Page 38 of Dragons & Dumplings
“We’ll be sad if you don’t.” Clove looped her arm around Thorne’s as they both stood to leave.
“I hope we didn’t keep you too late,” Thorne added, glancing out the windows at the dark sky. A flurry of snowflakes drifted past on a sudden breeze.
“Not at all—one of my regulars is taking his sweet time with his dessert.” Mei glanced over at me, so I raised my spoon and waved it in their direction.
All three laughed, the sound echoing pleasantly through the mostly-empty diner. With just us, it felt extra cozy in here.
“Good to know.” Clove waved back back at me, while Thorne gave me a friendly nod, which I returned. As they stepped out the door and into the bitter December night air, she added, “Stop by the shop sometime—I’d be happy to make you hot or iced coffees anytime.”
“That sounds divine! I do love your GlimmerBrew, and Yuri might even find that he likes warm magical mochas, after all!” Mei shot a grin my way.
I grimaced. “We’ll see about that!” Iced coffees were good, but I still couldn’t get used to warm beverages. Maybe I could ask Clove to start me off with alukewarmmocha.
Clove and Thorne chuckled at my response, and the bell above the door chimed as it closed behind them.
“The time goes by a lot faster when they visit.” Mei smiled to herself as she cleared their table, stacking dishes on her arms like a seasoned pro. It still amazed me how good she was at balancing all those plates at the same time.
“Do you want some help with those?” I offered.
“Thanks for the offer, but I’m alright. I have a whole system down.” Mei winked.
“If you’re certain. Oh and Mei, after you’re done with that, there’s something I wanted to show you.” I glanced at my laptop.
“Sure thing—I’ll be right back.” She disappeared into the kitchen, and I took the opportunity to polish off my parfait.
When she came back, I scooted along the red vinyl so that Mei could squeeze in next to me. I draped my arm around her shoulders, enjoying her warmth.
“Did you want to show me how much progress you’ve made on your book? You’ve been working so hard on it every day.” She snuggled closer, and I felt my pupils expanding, even as hers did, too.
“Something like that. I wanted you to be next to me for this.” When I was sure her golden eyes were on the screen, I centered the cursor on the page.
I typed out two words: The End.
“You’ve finished it?!” she gasped, her eyes finding mine.
“It will still need some revisions and editing, but essentially…yes.” Pride swelled in my chest. It had taken me a couple of years, but I had finally accomplished the goal I set for myself when I ran away from my fleet. It was that drive, that sense of purpose, that had kept me going.
“Yuri, I’m so happy for you!” Mei threw her arms around me, and somehow, her excitement felt more rewarding than anything else.
“I couldn’t have done it without you.” I tucked her head under my chin and wrapped my arms around her.
The mystery of Glacius’ time in what would later become the town of Willowmere had been the last gap in his history that I needed to fill in order to write a complete story. Funnily enough, learning my ancestor’s story had been the key to writing my own.
“I’m sure Moroz and the rest of your fleet will be proud of you too! Have you told them yet?”
“Not yet. I wanted you to be the first to know,” I said into her red hair. Today, she smelled like bread from all the baking she’d done.
Mei pulled back to grace me with a radiant smile. On impulse, I closed the gap and kissed her, reveling in the sensation of her soft lips against mine. Our magics mingled, fire and ice melding into steam. I caressed her lips once, twice, before drawing back so we could both catch our breath.
Resting my forehead against hers so that our horns were just barely touching, I whispered, “Why don’t we look for a publisher together?”
“I’d love to help you find one to publish your book!” Mei started, but I gently cut her off.
“I think you should publish your recipes in a cookbook. You could have a spicy cookbook, a dessert cookbook, and everything in between.”
Her eyes went wide. “Do you really think people would like them that much? Enough to buy a cookbook?”
“I do. Your cooking is amazing to begin with, but the way you’ve modified your recipes for each and every kind of magical creature? That’s something special, and entirely unique.”
Mei bit her lip. “I don’t think my parents would approve of sharing family recipes.”
“If you could convince my father to change his ways, I think I have a shot at persuading your parents. After the Harvest Feast, I think you’ve already proven to them you’re more than capable of doing more. And you could always include justyourownspecial recipes, if they want to keep the signature family dishes a secret,” I reassured her.
“What do you think about a spicy and chilly cookbook?” Mei asked with a mischievous twinkle in her eye. “I was always taught that fire and ice could never mix, but…I think we’ve proved them wrong.”
I pressed a kiss to her forehead. “Yes, we most certainly have.”