Grix stared at the box as if she’d just handed him a live grenade. He looked at her face, then back at the box. He was trying to figure out if this was some kind of human trick. I almost felt bad for him. He had no idea what he was up against.
“What is… this, exactly?” he sneered. He tried to sound disgusted, but I saw the eagerness. So did Hazel.
“Dark chocolate with candied orange peel.” She pressed the box into his hands before he could refuse. “Consider it a peace offering. For how much trouble Brok and Barnaby have been.”
Grix opened the box with exaggerated caution. He took his time observing the chocolates. I half expected him to pull out his little chisel and crack them open, just as he had done with the information crystals.
But finally, after what seemed like forever, he chose one. He bit into it, and his face went completely blank. And just like that, he lost the battle.
His shoulders dropped, and his claws relaxed their death grip on the tablet. He chewed slowly, with the kind of focus that meant he was actually tasting what he was eating. But when he swallowed, he reached for another chocolate immediately. Then another. And another.
By the fifth one, I wondered if we were even going to talk to Grix at all today. Had I lost my agent to the spell of Hazel’s sweets? I couldn’t even blame him for it.
Ten chocolates later, Grix snapped the box shut. “Very well,” he offered. He tucked the box under one arm with the same protective care I’d seen dragons use with gold. “I suppose we can make an exception, since clearly such a human belongs in our world anyway.”
It was exactly the same conclusion I’d reached. I resisted the urge to gloat. “Now that we have that out of the way, what were you screaming about earlier? You already knew what we were going to do.”
Grix settled onto the fallen log and balanced his tablet on his knee. “Yes, Brok, but this is still a drastic change. Rather surprising, really. It could create some kind of imbalance. Or maybe draw a reaction from Reynard.”
Hazel frowned. She hadn’t quite managed to reconcile her image of her friend Vixen with the idea of a magical fox. “What could Reynard possibly do?”
“He could do plenty,” Grix replied. “He’s probably the most resourceful creature I know. But this time, I think even he underestimated Barnaby. Honestly, I didn’t expect you to pull this off at all. Now, we just have to maintain the momentum.”
“And keep Barnaby’s Joy Coefficient high.” Hazel nodded, looking more determined than ever before. “We can do that.”
Grix hummed under his breath but didn’t contradict her. “I suppose if there’s anyone who can sustain this type of anomalous growth, it might be you.” He hesitated, then turned toward me. “As for you, Brok…”
He shot to his feet and pulled an amulet out of his pocket. “Here. Without the glamor, you’ll need this to walk around in the human world.”
It was an unexpected gesture of kindness. Kobold amulets were almost as pricey as the information they peddled. I’d used this service before, when I was between customers and needed to hide my true nature. It cost an arm and a leg, but it kept humans from running away screaming while I was buying groceries.
“This will work until I win my Title back,” Barnaby said, his ears perked forward with hope. “Once I have full power, I can extend my own glamor to cover you properly. But in the meantime…”
He shot a glance toward Hazel. I had to admit, I’d been a little worried about the risk, too. I’d barely managed tosneak out of The Cocoa Bean the night after the glamor had fallen. I hadn’t been there since. Barnaby’s magic still allowed him to make portals, so Hazel could come to us. But I still hated being away from her.
I took the amulet from Grix, acknowledging the service with a simple nod. Words weren’t necessary, not right now. I’d make it up to him later, and he knew it. “How do I look?” I asked as I put the amulet on.
Hazel studied my face, no doubt seeing whatever illusion the amulet was projecting into her mind. The man who’d first walked into her shop as Barnaby Warren’s fitness-nut brother. Something human enough to walk through the world without causing problems. Her lips twisted into a tiny, secret smile. “It works. But I still prefer the green.”
The words hit me harder than they should have. I wanted to kiss her. Wanted to pin her against the nearest tree and make her say it again, make her prove she meant it. But we were standing in front of my client and my agent. We were in the middle of discussing strategy, and I needed to maintain some shred of distance.
“So what now, Grix? I assume you have some feedback for our new approach?”
Grix seemed to consider my question. Ten long seconds passed. And then, he looked at Barnaby.
It was probably the first time he’d actually paid Barnaby much heed. To Grix, Barnaby had always beena liability. But not anymore. “Right now, Osterhase, Hazel can work on the most important part. The Joy Coefficient. Brok will keep your body in shape.” He grinned, and his fangs glinted in the sunlight. “As for me… I’ll work on your mind.”
Barnaby blanched, clearly not looking forward to a game of quizzes with kobolds. But Hazel patted his fuzzy head, and just like that, he recovered. “S-sounds good!” he stammered, only a little anxious. “Go team!”
I shared an amused look with Hazel. This was not what I signed up for when I agreed to be the Easter Bunny’s personal trainer. But things changed, especially when beautiful human chocolatiers were involved. If Hazel’s magic could persuade even Grix to work with us, I never stood a chance against it.
And no matter what Reynard thought, he’d be just as helpless.
15
Self-Acceptance
Hazel
