Page 16 of Wanted: A Roommate Who Isn't Evil

“That clingy human,Beth, brought them over.” Luc turned back toward the TV as he said it.

Dranian glanced back into the kitchen, but he saw no platter of muffins. “Them?”

“She brought two. I ate both,” Luc stated. “You see, I was hungry because you failed to replenish your cupboards with food before accepting your new roommate.”

With that, Luc scootched over and sprawled over Dranian’s favourite seat, taking up every inch of the couch.

“If you’re so faeborn hungry all the time, go get groceries yourself,” Dranian muttered.

Luc swung back around in his seat to face him again, rolling his eyes. “I wouldn’t dare go grocery shopping for you, North Fairy. I have no desire to do all the work myself andtake careof youlike your mushy gushy brothers of the North do.”

Dranian opened his mouth to snap a response but couldn’t think of anything to say, so he closed it again. Instead,he headed back into the kitchen and threw open cupboard after cupboard to find something else to eat for breakfast. But on his fourth and last cupboard, he realized that Luc was, in fact, correct.

Apart from the crumbs on the counter, there was no food in this kitchen.

Dranian huffed as he considered what to do next. He glanced down at his left arm where a long forever-scar covered his muscle, and he tried to imagine hauling back enough groceries for two fairies. Then he marched back out to the living room. “I’ll not take care of you either,” he stated. “I refuse to go fetch food by myself. I’d rather watch us both starve than—”

“Good.” Luc stood so fast, Dranian nearly jumped. “We agree, then. We’ll both go.” The fox slid on his jacket and yanked the door open before Dranian could peep another word. It took Dranian a moment to collect his bearings, and to realize he had to find his wallet, his jacket, and his most recent grocery list.

Two enemy fairies glided down the market aisles pushing a metal basket on wheels and bickering over each and every item that was placed into it. It seemed the only food they could settle on was ice cream. After that, each fairy added whatever they wanted to their stash, not bothering to ask each other’s opinion anymore.

Even though Dranian had never once crossed Mor in this market, he kept his eyes peeled for the curly-haired fairy, dreading the thought of running into him. Dranian was sure he wouldn’t be able to come up with an explanation for the situation if Mor caught him anywhere near Luc Zelsor.

Luc walked ahead and rounded an aisle.

Dranian’s pointed ears perked up at the sound of the fox’s startled gasp. He saw Luc scramble back a step into view, his dark brown and silver eyes big and round. Dranian was sure he’d imagined it when Luc’s rhythms skittered.

He pushed the metal basket ahead to see what in the human realm could have possibly startled a nine tailed fox, but the walkway around the corner was essentially uninteresting. Dranian scanned the shelves, the humans, a dog on a short leash, a few childlings running by and being chased by their parents.

When Dranian looked back at Luc, Luc was a perfect picture of calm. It was as though Dranian had imagined the whole thing.

“What did you see?” Dranian demanded, looking ahead again. He spotted no foe and nothing of the unusual or wicked sort.

“Hmm?” Luc asked. His hand traced up his chest and he fiddled with a gold necklace. “What are you talking about, North Fairy? Are you rambling on about some nonsense just to make conversation?”

Dranian stared at him, forgetting how to speak. There wasn’t a single time in Dranian’s faeborn life he’drattled onabout nonsensejust to makeconversation.

Luc released a grunt and reached for the metal basket, tugging it away and pushing it himself. “Hurry up, you fool. The ice cream will melt.”

Dranian watched as Luc veered the basket far around the human holding tight to its dog’s leash. A look of revulsion crossed the fox’s face. He stole a look—just one, and very subtly—toward that dog as he passed by it.

Dranian knew he hadn’t imagined it. He hurried to catch up, almost daring to smile. “Do you fear dogs?” he asked plainly, and Luc snorted a laugh.

“Hardly. Though one would be a fool if they weren’t thoroughly repulsed by them. Don’t tell me you enjoy the smell of those creatures, or the loud barking noises they make, or the way they drool on everything.” He paled a little like he might vomit as he went on, carrying the conversation all by himself. “They are the most revolting creatures in the entire human realm. And these idiots,” he pointed around at all the humans, “bring them into their homes and keep them as pets. I always knew humans were a less sophisticated species than us, but their love of such disgusting creatures just proves it.”

It was only then that Dranian realized how much of an insult it was when Luc called him adog, seeing how much the Shadow Fairy despised them.

Dranian thought about that for only a moment before he spotted spaghetti noodles. He didn’t realize how eager he was until he caught himself biting his lip, imagining fresh pasta with creamyred fruit sauce and beast meat. He would be the next creature drooling on everything if he didn’t get home and eat soon. He grabbed a bag of pasta—no,twobags—off the shelf and placed them carefully in the metal basket like they were pure spun gold.

“Let’s be finished with this market,” he murmured, glancing back toward the fruit barrels where a nice stack of fresh pumpkins were on display. The floor below was shiny and clean. “We’ll split the cost of the food,” he added.

“The cost?” Luc looked at him like he was crazy. “Do you truly expect me to pay these humans for all this? I can just airslip away with the whole cart.”

“And leave me here alone to deal with the consequences?” Dranian snarled. “I think not.”

Luc raised a scarlet brow. “You don’t necessarily need to be left here. I’ll take whatever’s in this cart when I leave, North Fairy.” He nodded down to the basket on wheels. “Feel free to hop in.” Luc’s wicked smile broadened, and Dranian glared.

“I willnotclimb into this silver basket before all these watching humans,” he stated.

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