Page 20 of Violet Moon
Sera pointed to her face.“Daring can wait for after I get the rest of all this put back together.”
Hugh smiled, a gleam in his eyes.“Maybe do something fun with that Alpha of yours.”
“We already go to dinner and get drinks together every now and then.”
“Oh,mon lou lou, you know I meant something far more exciting.”
“Never going to happen.”
“I shall eagerly but patiently await the moment you change your mind.”
“What about you?”Sera deflected, shifting in her seat.“Do you try to change anything about yourself every few years?”
“Why mess with perfection?But honestly, yes I do.Or I try to.Don’t you remember those few years when I tried to dress more casually?”He said the last word while making a face, voice thick with disdain.“I like staying the same, but Clemente and I are good for one another in that regard.We’re both very stuck in our ways, but we get annoyed with the other’s stubbornness so we can point out areas for improvement.”
“And how does Lord Clemente think the perfect Hugh needs to improve?”
“He says I need to loosen up, too.”
“You?”Sera feigned a gasp.“Never.”
“That’s what I said.But by vampire standards, I suppose, I am a tad less adventurous.”
“Maybe that’s why we get along so well.”
“Maybe it is.”
Sera held up her new book.“But all that adventure can wait until after I learn how to bake.”
Sera walked out of the coffee shop feeling like she could actually be the competent Beta Parisa deserved.She decided all this positivity deserved more treats, so she headed towards the faun-run chocolate shop a few stores down.
It often had a line outside, but luckily for her, it wasn’t too busy and she strolled in ready to walk out with treats she’d hide in her room so no one else would eat them and Parisa wouldn't know about all her indulgences ahead of the full moon.
She scanned the chocolates behind the glass until she spotted Jo bent over, picking out more flavors than Sera would dare to in one visit.She considered walking right back out, but before she could turn, Jo turned around.
Their eyes opened wider as they recognized her.“Oh, hi Beta.”
Sera waited for the rest of Jo’s excitable rambling and, when it didn’t come, she waved.“Hey there.Picking out some treats?”
Jo nodded, taking the bag of chocolates they’d picked out from the person behind the counter.“Felt like I could use a pick-me-up.”
Sera searched Jo’s features for a sign of what might be making them less animated than usual.“Me, too.Sometimes we all deserve a little something.”She smiled, expecting one of Jo’s bright grins in return, but Jo just nodded again.
“Alright, well, I’m heading back to the house, so —”
They weren’t acting like themselves.Sera had her own feelings to protect and didn’t want to be in their company for long, but Jo needed someone.“Want to walk back together?”
Jo took a beat to respond.“Sure.I’ll go wait outside until you’re done.”
Sera watched them walk out of the store, then turned her attention back to the chocolates behind the glass.She took her time picking out some of her favorites, including some seasonal maple bonbons, and purposefully struck up a conversation with the cashier, glancing out the window to see if Jo was still there.She regretted her offer to walk home together.
She fought the wave of memories that threatened to overtake her and was left with shaky hands, a quickened heartbeat, but only flashes of faces she didn’t want to see in that moment.Before she stepped out, she popped a mint chocolate into her mouth as a way to bolster her spirits before talking to Jo.It didn’t do much, but it did taste amazing as it melted on her tongue.
“You ready to go?”
Jo nodded.They had chocolate at the corner of their mouth.
The sight tugged at the lock Sera kept on her more vivid memories, but she started talking to distract herself.“It’s warmer today.”
