Page 95 of Hungry As Her Python

“Watch it,” Jaxson muttered.

“No foul, Wolf daddy. Just remarking on they fine assetssss,” Esteban Notail said.

I grinned at the three infamous familiars—they worked for La Befana herself—and I thanked them with a couple of boxes of my new Peanut Butter Bacon Delights before they took off with the EFFU crew.

“Please make sure Magdelena and Drusilla get the small boxes of goodies. The three big ones are for you three,” I said, handing the large pile of bakery boxes to Esteban Notail, who started drooling immediately.

“Thank you very much, Bellicious,” Fluffy Iglesias replied. “The goods shall be delivered to those two badasses Witch bosses pronto. Let’s go, boyzz!”

After we signed off on the capture and scribbled our sworn affidavits—because apparently Witch justice still required paperwork—Jaxson Swooshed the whole report (complete with magical mugshots) to La Befana herself.

Good riddance.

That was one magical mess I was thrilled to see handled.

Those fur-coated hooligans had been attacking my shop, for Goddess’s sake.

My shop.

I don’t care if you’re a magical familiar or the personification of Karma itself, you don’t mess with my tarts.

Truth be told, I wasn’t sure how much more of it I could have taken.

Jealousy and misplaced righteousness were ugly beasts on their own—add claws, fangs, and a union card, and you had a recipe for chaos.

We were lucky we stepped in before anyone—Witch, Shifter, or feline—got hurt.

Petyr was getting the night off to Swoosh-call his family, which was sweet, so I told him to take the whole house to himself.

He immediately invited Gryn and Ivan over for an evening of preferans, vodka, and hardtack.

Because apparently nothing says “relaxation” like a full Slavic familiar bro-night.

“Well, that’s that,” Evie said with a satisfied sigh, brushing her palms like she’d just vanquished evil and folded the laundry.

“Come on, Darlin’,” Jaxson drawled, scooping her up bridal-style like the overgrown, muscle-bound wolf prince he was. “Let’s go home.”

Ryan glanced my way, one big arm wrapped possessively around Donny. “Unless you need us to stick around and clean up, Bella?”

I shook my head. “Nothing to clean. They never made it inside.”

Then I exhaled.

Hard.

My whole body felt lighter.

Then Conrad stepped forward, hand extended.

“Shall we?”

There was something about the way he asked—gentle, but firm.

Like the invitation was really a promise.

I didn’t hesitate. I slipped my hand into his, my palm tingling instantly, and my heart decided to throw a parade in my chest.

“Do you mean it, Bella?” His green eyes glowed in that way that made me want to fan myself and check if my lipstick was still intact.