Page 31 of How To Tame A Trickster Fae

A golden glint catches my eye as I walk past the darkened window of another store, and it takes me a half-second to realize it’s my reflection—my hair now neatly managed into cascading waves down one shoulder.

I stand a little straighter, pleased with the results of my work, and carry on down the street towards my first destination.

A little kernel of irritation tries to sprout as I stand outside the huge corner storefront because I’ve managed to avoid going here the entirety of the few months I’ve lived in Wild Oak Woods, telling myself I needed to at least achieve something before I rewarded myself with a visit to what’s sure to be one of my favorite places in the whole village.

The bookstore.

Not just any bookstore, either, but a massive, luxurious space. Dwarven-made ladders

Warm light glows from the windows, proving the witch owner I’ve met in passing is already beginning her day.

“You can do this,” I mutter to myself, and with that, I clutch the door handle and pull it open.

Much too hard because it swings open easily, and I stumble for a second, completely off-balance.

“Oh,” the witch who owns the store startles, peering at me from behind thick round spectacles, her hair neatly braided in a crown around her head. “Good morning, are you alright?”

“Sorry, it wasn’t as heavy as I expected.” A small laugh bubbles out of me, and the witch smiles.

“Wren, right? From down the street? The jeweler?” She squints at me, stepping off the ladder.

“That’s right, hi, and you’re Ruby? Sorry I haven’t stopped by before now, I should have. This place is amazing.”

It’s completely true.

A fire crackles somewhere deep in the shop, and I peer around for a second, enchanted by the entire store. The distinctive smell of paper and ink, along with something floral and woodsy, permeates the air. A cat naps on one of the many little tables, perfect for curling up with a book or for quiet conversation with a friend.

“You’ve been settling in, no need to apologize. Is there something you’re looking for today?”

“You, actually,” I blurt out, then cringe slightly as she blinks owlishly at me. “What I mean to say is, I am, ah, attempting to do a better job at getting out of my store and getting around town.” I gesture vaguely at the gorgeously styled shelves, the gilded leather-bound books and the glass stands housing parchment paper and ink and all manner of stationery.

“And I was first on your list?” She beams at me. “I’m honored. And I’m sorry to say I understand exactly what you mean. It’s hard to get away from work when you live with it, isn’t it?”

“Do something you love and you’ll never work a day in your life, you’ll work every day all day and never be satisfied with how much you’ve done.” I cock my head, pleased when she laughs again. “I don’t think that’s how the saying goes?—”

“But it should,” Ruby exclaims, clapping her hands together. “Here, what do you like to read? I can put together a list for you, that’s the least I can do.”

I hadn’t thought that far ahead, and suddenly, I can’t think of one damned thing I’ve read for fun. Ever. I’m not sure I even know how to read now.

“Do you have any books on local lore, or, uh, maybe on local geology?”

“Sure, of course—we actually had a rush for a certain gemstone years and years ago…” She trails off, disappearing behind another shelf.

I pick my way around it carefully, not wanting to upset anything in the store, still weighed down with my bag.

“I also like romances,” I offer, finally remembering a fact about myself.

“Oh, me too. We have a romance book club that meets monthly, every third Wednesday, if you want to come. I’ve been trying to get Piper to come for ages but she always says she has to wake up early and bake.”

Ruby reappears, holding a couple of books in her arms. “Here. The next books on our club list aaaaand a short history of local caves. I think it covers Wild Oaks geology, but if it’s not what you had in mind, come back and we’ll find another option.”

“I have something for you too,” I say, feeling slightly shy and overwhelmed, but determined to finish what I came here for.

“You do?” Ruby pats her braids, setting the books on what must be her check-out counter. “You didn’t have to do that.”

“Well, I didn’t, of course not, but I’m not just doing it out of pure selflessness.” I cringe. That sounds so much worse than I meant.

“What I mean is, I don’t get a lot of walk-in clientele at my store, so I thought I would take some of my creations and loan them out. You don’t have to take it, I don’t have any expectation of payment, just that you’d tell anyone who asks where you got it.”

---