Page 9 of Valentine's With A Vampire

With a nod, she rises and departs the café, crossing the street toward her bookstore. A swirl of confetti bursts above the clock tower at the center of town, signifying the official start of some midday event. People gather in small clusters, likely preparing for the festival’s big night. Children laugh, chasing after floating hearts. Musicians test their instruments near the fountain, each note sparking a tiny rainbow in the air.

I can’t keep scowling at everyone. The energy in Evershift Haven is so joyful, it’s impossible to stay angry forever. That irritates me even more.

Chapter 4—Vandria

I PACE THE LENGTH OFmy bookstore in a swirl of restless energy. The overhead lanterns twinkle with pastel hearts. Customers drift through the aisles, flipping pages and whispering idle gossip about the grumpy newcomer. More than one claims he’s skulking around town, refusing to take part in any festivities. Naturally, that piques my curiosity and tugs on my remaining guilt.

A pair of teen witches huddles at the front display, giggling behind their hands. They’re pointing at a local newspaper article that references “the disgruntled human florist.” The headline just appeared on the page, which fills itself in each time there’s a new story, so the reporter is moving quickly.

I slip behind the counter, smooth my jacket sleeves, and tell the store’s animated quill to hold down the fort. Nobody seems to need urgent magical texts right now. I swing the door sign to “Back Soon” and head into the bustling midday sunshine.

Evershift Haven is in full festival mode. Heart-shaped leaves drift across the cobblestones, couples lounge in front of pop-up treat booths, and kids chase pastel illusions of floating candy hearts. The entire atmosphere buzzes with romance. Normally, I’d find it charming. This year, I’m scanning the crowds for one surly face with a personal lantern in tow.

It doesn’t take long. Right outside the Town Hall, I spot Declan leaning against a lamppost, arms crossed, and scowling at a paper in his hand. I think it’s the map I gave him. Judging byhis scowl, he’s in no better mood than before. A few people pass by and glance at him, but no one dares approach.

I stride up, hooking my thumbs into my belt loops. “You hiding from the entire festival, or just the parts that involve fun?”

He looks up sharply, eyes flashing with a mix of annoyance and relief. “I’m not hiding. I’m...trying to figure out if there’s any exit that won’t loop me around again.” He rattles the map from my shop.

I arch a brow. “How’s that going?”

He huffs. “About as well as you’d expect. Every road leads back here.”

A breeze blows through, carrying the scent of cinnamon and chocolate from a nearby booth. I catch his gaze flicking to my fangs, half-hidden by my lips. I force a gentle smile, hoping to disarm him. “Word is, you’re in a bad mood.”

He stiffens. “I wouldn’t call it a mood. I’m trapped.”

“Semantics.” I gesture around at the heart-shaped streamers overhead. “You might as well make the most of it. If you can’t leave, you can at least have a good time.”

He glances away, tension in his jaw. “How? By letting these weird illusions chase me around while everyone laughs at the outsider with the clingy lantern?”

I inch closer, lowering my voice. “I know it feels like the whole town’s mocking you, but they aren’t. They just...enjoy the spectacle. If you join in, they’ll stop treating you like a sideshow.”

His gaze flicks to the golden orb bobbing at his shoulder. “I doubt that. This thing won’t quit.”

I plant a hand on his folded arms. He doesn’t recoil, but he does tense. “Listen, Mr. Florist, you’re stuck here until at least the end of the festival. You can sulk, or you can...live a little.”

His eyes narrow, but he doesn’t jerk away. “What exactly did you have in mind?”

“Chocolate,” I say simply, tapping the air like I’m reading off a list. “Dancing. Maybe a fortune-telling booth that’s rumored to give scarily accurate predictions.”

He snorts. “Chocolate? I guess that doesn’t sound too bad.”

A slow smile curls at my lips. “See? There’s hope for you yet.”

He frowns. “Fine. One activity. Then I’m out.”

I link my arm through his before he can protest. The lantern flares a cheery gold, as if it approves. “One at a time. We’ll start with the chocolate-tasting.”

We navigate the festival stalls lining the Town Square. Vendors in colorful aprons showcase trays of handmade truffles, fudge, and all manner of sugary confections. A portly dwarf manning the main table spots me and waves. “Vandria? You found a partner for the contest?”

I sense Declan tensing beside me, but I beam at the dwarf. “Absolutely. Sign us up.”

Declan tries to pull his arm free. “Wait. Partner for what?”

The dwarf chuckles. “Our annual chocolate-tasting contest. Pairs compete to guess flavors, some of which are enchanted. You in, big guy?”

Declan shifts, scowl returning for a second before he nods. “Okay, I guess. Let’s do it.”

---