Chapter 211

As the evening set in, the hum of the engines became a soothing background noise.

The aroma of the freshly served meal lingered in the air, surprising me with its rich and delectable flavors.

I'm not exactly sure how they were able to cook a full meal for us on the jet, but I wasn't complaining.

The scent of the freshly cooked meal filled the cabin, making my stomach growl in anticipation.

"What's that smell?" I inquired, detecting a hint of tomatoes in the air.

Lucas, with a mischievous grin, replied, "Probably pasta. They must be making us something delicious."

Considering it had been hours since our last meal, the prospect of food was particularly enticing. I couldn't help but remark, "It's a good thing James isn't here. He'd be losing his mind over the wait."

Lucas chuckled, "Nah, he would've raided all the snacks by now. You know how he is, always hungry."

Once the flight attendants finished arranging the trays in front of us, we were presented with a delightful spread of pasta, accompanied by a rich tomato sauce and breadsticks.

The quality of the meal surpassed my expectations, considering the unconventional setting of an airborne private jet.

"I can't believe they can serve something like this up here," I remarked, taking a tentative bite and savoring the flavors. "Mmm, this is amazing."

Lucas nodded in agreement between bites. "They really go all out on these private flights."

"What's the best meal you've ever had on the jet?" I asked Lucas, suddenly finding this other side of his life intriguing.

We never really got to talk about all of the luxuries he's experienced in his life.

Lucas paused, reflecting on the question. "Hmm, it's hard to pick just one. The thing about private flights is that they tailor everything to your preferences. Once, we had a chef on board who specialized in sushi. That was an experience."

"Sushi on a plane? That sounds incredible," I responded, genuinely fascinated. "I didn't even know you liked sushi."

"Of course I like sushi," Lucas said with a scoff. "Who doesn't?"

"Maybe people who are allergic to seafood," I replied smartly.

He rolled his eyes playfully. "Okay, you got me."

"What about dessert?" I asked. "Do they ever serve that?"

Lucas nodded. "Sometimes. They always manage to have the best desserts. When I was fifteen, my father took me on a business trip to Europe and we were served this chocolate soufflé once that was out of this world."

"Ugh, that sounds so good right now!"

"You haven't even finished your pasta yet," he said with a chuckle.

"Dessert is my favorite meal. I'll always think about it no matter what I'm doing."

"You're starting to sound like James," he teased again.

My eyes widened with amusement. "Well, it's your fault! You're making me crave something sweet."

He laughed. "Okay fine, finish up your pasta and we'll see if they have any desserts they can serve us."

Kendrick seemed to maintain his distance, allowing Lucas and me some privacy during the flight. We got to enjoy our meal, just the two of us.

As Lucas promised, a flight attendant came over once our meal was done and offered us warm chocolate chip cookies.

"Do you think these are better than Grandma Jo's?" I asked as I chewed on a cookie, tasting as it melted on my tongue.

"Oh man, don't ask me to compare the two." Lucas said with a mouth full of chocolate. "I'd have to say Grandma Jo. Nothing can beat her baking, not even this delicious cookie."

I chuckled, appreciating Lucas's loyalty to Grandma Jo's baking. "I have to agree with you there. Her cookies have a special touch that can't be replicated."

As we finished the cookies, a flight attendant approached us with a warm smile and distributed blankets, pillows, and eye masks.

I looked at Lucas, unsure of how we were meant to sleep on here. Lucas reclined his seat further, transforming it into a makeshift bed.

"You can extend your seat into a bed," Lucas explained, demonstrating how to adjust the reclining mechanism. "It's pretty comfortable."

Lucas gestured toward the controls on the armrest.

"Did my father show you this?" he asked, tapping a button that smoothly extended the seat into a more comfortable position.

"No, he didn't," I admitted, intrigued. "This is like a miniature magic trick. How does it work?"

Lucas explained the functionality of the seat, amused by my sudden fascination. "There's a lot of secret little buttons on this thing. I don't think I've found all of them yet."

"It's incredible how they've turned a plane into a flying luxury hotel," I mused, running my fingers over the controls with a sense of wonder.

Lucas nodded in agreement. "Yeah, it's a perk of being a Busch, I guess. Though, I'll admit, it's not something I've ever gotten used to."

"I don't know how anyone could ever get used to any of this," I admitted and Lucas nodded in agreement.

Once we were both settled into a comfortable position, he retrieved an extra blanket and spread it over us.

"It's not as cozy as Grandma Jo's house, but it'll do for the night," he remarked, his eyes meeting mine with a warmth that transcended the confines of the jet.

"I'm pretty cozy," I commented, snuggling further under the blanket.

"Where's your dad?" I asked Lucas, noting the absence of Kendrick. Usually, he would be commenting on my closeness with Lucas by now.'

"He has a small private suite at the back of the plane," Lucas explained. "He's probably there."

"He has his own room?" I asked, unable to hide the surprise in my voice. "Is it nice?"

Lucas nodded. "It's not that big. There's just a bed in there and a small desk. He always retreats in there when we fly. I think he likes the privacy."

I nodded, understanding his need for alone time.

As the plane lights dimmed, casting a subdued glow over the cabin, I glanced around. Half of the security team was settling in for sleep, while the others maintained a vigilant watch.

Two guards stood outside of Kendrick's door, making me frown. What did he think would happen to him with the people on board? Did he think he was in danger?

A chill went through me at the thought. Maybe it was to keep people away, to maintain his privacy.

I tried to push thoughts of Kendrick aside, letting relief wash over me instead. At least I knew that Lucas and I would be able to enjoy the rest of the flight in solitude without Kendrick around.

"Try to get some rest," Lucas said, laying his head down next to me. "You're comfortable? Do you want another pillow?"

I shook my head. "I'm okay, thanks. Stop worrying about me, I'm fine."

"We just have a long few days ahead of us. I just want to make sure you get all the rest you need."

At the mention, the thought of the upcoming meeting with the Alpha King weighed heavily on my mind. But Lucas was right. For now, I would just shut my eyes and try not to think about what was to come.