“Wasn’t Cora’s best skill as a doctor,” Sebastian muttered.
“What was?” Hudson asked.
“Boners.”
“What?”
I shot him a glare. “He means orthopedics. I was always good with breakages. At one point, I toyed with specializing in it.”
“What stopped you?” Dave asked.
I raised a brow. “Supply and demand. The type of patients I deal with don’t really come with complex breaks.”
Maggie gasped. I glanced around, looking for danger. Instead, I found a bunch of nosy spirits and enslaved supernaturals who, instead of figuring out how to avoid the end of the world, were packing miniature sized... I picked up a vial and shook it. The red liquid inside flared with a faint light. “What is this?”
Rebecca grinned. “A new synthetic blood made of ethically sourced ingredients created to satisfy, not intensify. A practical favor for monsters who might have a mid-vow craving.” She swirled one around in front of her face. “It smells like mint, and it looks pretty.”
“The pretty was all me,” Dayna added with a smile.
Dave curled his lip. “Synthetic? Like fake?”
“That’s right,” Rebecca answered as she tied her bow the first time. Show off.
Dave sniffed a gauze-wrapped stick. “And this?”
“Ultra-high protein jerky,” Maggie said.
“Did you make it?” Dave asked, his face going blank. Oh, boy. Maggie was given strict instructions to leave all culinary creations to Liz.
“Don’t be silly. I don’t have enough time to make jerky.”
Dave’s shoulders relaxed.
“Does it do anything like the blood?” Hudson asked, examining one of the pieces.
“Synthetic,” Rebecca reminded him. “And yes. I was promised it too has calming qualities.”
“By whom?” I wondered.
“Rockhard.”
If one half of the famous potion-making duo said it was calming, then you could bet on it being calming.
“And the little stones are for the elementals.” Maggie pointed at the pile of white pebbles. “For balance.”
“Does it not concern everyone that we’re going to magically induce our wedding guests into a drugged state?” I asked. “Or is it just me?”
“Shifters and elementals don’t normally mate. It’s an unknown,” Dave said. “And unknowns are dangerous.”
“It’s actually pretty good,” Hudson declared.
My gaze shot to him. “You ate one of the favors?”
“It’s important to sample the goods since they’re a reflection of our mating.”
Ugh, I really hoped not. But it did beg a question. “What about the humans?”
Everyone froze. “What?” Maggie muttered as she stared at the table of supernaturally oriented goodies. Also, how many people were coming? I hoped there were an abundance of spare favors, because damn, this was a lot.
