by Molly Harper
Dani cringed, the corners of her mouth pulling back. “She’s . . . intense.”
“Do me a favor, if she offers you anything to eat or drink . . . don’t take it . . . And maybe don’t let her have any of your hair . . . or blood or important personal possessions.”
“That’s pretty good advice. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I think I hear the gumbo calling my name,” Dani said. “And I suppose I have to talk to some of the other League people eventually.”
Zed nodded. “I’ll catch up with you at the tables, cher.”
He crossed the grass to Jillian and the stranger. She beamed at him and waved him over. “Mayor Zed Berend, I would like you to meet Mel Yamagita of Loveland, Ohio.”
Despite his confusion, Zed pasted on his best mayoral smile and shook Mel’s hand. To his surprise, the old man had a serious grip on him.
“Nice to meet you, sir.”
Mel gestured around the yard. “Hell of a place your mother has here.”
Zed glanced toward Bael, who had shrunk into his human form and slipped into his spare pants. He jogged toward them, with a big smile on his face. He kissed Jillian soundly on the cheek and nodded to Mel. “We have more seafood than you could ever want to eat, Mel. Do you want a beer?”
Mel nodded his balding head. “That would be great, Bael, thanks.”
Bael ran off to fetch Mel’s food. Zed pursed his lips. Bael was behaving in an almost tame fashion. What was going on with his friend right now?
“Mel is going to be moving to Mystic Bayou soon,” Jillian said. “He’s been looking at buying Gladys Fider’s old place. It’s peaceful and it’s right on the water—”
Mel curled his arm around Jillian’s waist and squeezed her against his side, grinning broadly. “And it’s near my best girl, so it’s an ideal place for retirement.”
Zed had so many questions about this strange little man who was giving Zed that familiar “hair standing on end” reaction that he had around most magique. Though their bond was clearly non-romantic—because Bael was allowing this man to live—Zed had no idea how Mel fit into Jillian’s life. He’d assumed that the citizens of Mystic Bayou were the first magique she’d ever met.
And suddenly, Zed realized where he’d seen Mel before, the picture on Jillian’s desk. This man was one of Jillian’s closest friends, and while that explained Bael’s polite tolerance of Mel’s physical proximity, it didn’t really explain the shifter energy crackling off of him or why Bael was almost . . . sucking up to Mel.
Relationships were weird.
Zed put his arm around Jillian’s shoulder, pulling her loosely to his side. He nodded toward Ivy, who was now staring down Bonita de los Santos. “Catin, you know I don’t like to pre-judge people, but that woman is . . . concerning.”
“Ivy?” Jillian’s mouth pulled back at the corners. “Ivy comes highly recommended, is even more qualified, but her bedside manner is appropriate for working with dead people.”
“Why do we need a coroner again?”
Jillian tilted her head and patted his arm. “Um, remember that series of murders we had a few months back? And how we didn’t have a medical examiner who could deal with it? This fixes that problem. Also, as long as the family members sign the right release forms, Ivy will do a sort of death census, recording the Bayou’s life spans, causes of death, etc. It’s going to provide a lot of helpful information.”
“Dammit, I hate it when you make sense.”
“And yet, it happens so often.”
Across the yard, Ben Boone was lifting a wire basket filled with shrimp, crayfish, crabs, lemons, potatoes, and corn out of a cauldron of boiling water. He carried the basket—without protective gloves—and carefully spread the boiled seafood on a newspaper-covered table at the end of the line, for those who wanted to eat with their hands. The air was redolent with the scent of lemon, seafood and spice, and Zed naturally drifted toward his favorite scents. It had nothing to do with the fact that Dani had made a beeline for the crayfish table . . . or the fact that he’d been aware of where she was standing since they’d arrived, no matter where she moved amongst the crowd.
She was laughing with Theresa Anastas as she tied a cloth around her neck to protect her clothes. Zed watched as Rajesh Agarwal showed Dani how to pull the heads from the crayfish and claim the meat with her teeth. Rajesh was a tiger shifter from Kerala, India, a relative newcomer to the bayou who delighted in all things food-related. He was also very happily mated to a lion shifter named Analah. Otherwise, Zed would feel a little strange about Rajesh’s hands being so close to Dani’s mouth.
Dani licked her own fingers, grinning as she searched for the next delicious bite to eat amongst the jumble on the table. She peeled and bit into a shrimp, moaning at the explosion of flavor in her mouth. Her pleasured sounds were enough for Zed to need to move behind one of the high-top “drinking tables” for cover. The spicy juices from the garlic-rich seafood ran down Dani’s arm as she ate. She laughed, and followed its trail down her skin with her tongue, licking it clean.
He could stand here for hours, enjoying the spectacle of her meal, without taking a bite himself. She ate like someone who loved life and enjoyed it to the fullest. And it was the sexiest thing he’d ever seen.
Zed noted that the intense girl who guarded the entrance to Jillian’s office, Lara, was taking pictures of Dani’s culinary delight with a fancy-looking camera. Jillian said something about using photos from the party in promotional materials. Zed made a mental note to bribe Lara with some form of pie to get a copy of Dani’s photo.
Suddenly the seat next to Dani was occupied by some tool from the League’s research department, one of the first League reps Zed had met after Jillian’s return to town . . . Dr. John As . . . something . . . Assface? No, that couldn’t be his legal name, but Zed was definitely comfortable calling him an assface at the moment. He slid onto the picnic table next to Dani, tied a cloth around his neck and began picking through the boil mix. He was blond with a perfect Ken doll jawline and Zed hated him on principle.
