“Don’t apologize to me when you’re the one burnt to a crisp! I feel bad that you’re hurt.”
“It’s nothing, really. I’ve had much worse.” I was lying, of course. It stung ferociously. But I would rather choke on chili than admit that.
She stared at me knowingly. “Whatever you say, tough guy.”
Kizzi pulled a few more ingredients out of her satchel and began tossing them into the cauldron, and I quietly took myleave. I heard Fiella's bright voice behind me, alongside Redd’s deeper tone. They must’ve noticed Kizzi’s arrival.
I huffed a deep breath out through clenched teeth, glancing down at my useless hands as I wandered back to my table on the far end of the park. Pouring drinks from the barrel all day was going to be a nightmare. If only someone could help me. Ginger had her own barrel to worry about, though, and I didn’t trust anyone else to do it.
I would have to suffer through it.
Ginger flitted by my table only long enough to drop off a steaming mug filled with coffee. “I saw that, by the way. You’re an idiot!” she called over her shoulder as she pranced away.
“You have no idea…” I mumbled under my breath. I lifted the mug, careful to make as little contact with the hot ceramic as possible. The coffee was dark and rich with flecks of ground cinnamon dotting the surface. A faint nutmeg scent slipped through the coffee’s strong aroma. I inhaled gratefully before taking a sip. Hot, but not painful—the perfect temperature. I took another longer swallow, relishing the warmth that slipped down my throat, settled into my stomach, and spread all the way to my fingers and toes.
At least, now that I had some coffee in my system, I was more likely to survive the hectic day.
I glanced at my blistered palms skeptically.Let the potluck begin.
CHAPTER 8
Kizzi
My chili was truly a masterpiece. It was a miracle that I didn’t have a crowd of admiring onlookers surrounding my table to watch me add the finishing touches to the delicacy.
“Do you have to get yourselves set up?” I asked Redd and Fiella. The two mated vampires had teamed up and brought blood smoothies in two different flavors. More than half the folk of Moonvale would avoid their table, for obvious reasons, but the blood guzzlers would have plenty to enjoy themselves.
“Nope, we got here before you did, we’re all set,” Fiella said.
“Overachievers,” I mumbled.
The potluck was only lightly structured. Folk milled around as they pleased. It was common courtesy to ignore any unoccupied tables and come back later when the table was manned again. We looked out for each other, and we all feasted at our leisure. The event didn’t officially start until Mayor Tommins declared it, though.
I pulled out my final chili ingredient, along with a small knife.
It’s garlic time, bitches.
I began slicing the garlic in quick, even strokes.
Redd let out a garbled shout, somewhere between a shriek and a gasp. “Kizzi!”
“What?!” I glanced up to see that all the color had drained from his face. He was clutching his chest dramatically. “Oh, Old Gods spare me. Are you kidding me right now?”
“What is it—AHH!” Fiella screamed, quickly ducking behind Redd’s taller frame and clutching his shoulders.
“You guys are ridiculous! It’s just a little garlic—it won’t hurt you!”
“You don’t know that,” Redd said with a shaking voice.
I picked up a clove and held it out threateningly. “Boo!”
Both vampires startled and scrambled back a few steps. “That’s not funny!” Fiella wailed.
Laughter burst out of my mouth, shaking my entire frame in massive, belly-quaking cackles. “It’s hilarious!” I dropped the garlic clove so I could clutch my stomach. “You should see your faces right now!”
Fiella flipped me off. “You’re a bitch.” Her voice was still hollow and shaky, but color was slowly returning to her complexion.
“Yep, and you love me anyway.” I fought to reign in my laughter. “I couldn’t help myself! I had to.”
