Chapter 127: Orion, Sophia and the Festival Proper II

Chapter 126: Orion, Sophia and the Festival Proper II

Orion’s lips curved faintly, the first trace of mischief breaking through his calm mask. "Candied harthworms."

Sophia stared at him. "I’m sorry...what?"

He nodded toward the tray, voice level as though he were talking about bread. "A delicacy. The worms live near the roots of the harth tree, they feed on the sap of the tree. When roasted and glazed, the taste is...quite distinct."

"Distinct?" she repeated, eyeing the glossy shapes that definitely still looked like worms. "That’s one word for it."

The vendor, looked up as they approached. When his gaze landed on Orion, his jaw dropped.

"By the Moon," he blurted. "Alpha Orion. I almost didn’t believe it when people said you were here!"

"Gossip travels fast." Orion said dryly.

The young man wiped his hands hastily on his apron and bowed so fast he nearly upset the pan. "What an honor. Come, come...don’t just walk past my stall like a stranger. It’s tradition to start the feast with something sweet!"

Orion gave a polite nod. "We were just..."

"Oh, no, you don’t!" the vendor interrupted, half-laughing, half-chiding. "Come on, Alpha, are you just going to leave without trying at least one? You’ll break my heart! This is a local treasure, you know."

Sophia grinned, folding her arms. "You’re being rude, Orion. You can’t just ignore such a heartfelt invitation."

He shot her a look that clearly said don’t you dare. "Sophia..."

She ignored him completely and turned to the vendor. "We’ll take two, please."

Orion sighed, the sound somewhere between resignation and disbelief. "Sophia..."

"Oh hush, Orion." She said to him with an eye roll.

The vendor laughed heartily, fishing two skewers from a jar of syrup and handing them over. The candied harthworms glistened under the torchlight, caramelized sugar dripping slowly down their spiraled forms. Sophia wrinkled her nose, but her eyes sparkled with challenge.

Orion pulled out a small pouch and dropped a few coins into the man’s hand before the man could even resist the payment. Sophia’s eyes narrowed at the coins, she calculated mentally, adding it to to the amount she owed him.

Orion flicked her head.

"Ow." She said with her hand rubbing the spot. "What was that for?"

"You know what it’s for. Get that thought out of your head. You are not paying me back for anything." He told her.

She grumbled as she rubbed the spot. "I never..."

"Is that a lie I sense?" He asked her.

"Fucking oaf." She grumbled under her breath.

"You are broke, Sophia, how did you expect to pay me back?" He asked her.

"When I get my first paycheck from the library." She said proudly.

"Ah...the library. The one place of work with the lowest pay." He told her with a laugh.

The vendor watched their interaction with intrigue. Orion was a bit like Tobias. Only a bit. Tobias wasn’t free with people other than his friends. Orion was free with everyone in the pack. He related with everybody but there was a limit. Perhaps it was his leadership duties but seeing him interact with Sophia like this...this was a first.

Even when he had dated Holly, Orion wasn’t as free as this. And Sophia called Orion and oaf and he didn’t say anything? He just took it in stride? The vendor paused. Well, it wasn’t like it was forbidden to insult Orion but he was the alpha. He was their leader and so there was a restriction but it was like it wasn’t meant for Sophia.

The vendor cleared his throat. He had wanted to reject the payment from Orion but Orion wasn’t going to accept that. So he smiled at Orion in gratitude.

"Thank you, Alpha." He said, snapping Orion out of his teasing session with Sophia. "But next time it’s..."

"It’s a business, and next time, I’ll pay. You used money to get your ingredients." Orion told him.

The ingredients were cheap and some were for free but he knew from the look on Orion’s face that he wasn’t going to win this argument so he nodded.

"Yes, alpha."

"He doesn’t take no for an answer. Very ogrelike of him right?" Sophia said and once more the vendor was shocked.

First oaf, now ogre?

Sophia had no idea the turmoil that was going through the vendor or even those behind them. She instead gave Orion one of the skewers. "Here. One for you."

He didn’t move. "No."

"Come on."

"I’m not eating that."

"You can’t just..."

"I’m not," he said simply, the ghost of amusement in his eyes.

The vendor chuckled, folding his arms. "You know, Alpha, if word gets out that you refused harthworms, I might have to challenge your title."

Sophia gasped theatrically. "You hear that? It’s practically treason not to try one!"

Still, Orion didn’t reach for it. His lips quirked, but he stayed put.

Sophia rolled her eyes. "Fine. I’ll eat for both of us."

"Be my guest," he said.

The vendor handed her a napkin, and Sophia, trying to look braver than she felt, brought the skewer closer. The syrup smelled faintly of smoke and honey. She took a tentative bite.

For two heartbeats, she chewed, eyes narrowing as if deciphering an ancient lost language.Then her expression twisted. Her face scrunched up and her eyes watered.

"Oh...oh...gods....what is...eww..."

She coughed once, then twice, gagging as she tried to swallow. Orion’s laugh burst out before he could stop it. He had been waiting for her reaction since she took a bite. The vendor joined in, already thrusting a wooden cup of water toward her.

Sophia grabbed it, chugging like her life depended on it. When she came up for air, her glare could have melted steel.

"What...what did you give me?" she sputtered.

"Candied harthworms." The vendor told her.

"That’s just...ewww." she said as she gagged.

Orion was still laughing, shoulders shaking. "You should’ve asked me when I refused to eat one."

"That’s not..." she coughed again...."helpful!"

"It’s a local delicacy," he said, straight-faced.

The vendor was nearly doubled over, laughing so hard his eyes watered. "Oh, Moon bless you, miss! You’ve got courage, I’ll give you that. Most people can’t even swallow it."

Sophia glared at both of them but couldn’t help the small smile tugging at her lips. "You sell this on purpose? This is a trick right because who would buy something like this?"