Page 37 of How To Tame A Trickster Fae

WREN

The Pixie’s Perch is busy despite the odd afternoon hour, patrons lounging in the little mismatched tables while Piper packs orders with a smile behind the main counter.

A low baritone voice trickles through the sounds of quiet conversation from the back kitchen, and I blink in surprise as I realize the orc, Ga’Rek, is the one singing. A singing orc. Who is making pastries.

Will wonders never cease?

“Wren!” Piper’s voice pulls me back to my purpose in coming here, and I march up to the counter, hoping I haven’t waited too long to be able to snag the scones for my new brownie friend.

“You’re busy,” I tell her, then wince at my needless observation.

“It’s been steady today,” Piper agrees. “What can I do for you?”

“Do you have any blueberry cheeriness scones left?”

“The ones with the spiced walnuts?” she asks, already heading to the shelves weighed down with sweets. “You’re in luck, we’ve got three.”

“I’ll take them all.” Luck. That’s what I need. “Do you have anything with luck spells?”

She glances up at me, her brow wrinkled. “I do, actually. I baked a tray of lucky lemon squares on a whim this morning. We have two left. Do you want both of those?”

I nod. Two is better than one. “Yes. Yep. I want both.”

“Five pastries, good for you. I’ll wrap up an extra cookie for an even half-dozen. This one has an alluring charm on it. Perfect if you have an admirer in mind.”

“Oh, that would be perfect,” I gush. Just what I need. To be alluring and have luck? That’s exactly what I need—exactly.

Dragon sapphires, come to mama.

Something in my expression must give away my thoughts, because Piper’s face screws up, and she raises her eyebrows.

“Should I be worried?” she asks, her tone hushed. “What’s gotten into you? I saw you walking back and forth early today, and then there were all those dwarves outside your shop…”

“I have a plan,” I say testily, rummaging some coin from my pocket. “Oh, do you have any of Nerissa’s favorites? I’ll take three of those, too.”

I flinch as Piper claps her hand three times, startling me.

“The bakery is closed!” she yells, the whites of her eyes showing. I grab for the package of sweets she’s been putting together, but she clucks her tongue at me and pulls them away.

Frowning, I cross my arms over my chest. “It’s nothing to worry about,” I tell her, and my voice sounds whiney even to my ears.

“It’s nothing to worry about, is it?” she says, her voice rising steadily.

The few patrons who’ve been sitting and having peaceful conversations gather their belongings post-haste and wisely scatter.

“Nothing to worry about,” she seethes. “I had to hear second-hand from Ruby about how you’ve been cavorting with brownies, and then you come in here all,” she makes a flustered sound, waving her hand at me. “All worked up and ordering enough charmed sweets to set anyone’s witchy senses tingling.”

I huff, annoyed that she’s pegged me so easily.

“Can I get another almond croissant to go?” a centaur interrupts, looking between us hopefully.

“Go away, Edward!” Piper yells. “Now is not the time for almond croissants!”

She points at the door, and it flies open.

Edward sullenly clops towards it, and Piper slams it after him.

“That was rude,” I tell her, trying unwisely to change the subject.

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