Page 16 of Misbehaving With Minotaurs (Haven Ever After #8)

I glance down the street, checking for cars as we cross over toward the big white gazebo in front of Town Hall.

“Well, there’s usually an order of things.

Infrastructure planning is typically first, but it’s harder in havens like this one that are fairly small.

Ever’s actually one of the smallest havens in the network, if you can believe it. ”

Someone shouts Morgan’s name, and we turn. Her sisters and aunt jog up the street toward us. By the time they arrive, it seems like Morgan’s moved on from her line of questioning.

Interesting. I wonder if she’s just asking out of curiosity or what.

Ahead, the gazebo creaks, groans and begins to grow to accommodate all the Evertons. Even so, some monsters opt to stand just outside the tall white structure. Arkan and Hana stand at the front with the rest of haven leadership, including Catherine.

Gray eyes flick to me and wrinkle in the corners as I walk into the space with the Hectors. The girls find seats toward the front, but I lean against a railing. Normal-sized chairs were never meant for males my size. Catherine glances at me again and smirks as I cross my arms over my chest.

It takes a few minutes for everyone to file in and quiet down.

I find this process fascinating. Hearth HQ doesn’t do anything like a town hall meeting.

Evenia emails updates to residents, and that’s pretty much it.

Hearth HQ is gorgeous and cultured and fascinating, but it’s tiny and tucked away and stiff, too.

It’s wildly different from Ever in every possible way.

Once the gathered group falls quiet-ish, Arkan opens his arms wide.

“Welcome, Evertons! Thanks for joining our biggest town hall meeting to date! I’ve got a couple topics to cover with you this evening.

The first is the proposed expansion of downtown.

I’ll be emailed detailed plans this week, but I wanted to make you all aware of the discussions happening with myself and town leadership. ”

He points to his right, where a wide swath of grass covers the space between the gazebo and the nearest building. “I think it’s safe to say you’ve all felt the pinch as Ever grows. Our restaurants are full, there’s never any parking on Main, and the Shifter Hollow folks are running out of space.”

A few grumbles sound like they agree with him.

“That spot over there,” he waves toward the grassy area, “was originally meant to be a cross street to Main, just like Sycamore is. To the west would be more neighborhoods, and the east was always meant to be an extension of the shopping area. What we’re talking about now is doing the infrastructure expansion to begin bringing more businesses to Ever. ”

Lots more rumbling and a cacophony of questions ring out at his announcement.

He indicated for everyone to quiet down. “I’m gonna answer questions in a minute, but let me just say that we’ll have a question period for a couple of weeks before the plans are voted on and finalized by the leaders you see here at the front. That being said, what questions can I answer now?”

The next half hour is full of question after question, some of which are pretty good and give me more to think about.

How will the infrastructure changes be prioritized?

What changes will be enacted to improve the situation for monster species who’ve indicated past challenges with Ever’s infrastructure?

That one from a harpy who honestly shocks me when she stands and shares the question.

I’ve never even known a harpy to live within the haven system.

Between her and Lou Hector, the blue witch, it seems like Ever’s full of unusual beings .

The questions go on and on, but Arkan finally announces he won’t take any more and to save them for the question period. His dark lips curl, the smile wicked as he glances at me.

“On an even more exciting note, part of our expansion includes Ever having a formal skyball program. And, if we’re lucky, a kickass coach.” He grins at me. “Manorin, wanna come up here for a sec?”

Every head in the gazebo swivels toward me, murmurs rising again as I stalk to the front to join him. When I stare out over the crowd, it’s easy to see that most seem to recognize me. They look excited, at a quick glance.

Arkan continues, “Manorin’s here with us as we talk through what pro skyball would look like in Ever. You’ll see him in town for the next little bit, culminating in an exhibition game for the whole town.”

Cheers break out, and a lot of monsters stand and whoop. I hear shouts of the Ever team name, Misfits, ring out. As the cheering dies down, a lone monster toward the back screeches, “Go Punishers!” and I have to hold back a smile, hometown team and all.

Arkan looks at me. “Coach, you wanna say anything?”

I wait for the crowd to fully quiet, looking around at the gathered monsters.

“I couldn’t be more excited for the exhibition game, but I need your help making this a big deal with our neighbors.

So, let’s paint signs, decorate Main Street, wear the green and gold.

Let’s get excited, right?” When I lift my hands, the shouting erupts again, and most everyone stands, stomps, cheers.

I risk a glance at Catherine, who’s beaming at the other Evertons.

“Skyball deserves a bigger place in Ever,” Arkan shouts above the crowd. “Whaddya say?!” The crowd erupts even louder, the excitement tangible.

It raises the hair on my nape, that same thrill as walking out of a locker room onto the skyball pitch. I love that the Evertons seem super jazzed about bringing skyball more to the forefront.

It takes a while for folks to calm down. When they do, Arkan reminds them about the question period then closes the meeting. As the crowd dissipates, I turn to Arkan and Hana. Cath comes to my side.

“I’ve gotta head home for the weekend to take care of some family business, but I’ll be back Monday.

” I glance between the Keeper and his mate.

“Didn’t want you to think it meant I was in any way less excited about this opportunity.

I’ve just got a nephew being an asshole, and I gotta deal with him. ”

Hana punches me on the shoulder. “Go get ‘im, Coach. We’re not worried.” She looks over at her mate. “We’ll use the weekend to get started on decorating Main.”

Catherine clasps her hands together. “Perhaps you can do a little subversive recruiting while you’re there, too. The Punishers do have quite the lineup this year, as you know.”

I match her feral smile. “Oh yeah.”

We share a laugh, and I picture Catherine in the corner of a bar, whispering sweet nothings to a skyball player to bring them to Ever. I’m more and more excited that she’s going home with me. I oughta turn her loose on every Punishers player we run across just to see what’ll happen.

Arkan was right about one thing he said this morning—there’s nothing Cath can’t do.