Page 38 of How To Tame A Trickster Fae

“Rude is you acting like you’re being entirely unsuspicious when you know I know you better than that. What in the moon’s name is going on?”

I blanch. Not the moon’s name.

Ga’Rek peeks his head out from the kitchen, lavishing a broad smile on Piper. “You need any help, boss?”

“No, and stop calling me boss.” She pushes her hair off her face, still glowering at me furiously. “It’s Piper, please. Just Piper.”

I squint at the blush rising in her cheeks, but she points a finger at me, and I immediately raise my hands in the universal gesture for giving up.

“Are you sure I can’t help?—”

“No,” we both tell the orc at the same time.

Out of the corner of my eye, I see him shrug, and then back away.

“What are you up to?” Piper hisses, her palms smacking on the counter.

Thunder rolls, shaking the windows of her shop, and our staring contest breaks as we look outside.

“That’s an omen,” Piper says, now pointing that same dangerous finger at the sky outside.

“It’s a storm,” I say. “Probably.”

“It’s an omen, and you’re going to tell me why you’ve got a brownie around and why you’re headed to Nerissa’s.”

I pinch the bridge of my nose, annoyed but not really seeing a way out of it at this point.

That’s me, slick as can be.

“Maybe you can help me,” I finally say. “Hand me a lemon bar.”

She sniffs, untucking the paper flap and pulling one of the yellow sugar-dusted squares out.

“It smells heavenly.”

“Don’t try to butter me up,” she retorts. “The charm only lasts two hours so whatever you’re planning better be quick.”

“I bought two,” I say around the bite. “It’s really delicious.”

“Of course it is. I made it.”

“She’s the best,” Ga’Rek shouts from the kitchen. “I want to know too, for the record.”

“No,” we both yell back.

“Come on,” I say to her glumly, despite the deliciousness on my tongue. “I’ll tell you while we walk.”

“We’re picking up Willow on the way.” Piper lifts the counter and dusts her hands on her apron before untying it.

“Good idea,” I say meekly.

“What do you need for whatever spell your casting?”

“Who said anything about a spell?”

“You’re a bad liar, so just stop. It’s insulting me.”

“Fine.” I throw my hands up and nearly tell her exactly what I have planned before I remember the nosy green orc in the kitchen.

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