“Some fresh caramel, doll? This one’s just about ready.”
“Actually, I was drawn in by the smell of chocolate.” I attempted a genuine smile. “What do you have that smells so spiced?” My thumb motioned to the square where my senses were first possessed by it.
She beamed. “Ah, yes! Just finished a batch of carrot cake truffles. Would ya like some?”
“Absolutely! I’ll take a few, thanks.” My mouth watered in anticipation.
“My pleasure.” She placed three rounded chocolates into a small mesh bag and pulled the strings tight. “That’ll be three coins.” Trading money for the sweet treasure in hand, I nodded my thanks, then stepped out of the tent.
As I walked lazily, my eyes peeked into a couple more hidden tents stuffed between stalls.
Heat flushed through me as I caught a glimpse inside one particularly large tent. It was lit by the faint golden glow of orbs. Translucent wings spun in a slow, rhythmic dance as ivy coiled up her body like a living body suit, barely covering her nipples and inner thighs. Her full breasts swayed with each movement, hips rolling in a seductive ritual performed for several gentlemen seated in front of her. With aslight flutter of her wings, she lifted into the air, every curve on display, an offering to their greedy, unblinking eyes. Drool pooled at the corner of one man’s gaping mouth. No doubt she’d make a decent wage today.
The next tent over, a young woman bartered with a short, grumpy man from behind the counter. Small glass bottles littered the tables and shelves labeled in sharp, handwritten script. Another apothecary. Multiple signs hung from the awning:Pooka Potions! Luckwart! Gold Leaf Tea!
Pooka Potions?I chuckled to myself, remembering the time Breena warned me about partying with Pookas. Creatures who looked just like everyone else until they drank. Apparently, alcohol would trigger them to lose control and shapeshift, often taking a poor soul for a wild ride. I really thought she was joking. Until one night, we were stumbling home from a bar when we heard a young man wailing for help. A wild horse galloped through the street with him on its back, his eyes were wide, and he was clinging to the mane for dear life. It looked like a bat out of hell. Bins knocked over, people scattered, chaos ran rampant. It was completely unhinged. My immediate response was to help, but Breena yanked me back, howling with laughter.
“No! No! It’s a Pooka!” she cackled. “He’s her hostage now. Just has to ride it out ’til morning. We can’t interfere. He’ll be fine.”
Apparently, once a Pooka tricked you into mounting up, you were trapped into a night of mayhem and mischief, with no choice but to ride or die . . .literally.
Poor guy. Probably flinched every time he saw a pony after that.
I wasn’t much of a potion person, so I passed the stall without a second glance. Instead, I found a cozy spot at the base of a small flowering tree across from the fountain. Privateenough, but still perfect for the entertainment of people-watching.
My mouth was salivating as I opened the mesh bag of chocolates. They were rich brown and dusted with a delicate powdering of gold. I popped one into my mouth and held back an embarrassing moan.Fuck me sideways.They wereincredible. Carrot cake haters didn’t know what they were missing.
A flash of light had me jolting back against the hard tree. I instinctively threw up a hand to shield my eyes.
Pudge appeared, rosy cheeked and giddy-eyed. Short strawberry curls bounced as he shimmied his shoulders, eyes locking onto the truffles. The devious little Cherub snatched them up without hesitation, tossing both in his mouth at once. Wet, muffled giggles escaped his chocolate-dribbled lips as he chomped away. A plump hand patted his round protruding tummy.
“Hey! Those were?—”
Another flash. He vanished.
“You’ve gotta be kidding me!” I huffed, muttering a curse under my breath. “That little—” Shaking my head, a laugh I couldn’t resist tumbled out.
Pudge was the most adorable little devil you’d ever meet. Honey and Huck had their feral sides too, but his brand of chaos was unmatched. Honestly, I really shouldn’t have been surprised to see him hijack my sweets. It’d been his hobby for years. Didn’t matter where I was: classroom, lunchroom, field trip, bathroom, car, date. He’d justappear, wreaking havoc like it was his divine right. And no matter how many times I’d ask, he never answered how he knewwhento show up—or how nobody else seemed to see him.
When kids weren’t the nicest to me as a teen, he’d appear out of nowhere, serving justice. Sometimes a littletooharshly. I’ll never forget thePoodiniincident during my sophomoreyear. One of my classmates, Giovanna, bragged for weeks about how her sweet sixteen was going to be the highlight of the year. Her and her friends nicknamed methe pet, since I was close to the teachers. Adults were just easier to get along with, less raging hormones and social bullshit than my peers. Everyone was invited to the party. Well, everyone except the outcasts, which included me. According to her,animals weren’t allowed in.
That night of the party, I sulked in my room, stewing in humiliation. Pudge showed up out of nowhere, sweetly comforting me, listening while I vented. But then his face shifted into thatunhingedsmile. The one that had trouble written all over it. And just like that, he rifted away.
Not five minutes later, he popped back in. The only response he’d given me was a smug shrug. I begged him to tell me he didn’t do anything, but he refused to answer. Come Monday morning, I found out Giovanna’s party had been pretty shitty . . .literally. Everyone that attended came down with sudden, severe food poisoning—the explosive, chocolate-squirts kind. Since the venue had limited bathrooms, chaos erupted. Emergency services were even called at the peak of it.
Shit happens, right?
Pudge might have little angel wings, but I’m convinced he’s hiding a devil’s tail. And in all honesty, a wicked part of my soul loves him all the more for it. Dozens of memories like that lived rent-free in my mind. I was horrified by the things he’d do—but deep down, it warmed my heart to know that this was his love language.
There was no stopping that gremlin, so I learned to sit back and enjoy the show once in a while. Like the time he crashed a painfully boring first date in college. He kept stealing my date’s fries, one at a time, very slowly. I watched in horror, barely breathing, as that pudgy little hand snaked up from under thetable, snagging a fry and disappearing again. My date rambled on, growing more confused by the minute as his plate slowly emptied. I attempted to swat Pudge away under the table, but hebitmy fingers with those sharp, little teeth. I nearly yelped. It took everything in my soul to keep a straight face. I swear I almost peed myself laughing when I told Wyatt and David what happened.
Harsh commands cut through the market, stripping me from memory lane.
Two men strode down the cobblestone walkway, bickering as they headed toward a larger group of brawny figures. It wasn’t hard to tell they were all part of the same club—probably theCuntry Club, judging by their matching caps and tweed suits. Suits I was all too familiar with.Luckmen.
Straightening, I leaned my side against the tree. Leaving was probably the smart move, considering a certain Luckman was the reason I’d run off in the first place. I had no desire to be surrounded by more of them. Especially when they looked to be in foul moods.
Just as I pushed off the tree ready to slip away—I felt it.
