Page 126 of The Hunter's Empire

"Zora. Try this."

I take a bite of the cake. "It's good."

Theo slowly lowers his fork. "'Good'?"

"What?"

"You survived a private jet crash just to disrespect this pastry chef."

I shrug. "It tastes good."

Aurelia folds her arms. "That's not helpful."

I gesture vaguely toward the table, surrounded by more desserts than I think any sane person could finish in a week.

"I spent the last several days surviving on fruit and whatever Nico could find in the jungle. At this point, everything here tastes incredible."

Theo's head snaps toward me so fast I'm surprised he doesn't get whiplash. "Nico?" He repeats.

I blink, trying, and failing, to look casual. "What?"

He carefully sets his fork down. "Who is Nico?"

I sigh. "The man who was stranded with me."

"The man." Theo repeats slowly, exchanging a look with Aurelia.

"Yes."

"The one you've somehow never mentioned until just now?"

I point my fork at him. "Don't."

"Oh, girl." A grin spreads across his face. "I'm absolutely going to."

Aurelia rests her chin against her hand, watching me with obvious amusement. "I was wondering when his name would come up."

I groan. "There is nothing to wonder about."

Theo gasps dramatically. "Nothing? Babe, you just casually dropped a man's name like we've all known him for years."

"It slipped."

"Mhm." He says, unconvinced.

Aurelia nods beside him. "It definitely sounded like it slipped."

I look from one to the other before narrowing my eyes. "I've survived armed mercenaries. I can survive the two of you."

Theo leans back in his chair, looking entirely too pleased with himself. "Oh, she's defensive."

"I'm not defensive."

"You're using your boardroom voice, baby."

Steven chuckles quietly into his coffee while Vanya presses her lips together, clearly trying not to laugh.

"You know," Vanya says, "he must've made quite an impression if his name came out that naturally."