CHAPTER 312: CHAPTER 312 REMEMBER MY MUTTON LIPS

(Ember POV)

There was a famous saying "If life gives you lemons, make lemonade."

’Why make lemonade when you can use lemon to complement meat?’ My mouth salivates at the view in front of me.

A whole leg of grilled mutton, I licked my lips, waiting in anticipation to chew that juicy meat. The golden brown crust of the meat made me imagine how it would break in my mouth releasing that tender flesh and juice, while the flavour bursts in my mouth sending me to cloud nine.

The lemons were placed beside the meat, and my stomach growled. ’Grrrrrh. Someone’s ready to down this food.’ I said in my mind.

Beside the mutton was a bowl of white rice with beef stew, there was also bread, fruits, and a cake dessert. In other words, it was a full table.

Adjacent to me, an intense stare bore into the side of my head.

I turned to see Damon watching me in amusement, his arms crossed, his lips curved in a half-smile that made him look both smug and entertained.

"What?" I raised a brow.

He leaned back slightly. "Nothing. I just didn’t know my master was this... fascinated by food."

"Food is life," I said proudly, ignoring the teasing glint in his eyes. "You wouldn’t understand."

His deep chuckle vibrated through the air. "Oh, I understand perfectly. I’m just waiting to see if you leave any for the rest of us."

Before I could retort, my gaze shifted to the timid girl sitting beside me. Crystal sat still, her small frame barely moving. She stared down at her plate as if unsure if she was allowed to touch it.

"Are you not going to eat?" I asked, tilting my head.

Her eyes flickered up to meet mine before darting away again. "I... I..."

I sighed softly, scooping a bit of rice and meat onto her plate before sliding it closer to her. "Here, eat before it gets cold."

Crystal blinked at me, clearly surprised, then nodded shyly. "Thank you."

"You’re welcome," I said, turning back to my food. Damon’s gaze was still on me, but I ignored it.

He picked up his knife and began cutting the mutton, slicing a large chunk and placing it onto my plate. "Here. Let me..."

Before he could finish cutting it into smaller pieces, I was already reaching for it with my bare hands.

The meat was warm and juicy between my fingers. I took a big bite, closing my eyes as the flavours hit me all at once. My toes curled in delight. "Heaven," I whispered, the word slipping out before I could stop it.

I knew it was unladylike of me to act this way, but who cares? I don’t want to be demure if my days are numbered. ’Damn, I’m flying.’

Damon stared at me, his brows arching slightly. "Slow down before you choke," he said, his voice low with amusement.

"I won’t choke," I said between bites, licking the sauce from my fingers. "This is divine."

Crystal smiled faintly, clearly entertained by my lack of table manners.

For a brief moment, everything felt peaceful. The warmth of food, the quiet company, the soft hum of the fire crackling nearby, it almost felt like normalcy.

But then the atmosphere changed.

Damon’s expression hardened, his eyes darkening like a storm about to break. I followed his gaze and froze.

’Rhydian.’

He was walking toward us, his long strides purposeful but heavy. He still looked a bit pale, with a bandage wrapped around his arm, but his presence was as commanding as ever.

Guilt pricked at my chest immediately. I had promised to check on him after the fight... but instead, I had been here eating like nothing happened.

I placed my meat down slowly. "Rhydian," I said softly. "You’re here."

"I am," he replied, his voice calm, and soft. His eyes flickered from Damon to me, then rested on my face. "I came to see how you were."

Before I could say anything, Damon’s aura grew dense. The air itself felt heavier, colder.

I swallowed the lump in my throat. "You should sit," I said quickly, gesturing to the empty seat beside me. "There’s enough food for you too."

Rhydian hesitated for a moment, his gaze darting to Damon, but then he nodded and sat down. "Thank you."

The tension around the table thickened. Crystal shrank slightly in her chair, clearly uncomfortable. Damon’s knuckles pressed against the table, his jaw tight, and his presence screamed territorial, and it made the air difficult to breathe.

I tried to ignore it, focusing instead on the food in front of me, but Damon’s silence felt far too deliberate. I could almost feel his eyes burning into the side of my face.

When I finally turned to him, he was smiling, but it wasn’t the soft kind. It was the kind that promised mischief.

"Ember," he drawled out, ever so endearing that it made something flutter inside me.

"Yes?" I asked, wary of the sudden change in tone.

He leaned slightly closer, his voice smooth but loud enough for everyone to hear. "Do you still remember the time you mistook my lips for mutton?"

My body froze.

Rhydian’s eyes widened slightly, and Crystal’s spoon stopped midair.

I blinked, hoping I had heard wrong. "What?"

’This bastard.’

Damon’s smirk deepened. "You know, when you bit my lips because you thought it was a piece of meat."

The heat rushed to my cheeks so fast I thought I might combust. ’What the heck is wrong with this dude? He is ruining my reputation!’

He chuckled, clearly enjoying my embarrassment. "I remember how you chewed on my lips, your razor-sharp teeth digging into my skin, you know it is also considered a kiss... a rough kiss."

My mouth dropped open. "You..."

"I am just saying," he continued smoothly, "it was quite the experience. I never knew being bitten could feel that..."

"Finish that sentence and I’ll make sure you lose that tongue," I cut in sharply, my face burning red.

Crystal bit her lip, trying to hold back a giggle. Rhydian, however, didn’t look amused, his jaw tightened, his eyes dark with an emotion I couldn’t quite read.