Alexei caught the package of bear mean and stared down like it had asked for his social security number. "Raw bear. How did you know it was my favorite?"
"Figured we should eat before someone else tries to interrupt," Sera shrugged like it was no big deal. "How do you feel about bear tartare?"
Lachlan's grin snapped on full. "I feel like you've been holding out on us, which I respect deeply. Also, yes."
Zubair's eyes came off the door long enough to cut to her hand and back to her face. His attention always felt like heat. Not burning. Just there.
Elias already had a plan. He set a dented pan from one of the walls on a chunk of broken concrete like a stove and glanced at Zubair.
A coin of flame bloomed under the pan—tight, blue at the core. The metal warmed and started to sing.
"True farm-to-table," Alexei observed, straight-faced. "People would pay hundreds for a meal like this at a restaurant."
"Field-to-mouth," Lachlan corrected.
