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Frosting Cums in All Flavors…

Q: How many showers does it take to feel clean after falling into a wheelbarrow full of horse poop?

A: More than twenty.

After getting home from the Atwood ranch the previous day, Harry scrubbed her skin raw and used every ounce of soap in her possession plus everything beneath the sink, but it wasn’t until Nora brewed up one of her magical bath bombs that the manure stench finally dissipated and the older witch deemed her appropriate for public inhalation.

Ten minutes into Nora’s shopping errands, Harry wished the stink back and longed for the cozy confines of her bedroom back at Pierce House.

The customary smile and wave that came with living in a community like Fates Haven was exhausting. Her cheeks ached from contorting her face into one smile after another, and her right wrist tingled with a carpal tunnel flare. In New York, it was walk and dodge, and absolutely no eye contact. On the other hand, watching Grace’s amazement as Nora stopped and chatted with person after person, addressing them each by name, was amusing as hell and brought a smirk to Harry’s lips.

“What?” Grace turned her attention toward her.

“Just watching you watch Nora. I’m used to this, but it’s fun seeing someone experiencing it for the first time.”

“When she said shopping excursion, I thought we’d actually be shopping. You know, receiving goods with the exchange of money.” She glanced at her single bag from the indie bookstore, Judge a Book By Its Cover. “When do we reach the shopping part of this excursion?”

“Oh, my dear, sweet, ill-informed Grace. Nora’s shopping is a full-fledged social event sprinkled with a few purchases here and there. She’s only getting started,” Harry teased.

Nora said her goodbyes to yet another neighbor and turned to them expectantly. “After all this shopping, I think we deserve a sweet treat. What do you two think?”

A pair of speed walkers zipped by, each nodding their hellos as they raced by at vampiric speed, pints of O-negative energy slushies sloshing in their tumblers.

“I think I’m in a Stepford Twilight Zone,” Grace joked dryly.

Nora chuckled, looping her arm through the teen’s. “Nope. You’re just in Fates Haven.”

“Are people always so… weird?”

The older witch looked confused. “Weird?”

Harry bit her lower lip to keep from laughing. “I think she means friendly .”

“Are people not friendly in New York?”

“Not like this,” Grace admitted. “We only acknowledge our neighbor once or twice a year when their mail accidentally gets stuck in our box. Except for that Halloween rager they held one time. Harry body-slammed their door in her pj’s and flipped her witch switch. If they ever held a party again, they invited mimes.”

Nora tsked, leading them down the boulevard. “That is a crying shame. Fates Haven isn’t without its issues, especially in the last decade or so, but for the most part, the people of the Haven are well-intentioned, well-mannered, and well-meaning.”

“What’s been happening in the last decade?” Grace asked curiously.

Harry studied her aunt carefully, curious about the answer herself. When she’d left Fates Haven, the older witch made a Witch’s Oath to keep Fates business—and news about anyone from it—in Fates. All the not-knowing had been ridiculously difficult in the beginning, but the clean break was necessary. If Harry had been regaled with story after story about home, there would have been no way she would’ve been able to keep her distance—much less her heart—intact.

“I suppose you could say that the town’s been a little down on its luck,” Nora answered thoughtfully. “Thirteen years ago, especially at this time of year, these streets were crammed with tourists shoulder to shoulder, both supernaturals and humans, soaking in the magical atmosphere and gearing up for the Fates Festival. Now? Not so much.”

“Why did people stop coming?” Grace asked.

Nora shrugged her narrow shoulders. “Unfortunately, they haven’t felt the need, but between you, me, and my tarot cards? Something is shifting in the air. I’m not sure what yet, but change is on the periphery, and it won’t stay there for much longer. Ah! Here we go. The perfect place for a pick-me-up.”

She held open a very pink door and ushered them into Sugar Tits and her apron, probably one of dozens she owned, was splattered with flour and sugar and read Frosting Cums In All Flavors and judging by the fishlike opening and closing of her mouth, she recognized Harry, too.

Elodie Quinn. Her once-upon-a-time literal wing woman, best friend, and angelic ass kicker extraordinaire.

And Jax’s Fated Mate.

Harry summoned her emotional battle armor and quickly superglued it in place, but she wasn’t quick enough. That mass of muscle behind her sternum quivered, the severe ache making it near impossible to breathe without conscious effort and focus.

El looked as if she’d stepped out of a photograph from thirteen years ago. She wore a pretty pink sundress that worked with her curves and flared out at her hips. Anyone who didn’t know the angel would think her flirty and twirly, when in reality, the only time she twirled was to put someone in a headlock and make them scream for mercy.

Next to her, and staring openly with a whole slew of emotions fluttering over her timeless face, was Lennox. Her pink hair was done in a retro-forties pinup style, and she wore what looked to be snug brown leather pants and a torso-hugging tank top that fully displayed her seer’s tattoos—quite a few more had been added to her collection through the years.

