The idyllic small town has everything a monster could want: movie theater, historical society, candy store, ice cream shop, coffee shop, fine dining, general store. The list goes on, and that’s just the downtown area.
‘Tis a beautiful day. I could easily have gone to Shifter Hollow on the other side of town and spent time with the wolves or centaurs, perhaps visited the potions shop to sneak a peek at a certain someone. Or maybe taken a trip to the shifter pack therapist, Connall, to chat something through.
Of all the havens I’ve visited in my role as a hunter for Hearth Headquarters, this is my favorite. Not just because it can get a little wild here—thrall attacks and warlock wars and such—but because I met Louanna here.
“Hey, Dirk!”
I glance to my right to see a darling teal-haired pixie standing outside the candy shop, its red and white awning floating on a soft breeze.
Stopping to lean against the doorframe, I smile. “Hello to you, Miriam. How’s the candy-making business going?”
She grimaces. “Iggy’s in the back with Alo working on a new recipe for red-hot lollipops. Needless to say, there’s a lot of burnt candy in the kitchen, but Iggy absolutely insists?—”
Just then, the tiny gargoyle in question zooms past her, barreling out of the sweets shop door and circling around my head.
“Aye, little man, got the zoomies, do yeh?” I laugh as Iggy cackles and flips onto his back, still zipping around me.
Moments later, a muscular gargoyle ducks through the door and wraps a three-fingered purple hand around Miriam’s waist. “On your way to see Lou, Dirk?”
It’s no secret I stand outside Lou’s window at night and stare at her. I’m relatively certain she knows I do it. Alo and Iggy caught me once, though, which I suspect is why the big protector gargoyle mentioned it just now.
“It’s not creepy if we’re mates,” I say.
Alo gives me a look. “If Lou tells you to stop, you’re gonna stop though.” His tone brooks no argument, but I don’t bother to remind him that I’m the most powerful air elemental in recorded history. I could blast him to bits with that power if I chose to.
It’s just that I prefer being charming. And funny.
“Noted, giant strong male,” I joke.
“He’s making fun of you, Dad!” Iggy shouts, stopping between us, his tiny wings flapping slowly.
“Nope.” I poke him in the chubby belly. Why is he shirtless? “Why are you such a tattletale, anyhow?”
Iggy slaps my hand away with his long tail, the spade-shaped end thwapping against my arm. Just for funsies, I call the jaggedrays of lightning that cover my blue skin, giving him a tiny zap. He screeches and zooms up to Alo’s shoulder, alighting there with a vicious wee look.
“That hurt, Dirk!” he shouts, pointing a finger at me in accusation.
Alo glances at his young son. “Ig, what have we said about touching others without asking?”
Miriam stifles a laugh behind a fake cough as Iggy rolls his eyes.
“You said don’t do it, especially Dirk, because his lightning can hurt.”
“Right.” Alo draws the word out long. “Dirk’s lightning is?—”
“A weapon,” Iggy grinds out. “I forgot.” His gaze goes thoughtful. “If your lightning is a weapon, how are you ever gonna hug Lou? Won’t you zap her to bits?”
My nostrils flare as my grin grows broad and devious. Alo gives me a warning look, and Miriam leans against the doorframe as the laughter finally escapes.
“Zapping her to bits is exactly what I’m gonna do, Iggy,” I say, “the moment she allows it.”
“You better not!” he screeches, balling his tiny fists as his tail snaps wildly in the air. “‘Cause I’ll protect her with my life! If you so much as?—”
“Easy, killer.” I give him a serious look. “I dinnae wanna hurt Louanna. I was just joking.” There’s no way I can explain to this tiny gent what I want to do to her.
“See that you don’t,” he says viciously, crossing his arms over his tiny, puffed-up chest. When he and Alo give me matching irritated looks, I can’t hold back a laugh. Grumps, the both o’ them.
Two minutes later, I’ve extricated myself from them after reassuring Iggy a half dozen times that I have no intention of killing my Louanna. Seems six-year-olds struggle with jokes andinnuendo. I suppose I should get used to that, living in Ever full-time.
