Daniel loves to bake in The Dissolution of Tal Stephens. As a veritas, someone who tastes lies, he relies on sweets to soften the blow of living. He brings baked goods to Tal as he trains her in magic. Tal has feelings about this, but we don't like feelings!

They entered an office upstairs and he left to make a phone call, placing the dinner basket beside her. Next to his shortbread were macarons. She had mentioned her curiosity about them yesterday. She picked one up and studied it before taking a cautious bite. She was shoving another in her mouth when he returned and paused, a shy smile spreading. Unusual in how brash he normally was. “Where’d you get these?” she asked around full cheeks. “I baked them.” His chin wobbled with pride and Tal told herself that the warmth she was feeling was a lie. His hand settled on her elbow, and she told herself this was a function of his training. He had done this for every vox mortis he worked with in the past. It must signify nothing. But the bond between them grew richer, thicker. She wished she could understand the strange discontent taking unwelcome residence in her chest. She closed her eyes and ate another