Harry offered a shy, awkward wave as Sanjay called for everyone’s attention.

Lenny and Elodie reluctantly turned to the front, their heads bent toward each other as they whispered. Harry couldn’t help herself. As if her neck possessed some kind of magnet, her head turned back toward a stoic Jax.

Except he didn’t look exceptionally stoic, and he no longer looked toward the front of the room but right at her, his gaze more potent than a supersonic seat warmer. Heat flooded her body, so intense she forced her gaze away and focused it on the fire alarm over Nora’s right shoulder.

Why weren’t Jax and Elodie sitting beside each other? The seat on the angel’s right was open, but he made no move to join his Mate or her friend.

Harry scolded herself for letting her mind wander places it had no business side tripping. Fate made it obvious that Jax was not meant to be hers. It wasn’t her concern or right to ask questions about his relationship with Elodie. Even if Harry asked those questions silently to herself.

Sanjay quickly brought the town council around to today’s agenda, which included next week’s meal sign-ups for the Midnight Movie. For the next fifteen minutes, Harry’s mind wandered to anything and everything except the two people on opposite sides of the room; but the more she avoided, the more aware she became, catching Elodie glancing over her shoulder a handful of times.

As the meeting wound down, Harry contemplated exit strategies that would get her out of the building quickly and with as little human interaction as possible. She prepped to move when from the end of the table, Nora cleared her throat, gaining everyone’s attention.

“I do believe we’re forgetting the last topic on today’s agenda.” Nora smiled innocently, but Harry knew that look. It was the one that appeared right before trouble followed.

“Shit,” Harry mumbled quietly, replanting her ass in her seat. What was that witch up to?

“If Sonia would kindly read back the minutes from our last meeting, I do believe we agreed to discuss the plans to reinstitute the Fates Festival.”

Harry’s mind blanked as her head snapped toward her aunt.

Sonia, the council’s meeting secretary, glanced through her notebook and nodded. “Yes, we did agree to tack it on to this week’s meeting.”

Sanjay’s lips tightened into a thin line. “Are we absolutely certain that bringing back the festival is a good idea?”

“What could possibly be bad about it?” Nora questioned.

“Using town funds to throw extravagant events that might not even do what we hope seems like a risky endeavor.”

“A risky endeavor would be not to attempt it.” Nora glanced over the crowd of citizens. “Fates Haven has slowly been getting new breath into its lungs, and I know I’m not alone when I say that there’s been something extra in the air as of late.”

“Wonky magics…” someone shouted.

“Unusual weather patterns,” another chimed.

A slew of murmured agreements trailed over the room.

“Yes. Yes, all of that, but we also have new businesses popping up. Our population has seen a slight increase for the first time in thirteen years. There’s no time like the present to make something that was once old new again.”

“And what are your thoughts about the Finding Ceremony, Nora?” Sanjay asked. “We can’t exactly have a Finding Ceremony without a Fate Witch, and as far as I’m aware, Remus Chardonnay is still missing in action since botching up the last one.”

Nora waved away the man’s concern. “While I’m not entirely giving up on the idea of a Ceremony, it’s not required to have one at a festival. Food. Drinks. Entertainment and games. What Fates Haven and its residents need most right now is to remember that we are one community. A family.”

“And our Midnight Movies don’t do that?”

“Sanjay, you know there’s always been something different about the Fates Festival. I say, at the very least, we continue with our plans for the Festival itself and incorporate a few of the newer entertainment events that were pitched to the council last meeting. I don’t know about you, but I loved the idea Elodie proposed about the Mud Runner.”

Sanjay sighed when nearly the entire audience nodded their agreements. “Fine. We’ll continue with plans to bring back the Fates Festival, but instead of the usual monthlong festivities, let’s give it a trial run at two weeks. I’ll leave the event choosing in your capable hands.”

Nora smiled happily. “Wonderful! I’ll choose seven and will post the sign-ups on the council website by the end of the day.”

Sanjay looked less cheerful. “And if that’s all?” He glanced around the quiet room before nodding. “Until next time, that’s a wrap for today.”

Overwhelmed with the knowledge that Nora had been planning to bring back the Fates Festival—and possibly the Finding Ceremony itself—Harry forgot all about her quick exit until it was too late.

Elodie and Lenny stood in front of her, the former looking awkward and as uncomfortable as Harry did, and the latter looking especially pissed, her arms across her chest and scowl firmly in place.

Maddox’s warning blared in her head.

“Do you think it’s really her?” Lenny stared but spoke pointedly to Elodie. “It could be a glamour like they use at that fae club in Denver. It’s barely been—what? Thirteen years? Do you think that’s enough ‘time’ Harry said she needed in her goodbye text?”

Elodie shot Lenny a stern look that drew the seer’s attention. “Really?”

