Chapter 15
Leif
I can’t believe I let Addy talk me into this. Brann was happy to give me an extra day off—to “adjust to my new reality,” as he said with a wink. I bristled, but spending another day tucked into bed with Addy is a dream come true.
Now though, after another snowfall, Addy wants to build community.
So we’re out here, shoveling snow for the neighbors, instead of me eating her out and playing with the tentacle dildo.
“Okay, I think I’m ready for a break,” Addy says, huffing as she stumbles up to me.
Her cheeks are flushed from the cold and exertion, and she looks so pretty.
She’s pulled off her knit hat, so her hair is disheveled, reminding me of waking her up this morning with my tongue.
“Five houses before breakfast. I think that is worthy of a break. Want to head home?” I waggle my eyebrows at her. She laughs out clouds as I take her shovel and put it in the bed of the truck.
“I thought we’d go to Moonlit Grounds.” Fine. I don’t grumble, but help her into the truck.
Moonlit Grounds is fine. Delicious, in fact. It just means we can’t eat naked. And Ravena has a way of seeming to know exactly what I need, in a way that I do not appreciate.
The café bustles. We aren’t the only citizens happy not to be snowed in. The veranda is wrapped in gold and green ribbons. There’s a group of carolers singing just outside; their frosty voices obviously have a jovial effect on all the patrons.
This is the first time I’ve been in town since the Solstice Festival. Everyone is happy to clap me on the back and praise me for my ‘Santa services,’ as one mother put it. Addy giggles next to me, making my cheeks darken even more. If they only knew.
“Hello, my good-deed-ers! I see you’ve been busy today!” Ravena says, cheery in her apron that says, All brew, no bite. “One peppermint mocha for Leif, and one special chai for Addy. And two ham and Manchego croissants, on the house for all your shoveling efforts.”
Addy looks perplexed at the interaction. “How do you know I like chai?” she asks, almost in a whisper.
Ravena just answers with a wink. “I see the Solstice worked its magic for you.”
When we sit down, the crowd has thinned a bit, and we’re able to enjoy our meal.
Addy leans forward, whispering, “At the party, Ravena said the Solstice magic heard what my heart wanted. I think she means you.” She smiles delicately, happy with her revelation, but still unsure of what to think of Ravena.
None of us quite knows what to think of Ravena.
“That sounds like something she’d say,” I answer with a shrug.
It seems everyone in town has a story about Ravena.
Cryptic conversations. Drinks that make one feel a little funny, right before something big happens in their life—or a special someone enters.
“I think you have to decide to believe what you want with her. She could be a really enthusiastic fan of romance and brewing tea and coffee. Or she could be a meddling witch.” I rip into my croissant. The tangy Manchego is perfect.
“You’re so wise. And so nonchalant about someone possibly being super nosy.”
“Someone’s got to keep a cool level head over the idea of love potions and meddling Solstice magic and ornaments that bring true love’s kiss, like some fairy tale.”
She snorts a laugh and drinks her chai. Her hair, still slightly disheveled from our driveway clearing work, shines in the sun.
Her cheeks have warmed; they are now a plump, rosy pink, matching her mittens.
I have to pinch myself that she is really here, sitting with me, having breakfast with me. How did I get so lucky?
After a while, Luca comes by to clear our plates and deliver a hot apple turnover with two forks.
It’s been interesting watching Ravena’s mate navigate our small-town life.
He’s approached living and working here with gusto, and while werewolves aren’t my favorite creature—too many close encounters with wolves in the mountains—Luca seems to essentially be a golden retriever.
“Ravena wanted to gift this to the both of you. She says, and I quote, ‘True love’s kiss is not some fairy tale.’” He grins a cheesy grin at us both. “Enjoy!”
“Oof. You didn’t tell me she had supersonic hearing. Is she human?”
“There’s no telling in Moonfang. It’s best just to enjoy the pastry and not think too hard about whether it contains a potion.”
“Well, I’m already in love, so I suppose there’s no harm.”
Now it’s my turn to give Addy a ridiculously cheesy grin. I can tell from her surprised reaction that I’ve nailed it. My cheeks feel weird; I can’t remember the last time I smiled this wide.
“I need to talk to Poppy about crashing in her spare bedroom for a while, after I pack up my things at university.” We’re bouncing down the road in my truck. Her sentence has me slamming on the brakes.
“What? Why?”
Addy sighs a sigh that says, don’t overreact.
“Well, I have to complete my paperwork for dropping out, and pick up my things. But I don’t have enough savings to put a deposit down on a place here.
So I figure I’ll stay with Poppy, help with the baby, until I can get a job and my own place.
” As an afterthought she grumbles, “Probably end up working at Stone Barrel Brewery.”
“There’s no reason for you to stay with them—unless you really want to.” My fingers drum the edge of the steering wheel, trying to assess my best move here, like in a game of chess.
“Where else would I stay?” My head snaps to her. Her voice, light and airy, matches her big doe eyes blinking at me.
“Are you—are you messing with me?” My heartrate increases. The edge of her mouth curves ever so slightly. Oh. I like this coy, playful Addy. Letting out a growl, her pulse flutters on the side of her neck.
“I wouldn’t say I’m messing with you. More like, trying to suss out what’s realistic.
It doesn’t make sense to assume I can stay with you and the Quill family.
After all, it might be too crowded.” As she speaks, I lean toward her, a low growl still in my throat.
When she finishes, she rolls her lips in, a giveaway that she’s trying not to smile.
“I’d say, you’d better run. And if I catch you, then you’re staying with me. I’ll kick the Quills out if I have to. You’re mine, my mate. I need you to understand that deep in your bones. You belong with me.”
Her eyes soften at my words, but then she reaches behind her, opens the door, and practically falls out of the truck into the snowbank. By the time I’m out of the truck, she’s on her feet and attempting to run away, throwing snowballs at me as I get closer.
Tackling her in the snow, we’re both laughing and out of breath. I brush the loose hair out of her face and declare, “You’re mine. Always.”
She kisses me, but before we can get carried away, I haul her up and carry her to the truck. Don’t want her getting cold.
We make our way home. To our home. Whether it’s Solstice magic or a bewitched ornament that has brought us together, I know that what we have is true and long-lasting.