When she finally left, my stomach was feeling bubbly and warm, and not just from the cider.
Again, she snagged attention as she crossed the room. One man even started to follow her out before changing his mind and sitting back down.
It really was understandable. Of course everyone admired her. Kizzi was not only distractingly gorgeous, but she was also hard-working, and smart, and extremely loyal to the folk she cared about. She was the best this town had to offer. The whole realm, surely.
Many times, I had nearly gathered the courage to tell her how I felt. To take a leap. But I always lost my nerve, or she simply laughed off my attempted flirty comments.
She would never see me the way I saw her. To her, I would always just be the orc at the pub serving her drinks. The orc willing to lend a helping hand.
The warmth in my stomach soured as I got back to work.
CHAPTER 15
Kizzi
My feet dangled, swinging freely as I sat perched on the counter at Fiella’s Finds—my best friend’s cluttered and chaotic (but admittedly charming) trinket shop. I had shoved aside her messy ledgers to make room for myself—I refused to sit in the cozy nook and shout at her across the room as she worked. I preferred a closer seat.
She dealt with it.
Sookie, Fiella’s fluffy gray cat companion, brushed against my ankle, taking the opportunity to use my boot to scratch her head. I held my feet still and let her.Cats are so weird. Eventually, she let out a quiet meow and moved along.
I chewed slowly on a toasted oat cookie, appreciating the gentle sweetness that was enough to satisfy but not overpowering. The perfect cookie. I ignored the crumbs that fell onto my lap.
I had brought Fiella two cookies, because I was the best friend in all the realms and nobody could say otherwise.
“So,” Fiella said around a mouthful. “You’re going on a mysterious trip? And you’re bringing Tandor?” She wagged her eyebrows suggestively. “That sounds fun.”
I laughed, rolling my eyes at her. “I already told you, he’s the only folk I know that’s strong enough to carry the largest cauldrons.”
“There are other orcs in town,” she argued. “Or strong shifters.”
“I don’t really know them. They might be freaks. And you’re forgetting the part about how I accidentally drugged everyone in town with a love potion.”
Fiella snorted. “Oh yeah. Thank the Gods you put that—” she shivered dramatically “—garlicin there, or Redd and I would be chasing after you too.”
I reached out and shoved her shoulder. “It’s not funny!”
“I believe that’s exactly what I said about thegarlic,” she retorted. “And you used it anyway.”
“That was different! That was just a harmless joke, this is serious!” I whined.
“So, you’re telling me that the entire town wants to get in your pants?”
“Ugh, no! At least I hope not.” I stopped and considered. “A lot of them probably do. But they can’t help it! The love potion affects all folk differently. Some of them will want to get in my pants. Some of them will just want to be around me. And some of them will obey my every wish and command.”
“Shit. That’s—that sounds kind of nice, honestly.”
I groaned in frustration. “It’s not nice! It’s shaving away at their free will!”
“Okay, when you put it that way it does sound bad. Does everyone know that you’ve drugged them and turned them into your own personal mindless drones?”
“No! Only the coven knows. And you.”
“Tandor doesn’t know?”
“Gods, no. And I’m going to keep it that way until I can figure out how to cure it.”
“It won't wear off on its own?”
