Page 81 of How To Tame A Trickster Fae

“Is that—” I whisper, slightly stunned.

“Ga’Rek? I’m up here,” Piper yells back. “I’m okay, I’m talking to Wren.”

Fenn starts his demonic yodeling again and I cringe, stuffing the rest of the Danish in my mouth. If my ears are going to hurt, I might as well be calm and sugared up.

I take several long swallows of the tea. And caffeinated.

My apartment door bursts open, and the massive warrior orc ducks his head to clear the jamb, his eyes wild. Fenn goes quiet. Thankfully.

Black hair sticks out every which way, and I stare at him for a long moment.

He rakes a hand through it again, and it’s obvious what’s caused it to stand on end.

“Hi,” Piper tells him softly.

“You scared me to death,” he booms.

Fenn yaps at him, but the orc doesn’t even glance away from Piper’s puffy face.

“Who did this to you?” he asks, crossing the room with thunderous footsteps, then kneeling at her feet.

I take a bite of the Danish, too riveted to look away.

Even kneeling, he’s so massive that he’s still at eye-level with petite Piper.

He frowns at her, his tusks enormous, then dabs at a lone tear on her chin. “Why are you crying? Are you hurt? Where is the fool who did this?”

“I’m worried about the autumn festival.” Her voice is hesitant, her eyes wide and shining, and I take another bite of the Danish to keep from commenting on the obvious attraction between them.

Fenn, however, twitches his whiskers and turns to look at me meaningfully.

I dip my chin in agreement.

“What in the moon’s name is going on up there? A damned party?” Caelan’s voice drifts through the still open door, and Ga’Rek blinks and stands, then hits his head on my ceiling and decides to kneel again.

“We’re up here,” I call out needlessly, then stuff some more cheese Danish in my mouth.

Caelan strolls through the door, then pauses, stuffing his hands in his pants pockets as he takes in the scene before him.

Me with my face crammed full of pastry, the orc staring up at Piper with utmost devotion, and Piper, whose face is puffy and red from bawling.

“What in the?—”

“She’s stressed because the Duchess of Lantia is coming to town for the autumn festival and she thinks it’s all up to her to make sure it goes well.” It comes out a garbled mess, and I choke on the flakey pastry, but can’t quite bring myself to care, thanks to the charm.

Caelan races over and thumps my back and I cough, then swallow again.

He glares at me balefully. “You’re having a breakfast party and you didn’t invite me?”

“Oh, please,” I tell him, then pull him down for a crumb-covered kiss that leaves me breathless. “I missed you.”

“And I you. I came over with news to share, but it appears I’ve been upstaged yet again.”

“It is not all on your shoulders, Piper,” Ga’Rek tells her. I start to stand up to find him and Caelan a mug, and maybe some plates, but Caelan puts a heavy hand on my shoulder and presses another kiss against my temple.

He moves fluidly, so elegantly, to the kitchen, finding two teacups and four plates.

And just like that, it’s clear to see.

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