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I wondered how much extra jail time supporting the royal would cost me.

5

I giggled as Farley stepped behind me, pressing his enormous body seductively against mine. For someone who claimed to have no romantic experience, the genius bear shifter possessed some very smooth moves. His soft growl in my ear made me smile and moan. What he was doing made it nearly impossible to focus on what I was viewing through the window over the sink.

“Look at them. I think Peace likes Prince Robin far more than she wants to admit. She’s riding him in our backyard without even a saddle between them. He’s not a horse, for Goddess sake.”

“Why do you think he brought a saddle? Do he give rides to curse-attracted females to lure them into his bed?”

I turned to stare up at him. “No, the prince doesn’t seem like the sort to go around offering rides to people in his centaur form. He’s an intellectual like you. I’m sure being stuck in a centaur form is a true trial for him.”

“He might not deserve his fate, but I still don’t like him,” Farley declared. “And I certainly don’t want you imagining what it would be like to ride him with a saddle. If you want to ride a wild animal, I’ll change into my bear.”

I rolled my eyes. “Dude, stop with the man-drama. I saw a saddle when they checked in. It’s a large fancy leather one. When I discovered that Alfred was a lesser fairy beneath his rabbit exterior, my mind took a completely different direction. I thought perhaps they might have a secret relationship that his family disapproves of.”

“Do they?” Farley asked hopefully.

I shrugged my shoulders. “I’m uncertain, but I don’t believe that’s the case. Even if it were, I’m not a witch who judges. ‘And it harm none’ applies to everything in my worldview of life. An innkeeper’s job is to respect a guest's privacy and ensure their stay is comfortable. I’m going to do that for as long as I’m doing this job.”

Farley sighed into my ear and lifted his head to look where I was looking. “She looks miserable. Should I go rescue the princess?”

I laughed. “No, Peace needs to suffer. Plus, she is doing precisely what I asked her to do. Although technically, I suggested she take Prince Robin for a walk. Riding the prince bareback never occurred to me.”

“Is she doing it because she’s under his spell?” Farley asked.

I shook my head. “No, I think Peace is immune to the curse. The fairy queen did this to him. Worse, her mother convinced Peace that she owes me a debt because of Ethan. She’s manipulating both of them. While I don’t think her intentions are malicious, she still needs to sever her emotional attachment to them getting together. Attraction is either there or it isn’t. Robin is too much of a brainiac for her. Peace is too much of a socializing free spirit. When Paul’s around, Peace goes out to dance with him. Enjoying life is Peace’s default setting.”

“You’re saying they’re as different as you and me,” Farley said quietly.

“Except that we have a lot of chemistry. And I like our differences. You’re the most interesting male I’ve ever met.”

His arms tightened around me as I studied the couple for a long moment. Robin said something over his shoulder, and Peace laughed a bit. Then she ran her hands down his hair and gripped it at the point on his back where it turned into his mane. Maybe they had more chemistry than she was willing to admit to him or herself.

Robyn chuckled as she slid off his back and to the ground. Showing he had at least a little game, he reached out and took her hand in his. After staring at her for a long time, he pulled her along as he walked. They headed down the trail back to Assjacket. I hoped they wouldn’t go too far.

“They seem to really like each other. I don’t hate him when he’s with her.”

I smiled and leaned back in his giant arms. “Their families betrothed them to each other when they were children. Peace claims that she and Robin are only friends. If Alfred is right about the prince choosing to abstain until he marries, Peace has been living a far more adventurous social life than him. The point of the curse seems to be to force Prince Robyn to give in to his baser urges and catch up a bit with her. I can even see why the fairy queen would think that was a good idea, but it’s too much pressure.”

“Yes, well, that curse could also get him killed. Love and lust potions are fickle. That’s how my brothers and I came to be. My evil witch mother tested a love potion on Dad Charlie. As infants, we were dropped off at Dad Chuck’s door by mistake. Dad Chuck said he kept us and raised us because we smelled like family. Mom Hildy and Dad Chuck almost didn’t get together because of us.”

“Luckily, things worked out for them in the end for them, though, right? Carol said they were the most loving couple she’d ever known. The Baba Yaga loved your Mom Hildy like a sister.”

Farley nodded. “It was Mom Hildy who figured out that Dad Charlie was our biological father. But when I think of it now, I realize that the whole town raised us. That’s one reason all three of us keep coming back to Assjacket to help everyone. All the people in the town are our family.”

I reached up and placed my hand against his cheek. “I’m so glad your evil birth mother dropped you off with your real family. If your birth mother hadn’t done that horrible, terrible thing to your dads, I never would have met you. I truly believe creating you and your brothers was the best mistake any magical could ever make. You can believe me, Farley, because I’ve made a lot of mistakes that did not turn out well.”

My heart leaped when I glimpsed a hint of fang in his smile. I really, really liked him. Farley could have been any creature, and I would have liked him just as much. It was his heart and caring that drew me. He was a better person than I could ever hope to be. I found him inspiring.

Farley covered my hand on his cheek with one of his own. “When I first dreamed of you, Auntie Carol promised to help me find you. Despite being The Baba Yaga, she became a more significant part of our lives after Mom Hildy died. She’s been there for Zelda, too, and I can tell you that hasn’t been easy for anyone. My brothers and I got lucky that our mutual birth mother abandoned us because she kept Zelda and messed with her head. Zelda is still healing from her crappy childhood.”

“I’ve heard a lot of stories about her, but never met her. I greatly admire Carol for not giving up.”

“Zelda is mostly a good person and a very successful Shifter Whisperer. Mom Hildy would have been very proud of her work with the people in town.” Farley winced as he ran a hand through his hair. “So I guess you also know Carol is dating Zelda’s dad, Fabio. Well, Fabio is also Mom Hildy’s younger brother. No matter how much I ponder the explanation, my family’s story is too complicated to explain clearly. I don’t normally share this much.”

“You don’t have to worry about me. Carol constantly brags about her on-again, off-again relationship with Fabio. She seems pretty content with him now, and I envy her. Not every career woman finds that kind of support in a lover. I certainly never have.”

“Until now,” Farley said as he raised one finger.