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“Just us and Zenith!” Killian squeaked.

“Ottis found out somehow,” Crush told him.

“Wait,” Uriel said. “What kind of book is it?”

“A romance,” Killian said. “In which the crown prince Burnzinger and his mage Ulgon fight like bulls on a rampage, but they end up falling for each other. There’s a baby involved. It’s a really good book.”

“Huh,” Uriel said. “That actually sounds interesting.”

“You see?” Killian exclaimed, bouncing on his heels. “Want to read it? I bet you and Bruiser will love it too. I wouldn’t have offered if you two weren’t together yet, but now that you are...”

Without waiting for an answer, he dashed off.

Crush glanced at Uriel and Bruiser, waiting for their judgment.

“I guess I’d have to read the book before I can decide,” Uriel said.

“Want to come in for some tea?” Crush asked.

Uriel opened his mouth to answer, but his stomach grumbled. “I need something spicy.”

Bruiser gave him a scorching look. “Guess we’ll have to turn down the tea. Maybe another time.”

“Here!” Killian skidded to a stop at the door, shoving a book into Uriel’s hands. “It’s pretty accurate. Zen did a really good job. I think you’ll enjoy it, even the steamy scenes.”

“Even the st—” Uriel choked. “Kils!”

Killian waggled his eyebrows. “Don’t knock it ‘til you try it, they actually gave Crush and me some ideas.”

“Hmm,” Bruiser said. “I guess we’ll have to read it soon.”

“You can get cum all over that copy, just don’t return it to us,” Killian said. “We have spares.”

“What do you need spares for?” Uriel asked.

“Spreading the joy.” Killian grinned. “Shoo! Go read the book. Then we can all have a book club meeting.”

“I don’t know how I feel about that,” Uriel said, but he was already following Bruiser back to the car.

“Food first,” Bruiser said. “I know exactly what you need.”

They were barely out of the grocery store when Bruiser popped open the box of mixed peppers. Then he paused. “Damn it.”

“What?” Uriel had one hand on the shopping cart following them around.

“Can’t eat this in public, you’d draw too much attention,” Bruiser said. “We’ll have to get you home first.”

Because it was still broad daylight, Bruiser couldn’t fly them anywhere. They could all take Uriel’s broom, but that also meant leaving the car behind at the grocery store.

“I can wait through a car ride,” Uriel said dryly.

The shopping cart bumped against his hip, squeaking its wheels hopefully.

Metals had magic. It began as wisps of energy in metal ores, that gathered and grew concentrated as the ores were refined. By the time pure metals were forged into parts, they contained a lot of magic. So when the parts of a mostly-metal object moved together, their magic interacted, turning the object sentient. It was why door locks could smile, faucets could bite, and shopping carts frolicked at grocery stores.

Uriel’s shopping cart held their groceries, squeaking along in front of them. It was adorable, actually, like a pet.

When Uriel glanced at Bruiser, Bruiser sighed. “You want to bring it home, huh?”