After finishing my apple, I tossed the core for smaller animals and the soil. Fintan bumped his muzzle under my arm, asking for a hug. I obliged him, wrapping my arms as far as they’d go around his thick neck and stroking his snowy white fur.
Pressing my forehead to his when he lowered his face, I patted his shoulder. “Have an adventure today out there for me, okay? I’ll be back this evening.”
Fintan snorted before scraping the dirt with his hoof and sprinting into the woods. I watched him until his silhouette blended with the white and brown bark of the birch trees. My bakery was a ten-minute walk from the woods, and by the time I arrived in the plaza, the Cove’s citizens were already bustling and harping about the holidays. All beings and monsters celebrated holidays differently here, but no one questioned each other and most definitely didn’t judge. It still astonished me how eclectic the Cove was with its inhabitants, and everyonesomehow managed to be moderately civil to one anothermostof the time.
The keys clanked in my hand as I unlocked the back door to my bakery:Muffin Compares to You. Instinctively, I glamoured my wings away, no sooner had I passed the threshold. I’ve lived in the Cove for two years now after disguising myself for nearly a century in Norway. There was no need to hide my ears or wings here, given it was a refuge for all beings composed of magic. Humans weren’t aware the place existed due to the wards camouflaging it and declining entry for anyone without magic in their veins. No humans to hide from and yet, old habits indeed died hard. I wasn’t certainwhyI still felt compelled to disguise myself here.
Scents of butter, bread, and honey still hung heavily in the air from what I’d made yesterday, and the familiarity of it made my chest tighten. My assistant, Aegean, had already left his night shift before sunrise, and, given we were open twenty-four hours, I was here for the day shift.
Glancing at the cupcake clock hanging on the back wall, I scurried to the mixing bowls and ovens waiting for me in the kitchen. Humming to myself, I got to work prepping doughs that’d bake through the day, ensuring that alluring scent would linger, not to mention the tinge of magic I sparked into the flames of the hanging sconces in the shop. It wasn’t a coercion spell by any means; otherwise, I’d have far more customers. No, it was more of a beacon for goodwill. I wanted customers to feel happy and carefree in my bakery, even if they decided not to purchase anything. Some people stopped by for a friendly conversation and to bask in the vibes. That was fine with me because I didn’t start this business thinking it’d make me rich or set me up for my eternal life. I started it because I wanted to spend every waking day doing what mademehappy.
After loading several loaves into the stone ovens and various trays of muffins and cupcakes, I wiped the back of my hand over my brow and washed the flour from my hands. Pausing in the mirror to check for flour on my cheeks, I took my hair out of its ponytail, positioning it strategically over my ears and changed into the blue apron I wore out front. Every night before closing, I loaded the fridge with enough treats to stock the display case while waiting for the fresh ones to finish. Grabbing the vanilla cupcakes with teal frosting, I bumped the fridge door closed with my hip and walked into the shop.
Dagnar was already waiting on the sidewalk outside. He rubbed his bare arms and bounced on his heels, shivering. How a burly orc could look so vulnerable from a bit of chilly weather always astonished me. Laughing, I rested the trays on the counter and trotted to the door to open it.
“You know we’re always open, Dagnar. Come inside. I wouldn’t want you to catch a cold out here or something.” I stepped aside, craning my neck back to look at him as he stood almost a foot taller than me.
Dagnar shook his green arms as if it’d been snowing outside and let out a groaning sigh when the warmth of the bakery greeted him. “Thanks, Sylvie. I don’t know what it is about winter that these orc bones donotagree with. And I wasn’t sure if you were open. The sign’s not lit up.” He pointed a claw at the window.
Tapping the sign and frowning when it didn’t light up, I shrugged and moved past him to the display case. “Maybe you should get Sable to knit you a custom sweater.” I scribbled myself a note to get the sign repaired.
Sable was the Cove’s resident seamstress and a humanoid moth with the prettiest obsidian wings.
“Because they don’t come in size extra large times five, you mean?” Dagnar chuckled and all but drooled as he caught sight of the muffin trays.
“No. Because they don’t make sweaters fororcs, Dagnar.” Tilting my head to the side, I noted his demeanor and the way he carried himself today. He was neither happy nor sad, but there was something off about him. “How are you doing this morning?”
“Is that your faerie magic?” Dagnar had bent forward to smell the muffins and remained hinged as he arched a dark green brow at me.
Plucking a blueberry muffin from the tray, because I had a hunch it’d do him wonders, I put it in the microwave behind the counter for a few seconds. “Iswhatmy magic?”
“You’ve always been so good at that. Reading folks. Knowing when something’s wrong.” Dagnar stood tall now, using his black claws to scratch the back of his neck.
Offering him a reassuring smile, I rested the muffin on a plate, sprinkled a bit of my wintry magic over it to form a light glazed icing, and handed it to him. “Part of it, yes. But mostly intuition.”
Dagnar gave me an indignant, crooked smile as he took the pastry from me. “Uh-huh. And I’m sure intuition alone somehow told you precisely what kind of muffin I had a hankering for, hm?”
“Eat up, Dagnar,” I replied, grinning brightly. “It’ll have you ready to conquer the day. Promise.”
Dagnar picked up the muffin, his massive hand making it seem half its actual size. He tossed it around his palm, a wrinkle forming between his eyes. “It’s Vila.”
The name sounded somewhat familiar, but I couldn’t quite place it. “I’m sorry?”
“The reason I seem a bit gloomy. It’s because of my girlfriend, Vila.” Dagnar’s shoulders slumped at this confession. “She went on some trip again. Didn’t tell me where. It keeps happening more often, and I’m starting to think she doesn’t want to spend as much time with me no more.”
That’s right. Vila, the succubus. I had a lot of words I wanted to spew on that particular subject, but I tried my hardest not to meddle in affairs of the heart. Not only was it not my jurisdiction, but in a small town like Arcane Cove, sticking your nose where it didn’t belong could turn into a bigger problem faster than anywhere else. So, I offered an ear, a sweet treat, and in some cases, a shoulder to cry on instead.
“Sorry to hear that.” Frowning, I busied myself with wiping down the already clean counter.
Dagnar nodded, rubbing the two small tusks that protruded over his bottom lip. “Yeah. Anyway, bottoms up, huh?” He consumed the muffin in one easy swallow, letting out a gratified moan once the magic kicked in.
“What do you think?” I found myself rising to the balls of my feet in anticipation. I’d never admit it to anyone, but I thrived on praise. It was one of my favorite doses of dopamine.
Dagnar ate the crumbs from every finger and the plate before answering, “Amazing as usual, Sylvie. Thank you. And you’re right. I do feel better.” He dug into his pants pocket and rested severallyykecoins on the counter. I was about to protest that he’d given me too much, but he held up a claw. “Keep the change. It’s the least I could do. And the next time you want an ale, hop over to my cafe and it’s on the house.”
My cheeks would have turned rosy if such a heat were possible. “Thanks, Dagnar.” I bowed my head. “Have a good day and try to stay warm, okay?”
Dagnar barked in laughter and moved toward the door. “Will do. I’ll tell ya, you’re lucky you don’t have to worry about getting cold.”
