Chapter 7
Seven
About a month later
AMAZRA
The sun has dipped below the horizon when I exit the bakery.
Equally spaced streetlamps along the sidewalk provide adequate illumination for general purposes.
In the town square, which sits between the divided main street, additional lighting has been added this evening.
Soft white string lights wrap the gazebo and hang between trees.
Several spotlights on posts shine on the area where the event is set up.
At the perimeter of the park, a bright-pink banner hangs between two lampposts, bearing the words “Community Bingo Night! Come One, Come All!” in thick, hand-painted yellow letters bordered in a white ruffle motif.
Lilah created the banner and the event. Updating me of its details in our daily conversations has brought constant lightness to her expressive face and voice for several weeks.
I alone am responsible for the single moment that light dimmed.
“The first game starts at 7:30. I’ll see you there?” she said on her way out of the bakery earlier today.
“My work here is unlikely to be completed by that time.”
That is when the joy left her expression. She simply responded with, “Okay” before exiting.
Dauphine did not hesitate in berating me after the door closed.
First, in human English, then in the elven language, presumably for the purpose of using words my kitchen assistant would not understand.
Words only an adversary—or a well-meaning friend—would speak.
She concluded her extensive and colorful commentary on my ignorance and low intelligence with stern instructions to attend the bingo event.
The air in the town parkette is abuzz with voices and laughter. Folding tables have been placed end to end, forming two sections of multiple short rows. Each setting has six plastic chairs, all of them full except one.
The only empty chair is located at the end of a row of females, all of whom are friends with Lilah. As it is likely the vacant seat is meant for another member of the friend group she has amassed, I turn away from the gathering.
“Yoo-hoo, Amazra.”
Pausing my retreat, I look over my shoulder toward the voice.
“Come join us,” Lexi Goodwin says, green fingers patting the available chair next to her.
Seated on her other side, Dauphine smiles at me.
As does every other female in the row. Holly, the fox shifter who gave Lilah a home and helped connect her with the job at the veterinary clinic.
Terra, the wood nymph who operates a clothing store where Lilah shops.
Flora, the fairy who owns a store with a variety of goods and trinkets that Lilah and many others seem to favor.
Moving toward the available spot, my focus shifts to the gazebo ahead, where Lilah stands at a small table. From her position on the elevated structure, she smiles at me while turning the handle on a gold wire cage full of small, brightly colored balls.
“Nice to see you out among mortalkind,” Lexi says as I settle on the chair.
“What is this?” I ask when she hands me an unusual writing implement with a bulbous lid.
“Your dabber. For marking your card when you have the numbers that are called out. You missed the how-to-play instructions because you’re late.” Her disapproval is evident in the tsk sound she makes.
“Lilah has explained the rules in detail.”
“An advance bingo lesson from our lovely host? Well, aren’t you just the luckiest demon in town.” She waves me off before I have the opportunity to tell her that my conversations with Lilah have nothing to do with the false notion of luck.
On the platform, Lilah unlocks the cage and withdraws one ball. “B-13,” she calls, loudly enough for all present to hear.
All around me, the assembled townspeople focus on the small cards placed in front of them. Some of them use the dabber implements to mark their cards, others do not, expressing their disappointment in a variety of excited and good-natured ways.
“Dab your card,” Lexi says.
“I do not have B-13.”
“Yes, you do.”
When I review my game board, B-13 is there. But it should not be. I committed all numbers to memory the first time I looked at it. “I am certain that square was B-3.”
“You must’ve read it wrong,” she says, reaching over and dabbing my card.
“I do not make mistakes.”
The witch cackles. Beside her, Dauphine leans forward and smiles at me. My attendance seems to have banished her earlier irritation.
The game continues with Lilah calling out numbers in quick succession. This would not afford me much time to enjoy watching her if I had to check my card. Fortunately, none of the numbers she calls correspond to my game board.
“You missed another one,” Lexi says. “Two, actually. I-29 and G-54.”
I force my eyes from Lilah when Lexi taps her purple fingernail against my game board. But I am unable to protest because the numbers are right in front of me on the card. “Those numbers were not there before.”
“Whatever you say.” Lexi motions at the implement in my hand. “Dab.”
