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Valeen crossed one leg over the other and drummed her fingernails on the wooden armrests. “I don’t want you to get it wrong, Hel has done terrible things. I’m not going to tell you otherwise. But he has reasons, and it’s namely because of the group of people who’ve been hunting and killing us for two thousand years now.”

“This council you spoke of. Will they come here?” She twisted the poison berry necklace out of habit.

“They will. They’ve already sent their assassins. More will come. If things get bad in the city and I ask you to leave, I want you to go back to Briar Hollow. You should be safe there.”

“I’m not one to run from a fight.”

“I know, but this will be worse than anything Palenor has ever seen. The pale ones are insignificant compared to the army the council could gather. I don’t ask much of you, but I would ask this.”

“Fine, if you tell me to go, I will.”

“Good.”

Katana approached her with a drink in each hand. “That was so sweet. I could see the love radiating off you both. Your aura is more pink and purple tonight, even Hel has some pink. Ugh.” She did a dramatic dip backward of her head, pretending to faint. “I’m rather jealous of such a love. It’s one of a kind.” She pressed a glass into Valeen’s hand.

Katana’s ability to see auras was fascinating. She’d never met anyone else that could. “Thank you.” She took the drink and glanced at the front entrance. “Do you know what they’re doing?”

“I don’t have the faintest idea.”

Aunt Evalyn raised a fist at Leif behind the bar. “Hey! No one is allowed back there but me. I’ll see you later.” She hurried off just as Leif quickly poured himself a drink.

“I know what they’re doing!” Tif tottered over carrying a white frosted cupcake with a shimmer of lavender on top.

“How?”

“I know everything,” Tif said and bit into the cupcake. “One of the perks of being small is being able to sneak around and listen to conversations without anyone knowing. It’s a wonderful surprise. I wondered where he snuck off to the other day, but I got my answer. I keep track of everyone.”

Valeen crossed her arms. “Well, now I have to know.”

“You’ll find out in a few minutes. As hard as it is for me to keep my trap shut, I won’t be the one to ruin the surprise. I know you said this wedding was spontaneous but maybe only to you. I think Hel has had this secretly planned for a while now.”

Considering the gowns, flowers, and decor he’d managed to conjure up from the aether, Tif was right.

She turned around and waved at the food tables. At first, Valeen only saw the two-tiered vanilla poppy seed cake intended for the menu tonight, but caught a pair of tiny black boots poking out from under the white tablecloth.

“Tif, you actually brought someone?”

She stamped her foot then pointed at the ground beside her. The tablecloth lifted, then a small brown hat followed by a bushy copper beard and a pair of big eyes peeked out from under the linen. “He’s being shy. I told him not to worry about the jumbos at this party.”

“This is the date you decided to bring?” Valeen asked, smiling. The gnome boy pulled at his suspenders, snapped them against his chest, then winced.

“He is.” She grinned and licked her cupcake. “The gnome colony isn’t far from here if you know a quick hare to give you a ride.”

Talking to birds and riding on hares, her small lady’s maid kept surprising her. “You rode on the back of a hare?”

“Course. It’s not as fast as a bird but my date won’t ride birds. He thinks it’s scary.”

Katana and Valeen smiled at one another. “I remember when you wouldn’t come near any jumbos besides me, Tifapine.”

“He said he has liked me since we were fourteen. You reminded me of him earlier, he’s the very same one I threw mud at for trying to kiss me. But if he likes me, he should do what I ask.” She pointed at her side and stomped her boot.

Katana stooped down to her level. “Perhaps you should go take his hand and bring him over here. What is his name?”

“Tommy. Well, it’s Tombuckle but I call him Tommy.”

Katana stood and nudged Valeen’s shoulder. “Tommy and Tifapine,” she crooned. “That is the most adorable thing ever.”

“Yes, Tif, help him be brave. I’m sure it’s intimidating for him.”