Duke Charming | Craig

Thirty

"Hamish, that beef needs more wine, braise it thirty more seconds then serve up. Easy on the caramelization, Sandra. Remember, turn down the heat as soon as those carrots glaze over. Maisie, how are we getting on with the appetizers?"

"Dished up, just waiting for the sauce to thicken for the garnish, boss."

"Excellent, keep an eye on it." I briefly peer into the saucepan to determine the density of the sauce and hurried along.

The kitchen resembled a beehive as we rushed to serve dinner on time. I had hoped my surprise outing with the packs wouldn't let us fall behind, but alas, accidents still happen. I was shocked to find upon my return that Hamish had used the wrong cuts of beef for the main course. And when he realized his mistake, it took three glasses of sugar water and a few spoonsful of Craig's whiskey to get him to relax.

Hamish, of course, felt terrible, and couldn't apologize enough for the slip up no matter how I ensured him it was an accident. That I wasn't mad in the least.

Still, we had fallen behind, and I had to miss the first half of the feast to help my team in the kitchen. Luckily, Craig and the others understood.

"The wine is served!" Bonnie announced breathlessly when bursting through the doors leading to the dining room. "But they're drinking fast. I needed at least five more bottles to do a second sweep."

"I'll help." Leaving my post at the worktop where I was adding the finishing touches to the plates, I grabbed two bottles from the crate and twisted off their caps. Bonnie did the same and we're off to serve the guests. "Maisie, finish the plates, will you? You're good, Hamish. Serve up, serve up. Sandra, the carrots. I'll be right back."

Adrenaline coursed through my veins as we stepped into the dining room where the guests were waiting around the long table, conversing among each other. Ash's family was present this time, so no werewolf-talk during dinner. Instead, I caught topics of real-world politics being discussed, the latest fashion among the younger women, travelling also wormed its way into the conversations, and then, of course, business and investments.

Emric was trying his best to keep Ash's father engaged by discussing how unique each country's laws were, Lyon, Gregory, and Colin adding to the conversation. For once, Markus Grace was behaving like a decent human being, but I figured it because he was surrounded by other men of titles and prestige.

"How are you two ladies enjoying the evening?" I asked when I appeared between Reyna and Seren to refill their glasses.

"If you exclude the topics of politics and stock markets, then just wonderful," Seren muttered, rolling her eyes.

"Some wine, then," I joked and gave Reyna a pointed look. "None for you, though. Is there anything I can get you?"

"Goddess, I'm dying for a gin and tonic, but I'll take a ginger ale if it's not too much effort." She smiled sweetly, fingers tapping along her baby bump.

"Not at all, I'll be right with you." I tipped the bottle towards Seren's glass...put paused. Switching to thermal sight, I gave one look at her and moved the bottle away from her glass. "None for you either. Would you also like a ginger ale, instead?"

Seren blinked in confusion. "What? Why not?"

Flattening my lips awkwardly, I shook my head rapidly and started backing up towards the kitchen. "No reason. I'll be right back with your ginger ales."

Leaving the wine in one of the nearby ice buckets, I hurried into the kitchen to grab two ginger ales from the cooling room...and halted in my tracks on my way back when, suddenly, every hair on my body stood on end. A foreboding sense of déjà vu latched its claws into my heart when a chill slithered down my spine, alerting me of possible danger.