He left.
* * *
Tandri released a slow breath.
“What was that all about?” asked Viv.
“He was a student at Ackers. He had an….” Tandri searched for the words. “An unhealthy obsession with me.”
“When you took classes there for… personal interests?”
“Yes.”
“Guess he’s working for the head of the local hoods, too. Seems education didn’t lead to better things.”
“Oh, I’m not surprised, at all,” Tandri muttered darkly.
“We’ll keep him out.”
The succubus crouched next to the dire-cat. “Or maybe Amity needs a snack. Are you hungry, girl?”
Amity purred like a rockfall.
* * *
That evening,Tandri left long enough to collect some blankets and a big goose-down pillow. She and Viv put together a makeshift bed in the back corner of the shop for the dire-cat. The next time Amity reappeared, she stalked over to the rumpled pile, patted it experimentally with one enormous forepaw, and then strolled away.
But they left the bed.
* * *
Thimble rappedon the front door as the two of them prepared to open. In his hands he clutched a cloth-wrapped lump that trailed wisps of steam. Viv smelled something warm and yeasty and sweet, and thought she recognized cinnamon, too.
He scuttled indoors.
Tandri emerged from the pantry with a bag of beans and a carafe of milk, inhaling deeply. “What is that wonderfulsmell?”
The rattkin glanced anxiously between them, then slid his wrapped bundle onto the counter top.
Viv pointed at it. “May I?”
Thimble nodded hesitantly.
Carefully unfolding the cloth, Viv revealed a roll as big as her fist, almosttoolarge to imagine eating. Soft bread wound in a spiral, with dark sugar and cinnamon nestled between the rings, and a thick, creamy glaze frosted the top and dripped down the sides.
Tandri was right. The scent was unbelievably amazing.
“You made this?” asked Viv, impressed.
“Did,” whispered the rattkin, again with the little bobbing nod, his hands clasped before his flour-dusted apron.
Viv and Tandri shared a glance, and then Viv delicately tore a piece from the enormous roll, sniffed deeply, and popped it into her mouth.
She closed her eyes and made an involuntary noise of pleasure. It was easily the most delicious thing she’d had in… well, maybe ever.
“Good gods,” she murmured around the mouthful. “Tandri, try it.”
Tandri peeled off a piece and obliged.
