I sit and sip more of the delicious thyme-and-apple cider as Rom grins sadly.
The cider’s scent fills my nose, and I try to ignore the pixie younglings at the next table. They’re eyeing Rom from the back, likely making jokesabout what they believe is his hunchback. I wouldn’t care if Rom had a twisted back. He would be just as beautiful to me because he is so kind and easy-going.
Tully bumps past the younglings and scowls at them. “Behave, little pricks, or I will make you behave!” She whips her wand out and tips it up menacingly.
Maybe I do consider her a friend. She’s pretty great sometimes.
“Hey, you two,” she says, coming close to me. “How was the fitting?”
“Very good,” Rom says in that rumbling voice that has me clenching my thighs together.
Kaya’s assistant comes around, gathering cups and dishes. She takes Rom’s empty one, and he looks up to say thank you while Tully leans close to whisper in my ear.
“Did you get a better look at him at Plum’s?” she asks.
“He has wings.”
Tully shifts back a step and gasps.
Rom turns his attention back to us. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing!” Tully and I both say far too loudly.
I can’t see Rom’s black eyebrows,but I would bet one is raised in suspicion. He has to know we were talking about him.
The door to Two Cats Bakery jingles again, and this time, it’s not someone I’m on the fence about about them being friend or foe. It’s Leo.
“Fucking cunt,” Tully spits out.
I choke on my mouthful of cider, and Rom reaches for me, taking the cup.
“You all right? Want to go?” he asks so quietly that I’m sure no one but Tully and I can hear.
“Yes, please.”
I can’t deal with him and Rom. Leo will make some big scene. And Tully will try to help and only make it so much worse. We’ll have an epic drama happening right here in Kaya’s delightful bakery if we don’t leave. Now.
Rom and I stand up, and Tully stuffs a packet of something that smells spicy into my hand.
“Make a tea with this,” she whispers. “For you both when you get back to your workshop. It will calm your nerves.”
I want to question her, but Leo is making the rounds, his stupid voice carrying over the meows of the maplecats and the bang of pans coming from the bakery’s kitchen. I just want to leave.
I squeeze the packet of tea, and the scent of licorice tickles my nose. “Thank you.”
I lead Rom in a circuitous route around the bakery’s other tables and patrons until we are safely outside in the chilly breeze. Yellow and brown leaves dance through the sunlight, and I take in a full breath of non-Leo-contaminated air.
Rom doesn’t say anything as we maneuver through town and head back to my place. His silence is so comfortable, though, like a velvet blanket on a snowy night. It’s exactly what I need right now to calm my pounding heart.
At my door, I open the entrance wide and gesture for Rom to come inside. “I wish I didn’t let him get to me so much.”
Rom looks back toward his tower, then at the interior of my shop and house.
“Tully gave me a calming tea for us to share,” I say. “Let’s have just one mug, and then we can call it a day.”
Nodding, Rom joins me inside. Once I shut the door, he sweeps off his cloak and stretches his wings wide.
“It’s nice to have one ally here,” he says, and those glittering eyes of his turn my body into a pool ofmelted butter.
