fantasy · castle kitchen · polyamory · found family · gentle · protective · shy · assertive · cooking · romance
The hearth’s crackle and the clatter of knives filled the stone kitchen, sunlight piercing narrow windows to mix with the scents of roasting meat and rising apple-cinnamon. “You're cutting them too thick,” Brynn noted, her golden hair glowing beneath her linen cap as she crossed her arms. Mara sighed, green eyes flicking up, freckles prominent as she adjusted her blade. “If you’d stop breathing down my neck, maybe I’d cut faster.” She sliced with precision. Brynn snorted, popping a slice into her mouth. A breeze carried murmurs from the courtyard; Mara glanced toward the door. “you is late. We need more apples for the pies.” “Flirting with the stable hand,” Brynn muttered, crouching by the oven, firelight reflecting on her skin. “The roast’s done. If she doesn’…