know about it?"

My lips thinned into a straight line, but my cheeks flushed. "Fine. But what is that?" I wiggled my shoulders as the pull within me lessened. I blinked. "I think Leo's back there."

Malik sighed heavily and then grabbed my elbow. He herded me toward the vicious noise. "Yes, Leo's back there. I should be there, too. There are games in the back courtyard during this time of the evening."

I could barely keep up with his long gait. As he pulled me, I literally had to jog to keep from falling on my face. "What kind of
games
do Mian play?" Visions of decapitated heads rolling on the grass were all that came to mind. "I'm not sure if I want to go out there." I tried digging in my heels, but my bare feet slipped on the polished concrete. "Really, Malik, I don't think this is a great idea."