I'm halfway through before I notice the silence that's fallen across the table. Glancing up, I find the three of them watching me in various poses of shock. Zephyr's shoulders are shaking with his snickers while Zale has his fork suspended mid-bite. Zanthus is the most amusing of them all. If expressions could speak, his would say how appalling it is to watch my winning battle with this glorious hunk of meat. At least I'm not chewing with my mouth open or anything.
His eyes grow even wider when I swallow then hold it out towards him and ask, "Want a bite?"
Zephyr's head falls back with a roar, and even Zale doesn't hide his smile any longer. What? I'm offering to share my spoils. Any of them should consider themselves lucky. Normally, I'm not so quick to do such a thing. Specifically, more so when it tastes like orgasm in my mouth good. When he continues to stare, I shrug and take another bite, almost one too big to fit between my lips.
That's what she said. Damn, I snort internally. Just couldn't help myself with that one.
Belly ready to pop, I put the last little bit down before turning my gaze up to him. "Have you never had a hamburger before?"
"Not until Zeph decided to take his trip to the human realm," he admits.
I blow across my still too warm mug of tea as he adds, "To each their own, but I've never had a taste for their meats. My brother is a bottom feeder and will eat anything."
"Anything," Zephyr interjects with an uptick to the corners of his lips, leaning his elbows on the table.
Out of the three of them, he most knows what to say to bring that flush to my cheeks. Harmless flirting or not, after that kiss minutes ago, I'm ready to put that promise to the test. As understanding as they've all been so far about me kissing the others, I doubt Merrick or anyone else who chooses to walk in at this moment would appreciate us getting down on this table right now.
Filing away those feelings for later, I do another quick topic change by diverting attention to the miracle kitchen appliance. "So, how does that thing work anyway? I didn't see any of you putting anything inside."
Zale wiggles his fingers like he did with the lights and I'm to understand it's all magic.
Which is confirmed when Zephyr says, "Our magic has its limits, but the Keep has magic of its own that wasn't affected by the curse. That was one of the things I helped design when I first made it back from my voyage to the other realm. If my brothers weren't going to go for their own experiences, I'd at least bring some of the foods to them."
That's mighty sweet of the playful mer prince to think of his brothers, and it doesn't go unnoticed in the back of my mind. However, we must address this magical bringer of edibles first.
"You mean to tell me you've got a Jetson family set up in your kitchen that can give you whatever you can think of to eat?" I ask them in wonder.
"Who's the Jetson family?" Zeph questions like I've finally stumped him with something he should know.
I wave my hand at him. "An ancient cartoon. You're missing the point."
"And what might that be?" Zale asks in a jesting tone.
"Umm, duh," I reply. "You are seriously never going to get rid of me now that I know that thing exists."
"You weren't going anywhere anyway," Zanthus challenges.
It's true, but that doesn't stop me from being childish and sticking my tongue out at him curtly before speculating, "Wait, if the castle has its own magic and makes food from nothing, is that what my closet has been doing? I could've sworn that it altered to my tastes from the first to the second time I went in there."
"That's exactly what it did," Zale answers. "It doesn't do that for anyone but royalty or certain staff members. So, take that as you may if it's already working for you without the curse being lifted."
"According to the records, I'm not from here. This area belonged to your clan, so why would it work for me?" I ask.
Zale shrugs. "It could recognize you as our equal."
"Or," Zephyr pipes up, "it could have something to do with us claiming her."
"You mean saving me," I correct.
His turn to shrug. "Same difference."
Not jumping the tracks to where that conversation will lead, I prod, "So, do you guys have robot maids too?"
"What are you going on about? Of course, we don't," Zanthus sighs.
Zephyr shoots me a finger gun. "The vampyres probably do, though. Their magic works differently, so they've highly surpassed the technology of the human realm."
"Vampyres? Like---" I mime fangs with my fingers as my eyes go wide.
"You got it, damselfish," Zale replies. "Vampyres, dragon shifters, and fae all have their own realms."
"Holy shit," I mutter. This is just the neverending road to checking myself into a looney bin.
"Are you going to faint again?" Zanthus quips. "You're starting to look green around the gills."
"I'm not a fish," I snap offhandedly.
This earns me a full deep laugh. "Tell me that after you've gathered the courage to see your tail for yourself."
I'd be lying if I said his words don't make me more than a little curious to do just that.
My chance to comment on it, however, is fleeting as Zanthus smirks over at me. "Did you know the protein and vitamins in most things from the ocean in our realm could rival anything the humans have? None of our females were large unless they were with child. I'm assuming it's because we have less of that kind of food here."
Even Zeph stops to gape at his brother, knowing hell is about to break loose.
I narrow my eyes at the offensive brute. "Is that your way of calling me fat?"
His expression morphs into anger. "Of course, it wasn't. Simply stating a fact is all. Your body reacts to what you put in it. Now that you're in our realm, it may help to start getting used to it."
Facts or not doesn't change my mind from wanting comfort foods. It's possible there's a good point to his suggestion, but I'll drink saltwater before I tell him that.
"You must have been such a lady killer," I reply instead, my tone clipped.
A grunt falls between us, but it's an amused Zale who says, "Not by a long shot. They were all too scared of him."
That yanks a laugh right out of my throat because that I can definitely see. I bet he and Zeph didn't have any problems at all, which stirs a green sliver of jealousy and possessiveness in my chest that makes me feel funny. For once, I'm glad there aren't any of their beautiful, perfect-figured mer women around. Then I immediately feel guilty for even thinking such a thing.
"It's not all bad, you know," Zephyr says, surprising us all out of nowhere. "The food here, I mean. A lot of it isn't too much different than what you're used to."
He holds up a finger before getting up again and going over to where Zale was standing earlier.
After a few seconds, his voice flows back over to us in a mumble. When he comes back, I try to get a look into the bowl he's carrying, but he tips it up just far enough that I can't. Then he straddles the seat next to me as he says, "Close your eyes, little siren, and trust me."
It's a tough choice to do as he says, especially after what just happened outside of the barrier. As he speaks, his voice drops into a deep hypnotic sound that floats across my skin and makes me want to crawl into his lap. What can I do other than what he says? My heart is screaming not to let my head decide.