Chapter 6
Kaya
T ully spins and locks her scary witch gaze on me. “Look. I know he’s hot. He’s a dragon shifter. Gorgeous. He’s a good guy. He and I have been friends longer than you two. But Cyrus isn’t the partner you need.”
I blink at her, wondering if she can somehow sense the way Cyrus’s presence stirs me up. “What are you talking about?”
Laini comes close and gives me a sad smile. “Cyrus will never settle down. I thought you two had crossed this bridge ages ago.”
“I didn’t suggest anything with him,” I say sharply. “I honestly don’t know what you two are talking about.”
“I’m not saying it’s you. It’s him,” Laini says. “The ultimate playboy gambler, who parties more nights than not, volunteered to make scones. That is incredibly suspicious.”
“It was just a timing thing. You both were busy, and he was here when Lady Egrettington arrived. He saw my problem and wanted to help. That’s all.”
Tully lifts one red eyebrow. “But I’ve never seen Cyrus offer to stitch a cute little lamb on one of Laini’s overdue tapestries.”
“It’s weaving, not stitching.” Laini elbows Tully. “And it’s not that late.”
“It is,” Tully says.
Laini huffs and glares, but then she softens as she looks at me. “Cyrus can’t help but be attracted to you. You’re everything he’s never had.”
“What do you mean?”
“You’re sweet and inexperienced,” Tully says.
“I didn’t mean that,” Laini says, giving Tully a reproachful glare. “Kaya, you’re a stable, hard-working woman who doesn’t like to drink and play cards. You’re unique in his world. I adore Cyrus, but he is what he is. A player. He would never remain loyal. He would hurt you.”
“And we would have to murder him,” Tully says.
Now I’m starting to get mad. I cross my arms. “What exactly do you mean? That Cyrus, the friend I’ve had for years and years, suddenly wants to sleep with me? You believe I’m silly-headed enough to let him break my heart with a fling? I hope you both think higher of me than that.”
Tully and Laini exchange a tight look, then Laini works my hands free and holds them in hers.
“You are not silly-headed,” she says, a sincere look in her eyes.
“But you are the only one in the realm who would ever use that word while angry,” Tully whispers, grinning.
I stick my tongue out at her, and Laini turns me away from Tully.
“Look, he’s charming,” Laini says. “Very charming.”
Tully puts her head between us. “He has a massive cock. All shifters do.”
Laini glares. “Not helping, Tully.” She focuses on me again. “It would be easy for you two to fall into bed, and it wouldn’t end happily.”
It hurts because she’s completely right. He would bore of me quickly. I don’t know any tricks of the bedroom. I’ve only had one lover, and that was a fleeting, perfunctory affair when I was determined to at least experience sex once in my quiet life. I’m always too shy to approach males and I’m not interested in females.
I imagine Cyrus’s smile, and I know it’s always been him. I shut my eyes and sigh.
“I hear you,” I say to Laini and I open my eyes. “He was different here yesterday and today, too. I think I was starting to hope he’d finally grown up, but I wasn’t admitting that to myself.”
“Nothing silly about that,” Tully says. She slips around a stack of crates and hugs me from behind. “I’m sorry I was being a mean witch.”
I lean my head on hers and squeeze Laini’s hands. “It’s all right. I’m used to your thorns.”
Her body shakes as she chuckles. She kisses my cheek, then releases me to scratch Sio. “You are the best of us, Kaya. We can’t help but be overprotective.”
Laini pulls away, but she is nodding. “It’s true. You know what?”
“Oh no. She’s plotting,” I say, glancing from Laini to Tully. “You’re wearing off on her.”
Tully whispers into Sio’s ear, and the cat yowls like he agrees with whatever she said.
“Oh! I forgot to tell you!” I hurry to the chest at the back of the kitchen. “Sio went in here, and then he spoke to Cyrus and me!”
Tully blinks at Sio, who seems to grin proudly. “Some of the old line in this one, eh?”
“That’s amazing!” Laini says. “What did he say? What do you mean, old line , Tully?”
“Maplecats used to speak. All of them. The magic became too watered down as they bred with other types of cats. They have to live to be pretty old and come in contact with magic to bring up the ability. Vespertine’s Familiars , Scroll 9.”
“Wow. I had no idea,” I say. “I hope he’ll talk to me again.” I eye him and he purrs my way.
Tully scratches him, then sets him down. “Let’s get back to what Laini was saying. The plotting and all of that.”
Spark, the dragonfox, zips into the kitchen and flies in circles over Laini. She lifts one hand and gently grabs for his tail in the game they like to play.
“I was saying that I have a potential date for you, Kaya,” Laini says.
My heart trips. “You do?”
“If you’re interested.”
Tully hops onto the back counter next to the sack of oats and the jar of honey. “Ooo, do tell.”
“The Dyer family has a new employee, and he’s delivering my wool tomorrow. I met him last week and he was delightful.”
“What is he? Human like them?” I ask. “Or a creature?”
“He’s human, but he thinks he might have a vampire in his ancestry because he loves his steak rare.”
We laugh. “I don’t think that’s a telling trait,” I say. “But if you feel that I should meet him, maybe we can all get drinks at the tavern together so it’s not too awkward.”
“I love this idea.” Tully slides off the counter and goes to the oven. “I think these are burning.”
I hurry over and sniff. “No. They’re ready, though. Good job!”
Tully smiles and does a little spin.
“You’re as proud as Sio,” I say.
“There are worse creatures to be like.” Tully dances as I pull the scones out.
The small, baked triangles shimmer and double, her spell working as reliably as always.
I clasp my hands and gaze adoringly at my scones. “I love magic.” The treats are perfectly baked and smell like a morning in the sun. Divine.
“Can’t we just eat one?” Tully pokes at the one nearest her.
I slap her hand. “No. You’ve had your treat.”
She bumps my hip with hers. “Who is the meanie now?”
After working for a while longer and baking up another two batches, Laini and Tully help me tidy the kitchen. We head toward the front door. The moon is high, and the scent of early blooms whisks through the night breeze.
Laini steps out and smiles at me. “Let’s meet at the Goat and Dragon tomorrow for an early dinner, all right? I don’t know if he can stay all night, but surely he’ll have an hour or two to spare before he has to return to work.”
“What’s his name?” I set my foot against the door to keep it open and wring my sweating hands. I’m already nervous.
“Devin.”
“All right. Sounds good. I’ll see you then,” I say.
They hug me while Spark soars overhead. I watch them walk away, gratitude icing over the broken bits of hope I mistakenly created inside my heart.
They have definitely saved me from heartache. Cyrus isn’t a bad fellow. But he’s not for me. I have to remember that. Even when he seems so content in my kitchen and in my company. It’s temporary. He needs the wide skies and the excitement of travel and the pub’s noisy nights. We are too opposite to work out as a couple. I have always known that fact, but I’d been denying it again. Maybe I’d need a reminder every few years that Cyrus and I are, and will always be, only friends and that is fine.
Laini’s idea of me dating is a good one. That will keep my traitor heart from leaning toward a dragon who could never be happy on the ground with me.