I apply the pink sponge tip to the designated spaces, then return my gaze to Lilah as she withdraws the next ball from the tumbling cage.
“N-32!”
“Hey,” Lexi says, nudging my arm. “That’s you.”
A downward glance proves she is correct, though she should not be. “You are doing this. You are using magic to change the numbers on my card.”
One arched black eyebrow raised, she holds my gaze while dabbing the number that was not on my card prior to Lilah calling it.
“O-69,” Lilah calls.
“Well, isn’t that the perfect number for you to win the game? A big O and some 69,” Lexi says, once again tapping my card. “Dab and call bingo.”
“I am not declaring victory as I did not win. You cheated and manipulated the outcome, though I do not know why.”
“So you could win the prize, of course.” Lexi tilts her head toward the gazebo. Toward Lilah. “And so she could. Now stand up and call bingo. With some enthusiasm would be nice, but we’ll take what we can get. Right, ladies?”
The other females at the table are leaning forward and looking at me. Smiling. Nodding.
“Trust the process,” Dauphine says.
I do not know what process she is referring to, but I trust the elf who has become more than a valued employee.
Everyone within the scope of my vision stares as I rise, the buzz of conversation and laughter dissolving into silence. They are unaccustomed to my presence at gatherings.
In the gazebo, Lilah stops spinning the cage mechanism. Her gaze, like all the others, rests on me.
A slight breeze lifts the ends of her long, dark hair. The temptation to inhale deeply and pull her scent into me burns hot and demanding, but I resist. Instead, I focus. Listen to her heartbeat gain speed. Observe the rapid rise and fall of her soft, full breasts.
“Amazra?” My name falling from her lips is what pushes me to distraction.
I cannot stop myself from imagining my name on her breath as I pleasure her in all the ways that consume my nightly thoughts.
But it is Dauphine whispering my name under her breath at a volume only species with very sensitive hearing might detect that pulls me from my trancelike state. “Maz. Say bingo.”
“Bingo.”
“You have bingo?” Lilah asks, her eyes opening wide. Her lips curve into a high smile as she motions me to come forward. “Bring your card.”
Much giggling rises from my tablemates. Low conversation among the small crowd resumes as I walk toward the gazebo, climb the wide steps, and stand in front of Lilah with the card outstretched.
Her gaze follows the line of dabbed numbers. “Wow, this is incredible.”
Tightness grips my midsection. A physical sensation I should not experience, yet is undeniably present. I remain still, waiting for the witchcraft to unravel and reveal the fabricated victory.
“In all the years I’ve played bingo, I’ve never seen anyone win so quickly. I’m glad it was you,” she says, lifting her gaze to meet mine. “I didn’t think you were coming tonight.”
“I did not realize that asking if you would see me here was an invitation because you desired my attendance. After you left, Dauphine explained my failure in communication.”
“Then I’ll make sure to thank her for setting you straight.
And of course, I want you here. I would’ve thought that was pretty obvious by now.
” The muted lighting does not hide the color rising in her cheeks.
Clearing her throat, she turns her attention to the assembled group.
“Congratulations to our first winner of the evening! Let’s give Amazra a round of applause while he draws his prize! ”
“I do not require a prize,” I say as the echo of clapping fills the air.
“It’s part of the fun, Amazra. Just stick your hand in and pull out a paper. If you get the Just Baked gift certificate you donated, toss it back in and pull again.” Holding a decorated bag open, she uses head gestures to encourage my participation.
Denying her this simple joy would truly make me a monster.
Holding her gaze, I insert my hand in the bag.
There is no physical contact between us, yet my hellfire core flares as visions of sliding my fingers inside her flash through my mind.
Every day, every moment, my desire grows.
It is torment. Yet I do not want it to end.
“What did you get?” Dauphine calls from her seat at the table.
Forcing my attention from Lilah, I unfold the crisp paper and read its contents aloud. “Dinner for two at Charming Bites.”
Many of the attendees applaud. Others verbally express their appreciation of the prize, and some, their envy. Charming Bites is a small restaurant that I have often heard my customers refer to as intimate and romantic.
Nodding, I descend the steps and return to the table.
“Awesome prize,” Lexi says as I resume my seat. Her black eyebrows wiggle above shining green eyes. “Make the most of it.”