“What? It’s a genuine question.”

“Do you think now’s the right time for that question?”

Lenny shrugged. “If not now, I wouldn’t know when.”

Elodie rolled her eyes and turned a small, reassuring smile Harry’s way. “Ignore her. She’s been snitting about for a few weeks now.”

“She’s good at ignoring,” Lenny murmured under her breath, only slightly loud enough for Harry to catch the gist.

She let it roll off her back, knowing it wasn’t anything she didn’t deserve. She did leave Fates Haven with vague, unhelpful texts, and then she’d spelled herself so no one could track her down. If the roles were reversed, she would’ve led the convo with that ass kicking Maddox mentioned.

Elodie, moving way too quickly for Harry’s eyes to register, yanked her into a bone-crushing hug. “You’re so lucky that I’m a lover and not a fighter, bitch.”

“Says the girl who wanted to start an underground fight ring in the ninth grade.” Tears welled in Harry’s eyes as she battled back a rush of emotions. “Breathing is starting to become an issue, El.”

“Shit. Sorry.” Elodie eased her hold but didn’t pull back for another few seconds. “And I still think the freshman fight club was a missed opportunity. Tell me you wouldn’t have loved an opportunity to kick Karen Pardon’s ass without any repercussions.”

Harry chuckled. “I guess it’s safe to say you’ve kept up with your training?”

“Youngest member of the Angelic Warrior Guard.” Her smile slowly dimmed. “I’m taking a bit of a break right now, though. Came back home to recharge and rejuvenate.”

Something told her there was a lot more to that story, but Harry kept the questions to herself. They’d been reunited for less than five minutes. She didn’t deserve to have all her questions answered after going AWOL on everyone thirteen years ago.

She snuck a look at a frowning Lennox. “Missed you, too, Lenny. I heard you’re doing well. Maddox told me about your tattoo shop and it sounds amazing. Can’t say I had you and him being business partners on my bingo card, though.”

“We haven’t killed each other yet, so that’s a plus,” Lenny retorted.

“We should have a girls’ night,” Elodie said, taking Harry by surprise. “We’re all over twenty-one now, so we can do more than drive down Fates Boulevard whistling at the hot people playing flag football in the park. Hell, we can get into Howlin’ Good Time without being carded.”

“Oh. I…” Harry struggled to come up with a logical-sounding excuse. “Uh…”

A safe chat in the middle of town hall was an entirely different beast from a girls’ night, which would no doubt include alcohol if they dropped in at Howlin’. Alcohol did more than lower inhibitions. It loosened lips and she needed to keep hers locked up tight.

“I’m not sure that—”

“Oh, a GNO! That sounds like a splendid idea!” Nora popped up on her left.

“It does sound like fun”—Harry’s mental wheels spun wildly—“but I’m not sure it’s a good idea to leave Gracie alone. She hasn’t really acclimated to the new surroundings yet and I should stick close.”

“Oh, pish. Grace and I will do just fine. I’ll make us some virgin margaritas—well, I’ll make hers virgin—and we’ll watch whatever bingeable show happens to pop up on one of the streaming services.” Nora patted Harry’s arm and smiled at Lenny and Elodie. “Harry will be there. Goddess knows she needs to get out and let loose a bit.”

“You make it sound like I’m a shut-in or something,” Harry grumbled.

Nora chuckled. “I don’t think I’d use those exact words, but you have become a bit of a hoverer, my dear. Go out. Have fun. I think the little break will do you and Grace some good.”

Elodie shot Harry a genuine, happy smile. “That’s great. How does tomorrow sound? Howlin’ runs a ladies’ night special on umbrella drinks and, I don’t know about anyone else, but I could definitely use the pick-me-up.”

“Tomorrow. Sure.” Harry pushed a smile on her face and hoped it masked her sudden desire to throw up. “I’ll meet you both at Howlin’?”

“At nine?”

She sucked in a whimper. That was an hour past her new bedtime…

“Nine sounds good.”

Elodie leaned in for another hug, this one not nearly as painful. “I can’t wait to get to talk some more, Har. I missed you.”

Those balls of emotions came back, clogging her throat. “I missed you, too, El. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

With another round of hugs and goodbyes done and she and Nora alone, Harry turned toward her aunt, hands on her hips.

“What’s that pursed look for? Should we stop by the grocery and pick up some prunes? You look a bit backed up, my dear.”

“Do not give me that sweet and innocent look, Nora Pierce. I don’t need you making play dates for me,” Harry said sternly.

“You’re welcome.” The older witch flashed her a wink. “Now let’s go get Grace and make one last stop before we head back home. All this excitement has made me ready for a date with my pillow.”

“And here I thought it was all the meddling,” Harry muttered, following her aunt.

Nora chuckled. “Oh, sweetheart, I’m only getting started.”

And that was exactly what Harry was afraid of.