I was overjoyed at the thought of eating lunch together like a family today. Callie and I never had that fortune; we usually ate standing at a counter in the kitchen and our meals were delicious but always interrupted.The pasta was cooking in the meat and vegetable stock when I went back to the kitchen. The charmed whisk beat the eggs until nice and frothy while I slowly poured the lemon zest into it."Now, scoop out two cups of that hot broth into a separate bowl and mix the egg-lemon mixture slowly into it. Pouring this tempered mixture will stop the eggs from curdling in the hot pot."I did as she said. Callie was nowhere in sight. She was avoiding Annelise for some reason and looked very uncomfortable around her.The minute I poured the tempered egg-lemon mixture into the pasta pot, containers with dill, pepper, parsley, and salt came flying and added a bit of themselves into the pot. Dill jumped back onto the shelf first and refused to budge or make

~Aurelia~His words cut through me like a knife."We are a lot more alike than you realize, Dominic. I grew up on the run too, not physically like you, but I am in hiding as well. I think I can understand what you have been through."He didn't respond. With his eyes glued to the ceiling, I wasn't even sure if he was listening anymore."We didn't get to choose what we were born with. That doesn't mean we deprive ourselves of normal life and love. I---""I don't have a problem with who I am, whatever I am. This Royal Guard training and the recognition that I got before soldiers in their twenties and thirties did, none of that would have been possible if I was normal. I wouldn't have been able to afford this house or put good food on the table. Dylan and I were squire boys making almost nothing at fourteen." His face scrunched in annoyance before he continued."I don't want to open up old wounds. I told you way more than I intended to