A Passion for Potions (Petalfall #1)

56. Fifty-Six - A Perfect Afternoon

Fifty-Six - A Perfect Afternoon

Viggo

Ana isn’t happy. Snuggled into my chest, she doesn’t say a word, and I won’t make her. It’s the middle of the afternoon and I’ll relish her presence, instead.

She’s soft and sweet and honestly, if this was a dream, I wouldn’t be surprised.

The hours tick by and she falls asleep at some point.

I do too.

The next time I wake, Penny is slipping underneath the sheets behind me.

A perfect afternoon.

He kisses my shoulder and Ana stretches, her lips finding my throat.

Everything is soft and hazy and when we lay tangled and sated afterward, Penny whispers. “What do you want for your birthday?”

My eyes snap open, because he’s not talking to me.

I smooth her hair out of her face. “It’s your birthday?”

Ana nods, sleepily. “Next week.”

“You should have told us.” Penny’s tone is soft and scolding.

“I would have... though, I should have guessed someone would tell you first. Petalfall is not without its gossips.” That makes her grimace and I kiss her to wipe it away.

“Did you not want them to tell us?”

“No, it’s not that.” She sighs and her breath flutters across my skin. “My mother heard about my plans for the shop and did not react in a... logical manner.”

“I’m sorry.”

Her lips manage to twist into a frown and a smile at the same time. “Me too.”

“You still haven’t answered the question,” Penny says sleepily from behind me.

“I never know how to.” Her sigh is so exasperated, it lifts her chest off the bed and she flops back like she’d like to flail.

Glancing at Penny, I lift her, scooting and rolling, until she’s in between us and we can look down at her from either side.

“If you don’t tell us what you want, we might guess wrong,” I say, picking up her hand and pressing my lips to her palm. “I could get you a phlegha fish?”

“You would not.” She rests her head on Penny’s shoulder as she laughs at me. “Where would you put it so that it wouldn’t eat someone?”

“Good point. A cockatrice then?”

“No pets.” Penny says as Ana shakes her head furiously.

“Especially not ones that bite!” She giggles against Penny’s shoulder and then sighs. “What do you want for your birthday?”

“Elves only celebrate every twelve years.” Penny says, stroking her cheek.

“I get him pearls.” I pretend to whisper to her.

“I’m sure you do.” Her fingers tangle in the strands he never takes off. “How often do vampires celebrate their birthdays?”

“Oh, every year, but we go all-out every three. And Kirra always sends some random thing from our parents’ belongings. She usually writes a note with a long drawn out reasoning for why. But I think she’s just offloading the attic on me.”

She laughs and I drink in the sound.

“Penny gets me a bottle of Perarin Wine.”

Her brows twist, but her confusion clears quickly. “He drinks it and you drink him…”

“And for a few hours we stare at the face of the Goddess together.”

“I’m sorry I won’t be able to join you in that.”

Because the particular tipple only affects Elves’ blood.

“We could plan a trip to the city to get you anything you desire, Ana. Magical or mundane... it’s yours.”

“I don’t want to go to the city.”

“It’s not so bad, in the right company.” Kissing her knuckles, I slide closer to her. “But we won’t make you go. I’ll slip away one night and collect whatever it is you desire. Dorrian will help.”

She smiles, but it falters after a moment and I know a memory when I see one.

“We used to have a royal contract, actually.” She yawns into her hand. “My father had to deliver it personally and every time he came back, he brought these candies... I don’t even know what they were.”

“What did they look like?” I ask as Penny asks, “What did they taste like?”

She almost looks embarrassed to say, “They looked like apricots... but... if someone had made them out of jelly and coated them in a soft and sour dust.”

“I think we can find those for you.” And if we can’t, I’ll set Kirra on the task... she’ll know.

I meet Penny’s eyes over her head and I know... he has plans already.