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Niera opened her mouth to politely refuse, but Annise shot up in her chair and nodded.

“Niera needs a companion.”

“Um, Annise, I live a nomadic lifestyle. Surely a cat would want a place to settle down and call her own.” Oh, mental slap. Why on Earth was she talking about a cat as she would a potential match? “Besides, I spend much of my time hiking and camping and, you know”—Niera glowered at her friend, silently reminding her she preferred forests over houses—“being away from home.”

“Well,” Jordan began, placing Holly back on the floor. The cat stretched her back, tail flicking languidly in the air, and settled at Niera’s feet. Jordan lifted her brows. “Let me know if you change your mind. She appears pretty set on staying with you.”

The woman hustled away, scooping up another cat from the sofa as she headed to room off the main area of the shop. A dozen or more cats, seen through a large window, were draped, sprawled, or stretched out over all surfaces within this cat room.

Annise leaned over the table in a conspiratorial manner, excitement glowing in her eyes. “Jordan’s a cat whisperer. She can talk to cats and they talk to her.”

“Like you.”

“No. I can’t actuallyspeakwith animals. It’s more of an understanding of their emotions and a connection with them.”

Niera nodded, fighting the pull to look down at Holly. Part of her spirit wanted to ignore the softening she felt toward the creature while her logical inner voice reminded her she was in no way, shape, or form equipped to take in a domesticated animal. It wasn’t that she disliked cats or dogs, but they needed stability. Shelter, food, water, vet care. Niera believed animals belonged in the wild, free to live as they chose, but understood many domesticated breeds would never survive.

How would Niera handle being tied to one place, her freedoms leeched?

I’d shrivel up and disappear.

Not literally, but she’d become nothing more than a shell of a fae.

Returning to her coffee, she sipped the lukewarm drink. “Tell me about this guy you want me to investigate for you.”

Annise’s entire demeanor shifted to what Niera could only describe as star-struck.

“Oh, Niera, wait until you meet him. He’s handsome and kind and has a sense of humor that’ll make your sides stitch from laughing so hard. He’s so carefree and easygoing. Loves the ocean, but also maintains a garden at his house. He’s so perfect that I can’t possibly imagine himnotbeing my match.” Annise’s eyes rolled to the ceiling as she sighed dreamily. “He’s got this dimple on the right side of his mouth that is utterly fascinating when he smiles.”

“When do you want me to meet him?”

The sooner, the better.

There was only so much sea she could handle, as evidenced by her increasingly gloomy mood. The poor temper was completely at odds with her usual kind, gentle, and loving self.

“He’s teaching a class right now, but is usually done by two. I can settle you in at my place in the meantime.”

Settling in wouldn’t take long. She always packed light, not that her wardrobe extended beyond a couple pairs of jeans, T-shirts, sweatshirts, and sneakers. She replaced her few simple possessions as needed.

“We’re planning on meeting up before the Christmas Parade and grabbing some pizza slices from Pie in the Sky. It’ll be a real casual way for you to meet him for the first time.”

“Sounds like a plan,” Niera said, finishing her coffee in one large gulp.

A worried crease furrowed Annise’s brow and her smile dimmed. “I know how much you hate the ocean. You told me that your fae blood repels it, for either magical reasons or personal. We can stop at Eye of Newt next door. It’s a really neat metaphysical shop. There might be something to help you counter the effects.” Her friend reached across the table and grabbed her hands. “Having you agree to come here means the world to me. I can’t tell you how much I appreciate it, how much our friendship means. You always strive to make everyone around you happy. I’m not blind to the fact that it takes a toll on you. You know, maybe this Christmas you should put others aside and consider your own happiness.”

Niera turned her hands over in Annise’s grip and squeezed her friend’s fingers. Annise’s heartfelt words filled her with adoration, a reminder of why she would do anything for the pixie.

“I’ve never been good at finding someone to compliment me. My gift extends to others. I can’t use it on myself. Seeing happiness form between two people fills me with my own sense of completion.”

And disappointment, but she’d never admit that to anyone. Giving so much of herself to others depleted her until she replenished her magic and energy with a respite in the forest. It was one of the main reasons it had taken her almost thirty years to the day to complete the Fates’ honored—though she didn’t consider it honored when failure to complete one-hundred matches by the last day of the twenty-ninth year would leave her cursed to loneliness for eternity—assignment.

Annise patted the backs of her hands and drew away, a touch of deviousness crossing her pretty face. “Well, maybe this is your year. Your season. Your Christmas for a wish to come true.”

Niera dredged up a smile and a lighthearted laugh. “You know as well as I do that’s not how things work with me. I can wish for love all I want, but that love manifests itself between two other people, never me and a possible match.”

Holly tapped Niera’s ankle with her paw, the touch gentle, almost soothing. Reluctantly, she looked down at the pretty cat, currently on her back, belly exposed, hind legs stretched out like she owned the floor. Those green eyes peered up at her with more understanding than she’d ever expect to see in a domesticated animal. A twinkle, like she knew exactly what bothered Niera, and held the secret to solving her dilemma.

“Whatever. I propose a challenge to you. But first”—Annise pushed her empty coffee mug away and stood up—“let’s get you something to ward off the effects of the ocean and get a glimpse of your future.”