31: Layla meets Elena

Avery quickly pulled her hand back, fingers tingling where they'd touched his. Without looking back at Silas, she busied herself with the rest of the meal, moving with brisk efficiency. Silas took the hint and went back to the onion—though this time, his knife actually obeyed.

Whether it was her presence beside him or the way she'd so easily guided him before, something clicked. He wasn't suddenly a master chef, but at least he wasn't butchering produce anymore.

In a surprisingly calm silence, the rest of the dinner came together without any more culinary catastrophes. When the final dish was ready, Avery called in the staff to help carry the food to the dining table. Then, wiping her hands on a towel, she quietly excused herself to go get changed.