Soon, the cookies crisped at the edges, soft and warm in the middle. Lyria took one bite. The crunch melted into sweetness. "Oh stars… they're good," she moaned, grinning to herself.
Lyria then arranged the cupcakes and cookies neatly on a tray. The soft pink frosting glowed under the lights, the crushed frost-mints sparkling like tiny stars. The cookies, a rich, crackled gold, let out an intoxicating aroma of buttery sweetness and moonfruit.
She carried the tray toward the dining area.
The moment she stepped in, three pairs of ears perked up. Milo sniffed dramatically and said, "This smells sweet."
Finn immediately went to take a cookie from the tray. The crisp, crunchy cookie filled his mouth. "Mmmhh, Lyria, thank you for adding life to my taste buds," he said.
"Lyria, I want some too," Milo said, spreading his hands, upon which Lyria placed a cookie.
"Orion, take yours," Lyria said.
Orion took his cookie and silently walked to stand beside her. He took a bite, his eyes closing briefly in satisfaction. He didn't speak—he only hugged her arms affectionately, his tail knocking gently against her back. Lyria melted into the gesture.
"After you're done with the cookies, I need your feedback. You also have to try this cupcake."
"nyum num Lyria, why are the cupcakes pink in color?" Finn asked with a mouth full of cookies.
"I used starberries in the process of making them," Lyria said, a hint of pride in her voice.
"Oh, I will definitely try them, but trust me, the cookies are so good," Finn said, with Milo and Orion nodding their heads, showing their approval of what Finn said.
"I have placed your cupcakes on the dining table. And besides, where are our parents?" Lyria asked.
"In Mum's study," Milo answered. Lyria walked down the hallway, tray in hand, and knocked twice.
Knock! knock!
"Come in," Rowan's voice echoed from inside the study. and the moment she stepped inside, the fragrance filled the room, Rowan, Cyris, Selena, and Thorne all paused and turned.
"Ooh, Lyria is here with goodies," Thorne announced eagerly.
"What did you make this time? The aroma alone is tempting," Cyris said.
" cookies and cupcakes, and I would like to receive feedback from you on a scale of one to ten," Lyria said before placing the tray on the study desk.
"I will be the first to take a bite," Selena said, after which she took a cookie and then bit into it. Her eyes widened, showing how stunned she was.
"Lyria, this tastes wonderful!" Then she took a cupcake and she bit into it. "nyum mmmhh I will be rating this ten out of ten. You all have to try this!" Selena said with a mouthful.
Cyris reached for a cookie next. One bite, and the usually stern Cyris shivered.
"By the Sacred Claw…" he murmured, gripping the edge of the table. "It melts in your mouth."
Thorne's fox tail trembled like an excited puppy.
"My baby," he whispered reverently around a mouthful of cookie. "My precious cub, this is heaven-sent."
Rowan took a slow, analytical bite. After a long pause, he set the remaining half on his palm and exhaled deeply.
"Perfect texture. Balanced sweetness. Crisp edges, warm center…"
He looked up. "Rating this on a scale of one to ten will not do these any justice."
He added, "I must know how you make these. Imagine if paired with milk? They'll taste even better."
The rest of the day passed with the house buzzing in a lively, warm atmosphere.
The next day was also an off day, so everyone was at home. Lyria and Rowan headed out together to buy ingredients for baking.
"So you're saying these are what we need to make cupcakes and cookies?" Rowan checked each item carefully.
"Yes. And I just remembered we got some kharava last time I went to the market. After we get home, I'll teach you how to make chocolate and chocolate flavored cupcakes."
They walked around, checking for any new ingredients for baking, but unfortunately, nothing new had arrived. Comfortable and content, they headed home.
Once home, Lyria and Rowan went straight to the kitchen.
"Daddy Rowan, today I'll teach you how to make cookies, starberry-flavored cupcakes and chocolate-flavored cupcakes which we will using cocoa...."
Rowan paused.
"Cocoa?" he repeated, confusion etching into his features.
Lyria froze for a second.
"Oh, I mean kharava. I'll be calling it cocoa." She smiled quickly, covering her slip.
"And I'll also try making chocolate, which I'm sure all of you will love."
After teaching Rowan how to make the starberry-flavored cupcakes, they placed them aside. They then moved on to the chocolate-flavored ones.
"For the chocolate ones, we will use cocoa instead of starberries," Lyria added before she began preparing another bowl, mixing flour, sugar, butter, eggs, milk, and now cocoa powder. Rowan helped, carefully mixing the batter the way she showed him.
"Like this?" he asked.
"Perfect," she praised.
He puffed up like a very proud beast father.
They spooned the batter into cupcake liners—some pink, some silver, some with tiny crescent-moon designs—before placing them into the oven alongside the starberry-flavored ones. "Okay, so let's leave them. I will attempt making chocolate now," Lyria said as she tied her apron tighter and placed the ingredients on the counter: kharava powder, sweetcream, sugar, melted butter, and a small bowl of milk.
Rowan watched closely, ears perked and eyes filled with curiosity.
"So… this 'chocolate' you mentioned," he asked, leaning forward, "is it supposed to be sweet or bitter?"
"Both," Lyria replied with a grin. "But the good kind of bitter—rich, warm, comforting. Trust me, once you taste it, you'll understand."
She heated a pan and poured in the sweetcream. The kitchen began to smell warm and comforting. Rowan sniffed the air.
"It's already nice."
"Just wait."
Lyria added the butter, letting it melt until the mixture turned silky. Then she slowly sprinkled in the kharava powder, whisking gently.
Immediately, the scent deepened warm, earthy, and intoxicating.
Rowan froze mid-breath.
"Oh… oh that's good."
His tail lightly thumped the cabinet behind him.
Lyria giggled. "We're not even done yet."
She added sugar and continued stirring until the mixture thickened into a glossy, dark liquid. A luxurious sheen rippled across the surface. It looked like captured midnight.
"Daddy Rowan," Lyria said softly, "this is chocolate."
Rowan stared like she had just performed magic.
"Lyria…" he whispered, his voice thick with awe.
"This looks...." he said, not knowing how to describe what he was seeing and smelling.
She dipped a small spoon into the chocolate and held it out to him.
Rowan tasted it. His eyes widened. His pupils dilated. His ears shot straight up.
"…Lyria. You just created another gourmet sensation."
Ps. Your comments and reviews matters 🙂