Cherish Me, Daddy
Platter after platter overflowed with delicacies I could barely name—pâtés that glistened like dark jewels, ribbons of smoked salmon that curled like sea‑serpents, mountains of buttery croissants that seemed to rise on their own.
Bowls of steaming broth sat beside crystal goblets that caught the light and flared it back like tiny suns. It was more food than any banquet I’d ever witnessed, a feast meant for a king and his court, not for a single omega who had barely made it through the night.
“…you’re late,” Lucen said, his voice low, a note of amusement threading through the words.
“I’m not,” I replied automatically, the reflexive deflection a habit honed over years of dodging accusation.