Page 57 of How To Please A Princely Fae

“Hello, Willow, Kieran. You’ve barely made it in time; we were just about to close up shop and hunker down.” Druze, Lila’s husband and new business partner, ushers us inside with a broad smile.

He’s the only male dryad I’ve ever seen, and even though he’s lived here for months now, his greenish tinted skin and huge frame still take me a moment to adjust to. There’s something different and otherworldly about him compared to Ga’Rek, too, who I’ve been around a lot more and have grown completely accustomed to. I scooch inside past him, nearly fumbling the wax paper and twine wrapped meat, but Kieran manages to catch me and our groceries up in his arms before I ruin them.

“Thank you,” I say on an exhale.

“Don’t thank me,” he says, a bit curtly, and I blink in surprise before he smiles down at me again, chasing some of the worry away. “You deserve someone who will always catch you.”

“Willow!” Lila calls from the back storeroom, appearing in the doorway. “And Kieran. What a nice surprise.”

I inhale deeply, savoring the incredible herbal aroma of her shop. I am fully capable of making my own tea, as is every witch,but Lila’s elven knack for herbs and flavors will always put my sad attempts to shame. Her tea is worth every single cent.

“I love this place,” I tell her honestly, my eyes devouring the interior as if they’ve been starved for stimulation. There are several dozen tables, all done with different creatures’ and species’ preferences in mind. Two rooms branch off the main one, and those are decorated thematically, too.

The whole space is magical, and a good reminder that not all magic comes from witchery—some people are simply gifted.

“And I love that you love it. Having Wild Oak Woods’ best apothecary and green witch love my work is about as big a compliment as I could ever imagine.” Lila takes the packages from my hands, setting them down on an empty table before drawing me into her arms for a hug. “It’s been a while.”

“You’re mated,” Druze says, the shock in his voice startling me out of Lila’s arms.

Is he upset? Does he think we’re a bad match? He must know how much Kieran despised me, or that he has amnesia?—

“I’m so happy for you, Kieran,” Druze explodes, beaming as he drags my prince into a hug of his own, thumping him heartily on the back.

Lila crows, hugging me again as she hops from foot to foot. She claps her hands in glee as she pulls away to study us both.

“We have to celebrate,” she says, her joy shining on her face.

“We, uh, ah, we have to get home before the storm?—”

“Not right now, you goose, but soon. Oh, we can have a party here, don’t you think, Druze?” She spreads her hands wide, encompassing the whole space. “Candlelit, dinner in six courses, tea paired with each, don’t you think?”

“Lila, you don’t have to do that?—”

“I want to,” she enthuses, taking my hands in hers. “It’s what you deserve.” She reaches for Kieran, tucking him into her side,where he towers over her slender frame. “Both of you. Oh, I’m just so happy right now.”

“If it helps, she’s been wanting to throw more parties here. Extend the business,” Druze explains, his green eyes twinkling in the tea shop’s low light. “You’ll give her an excuse and an example to expand.”

“Oh.”

“We don’t have to if you don’t want to, or we could do something just a little small, you know, elegant and simple.” Lila wrings her hands, eyes searching mine.

“Willow is still adjusting to our new status,” Kieran tells her, not unkindly, but it makes me feel uncomfortable and ungrateful all at once.

“I just need to think about it. It’s not a no.” My voice sounds small to my own ears.

“Of course, of course, I’m sorry, I should have waited, that was insensitive of me to pounce all over you.” Lila’s clearly crestfallen, and Druze wedges between her and Kieran to wrap a muscled arm around her shoulders.

“No, not at all. It’s kind and generous of you. I just need to, ah, think about it?”

Wind whips around the tea shop, howling as it tears down the street, and we all fall silent as it screams.

“We should get the tea we need and get home,” Kieran says and I nod, suddenly trepidatious about braving the outdoors and that wind again.

“Tell me what you want and Druze can take the cart and horse to your house, Willow. It’s too far to walk in this.”

With the storm ratcheting up outside, we don’t waste any time. Chirp flies off ahead of us, and I watch him disappear with a bit of worry.

I don’t want my owl hurt in this storm.

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