Dani was smiling as Dr. Assface made small talk. Though his ears couldn’t quite pick up his voice over the noise of the crowd, Zed could imagine Dr. Ken Doll Assface saying, “Oh, it’s so nice being so much more worldly and sophisticated than every person in this town. I think you’ll find I have much more in common with you than anyone else here, what with my fancy pants education. Would you like to leave this lame party to go enjoy a latte with me at my condo? We can watch a depressing documentary on climate change.”
Okay, that probably wasn’t fair. Most people wouldn’t open a conversation that way, particularly when Dani was obviously enjoying herself at the party. But he was sure a latte offer would be involved if Dr. Assface asked Dani out. These League people practically worshipped lattes.
He should walk over there and ask Dani if she wanted some gumbo. Or just pick up Dr. Assface and toss him to the mermaids in the inlet. That would be a reasonable response to this situation, right?
“Hey, Zed, um, your claws are out,” Bael said, appearing at his elbow.
Startling, Zed grimaced and stuck his hands behind his back.
Bael asked, “You okay, man?”
Zed swallowed the jealousy rising in his throat like acid. He was not okay. He didn’t recognize these uncomfortable, dark feelings in himself. He didn’t get jealous over women. He didn’t get threatened by other males. And he for damned sure didn’t suffer bouts of insecurity. Insecurity was for whiners. He was awesome, born of awesome, made of awesome. Fuck this shit.
“I’m fine, just got distracted,” Zed said. “Let’s get something to eat.”
“Sure, Jillian’s got seats over by your mom.”
Zed glanced toward Dani’s table with more than a little longing, then consigned himself to polite behavior and a good meal with people he loved. “So what’s the deal with that Mel guy?”
“Well, you know, Jillian doesn’t really keep up much with her family. But Mel, he was the
one who introduced her to the whole world of the magique when she was a kid.”
“Really?” Zed laughed.
“You ever heard of the Loveland Frog? That’s Mel. Or at least, his family. Jillian grew up in Loveland and in high school, she set her mind to finding the mythical frogman. Took her about six months.”
“Well, hell, of course she did.” Zed guffawed, a loud, barking noise that had Dani scanning the crowd for him. She waved when she caught his eye. He waved back, a stupid happy grin on his face.
“Oh, we’re talking about that later,” said Bael.
“I plead the Fifth, man.”
“Anyway, Mel has connections in the magique world even Jillian didn’t know about. He’s been easing her way through her whole career, not making opportunities mind you, just helping her along. He was the one who got her a job with the League. He’s the closest thing to a true father that she’s got. When he realized she was going to be settling in a magique community long-term, he decided to move closer to her. He’s getting older, and he doesn’t want to lose his time with her.”
“And what do you think of that?” Zed asked.
“Whatever makes Jillian happy, makes me happy.”
Zed made a noise that sounded like a whip cracking.
Bael scoffs. “Yeah, yeah, laugh it up. But if I’m going to ask her to marry me, I need to talk to him first.”
“Married.” Zed settled back on his heels and stared at his friend. As much as he knew that Jillian was Bael’s mate, the idea of Bael getting married, it was so . . . adult and domestic. It made his neck itch in discomfort. Or that could be a mosquito, who knew. “Wow.”
“I spent about a month going through my horde, trying to find the perfect ring for her.”
“Did you swim through it like Scrooge McDuck?” Zed asked, smirking.
“I can’t believe Jillian told you about that,” Bael sighed.
“Hey, she refused to show me the video she took on her phone. You should take that as a true sign of allegiance in the woman you’re going to marry.
Bael frowned. “I didn’t know there was a video.”
“So show me the ring,” Zed insisted.
Bael turned his back toward his lady love—and Mel—to keep her from seeing him open a little jewelry box to show him a very respectable solitaire set in a gold band that looked like dragon scales. Zed clapped his hand on Bael’s shoulders. “That’s a beauty. She’ll love it.”
“I had Australian opals, Columbian emeralds, pearls from Atlantis. Nothing felt right. So I took a bunch of copies of her report, burned it with dragon fire. And then I took the ashes to this lab in New Orleans and had them compressed into a diamond.”
The delighted grin abandoned Zed’s face. “You burned her life’s work?”
Bael pursed his lips. “Is that bad? I thought it would be romantic, because her work is what brought us together. And it was only copies.”
“It’s a calculated risk. I’ll keep my couch free for you, just in case,” Zed told him. “You realize when she hears you talked to Mel to ask permission to marry her, she’s going to hit you with a stick. Because feminism.”
“I didn’t say I was asking for permission,” Bael insisted. “I am asking for his blessing, big difference. I know my woman.”
“Well, I’m happy for you. Even if it will leave you with even less time to see me.”
“Right because that’s what this is about. Your feelings,” said Bael.
“I would make that whip-lash noise again, but we’re getting close to her and Jillian might hear me.”
Bael nodded. “Good call.”
Zed spent the next few hours eating his neighbors’ culinary offerings and trying to hold conversations with people who did homework for a living. The usual after-dinner tradition of dancing had been done away with on Jillian’s advice. She’d told Clarissa and Zed that bookish colleagues would be much more comfortable with just sitting and chatting.
In the spirit of good sportsmanship, Zed re-introduced himself to Rob Aspern, PhD, whose name was not, in fact, Dr. Assface. And Zed felt a little bad for his assumed dialogue painting Dr. Aspern as a latte-loving douche. He seemed like a nice enough guy. Zed just wanted him separated from Dani by about three parishes. And an ocean. Full of sharks.
He lost track of her a few times as she milled about the crowd. But after most everybody was full and lulled into quiet, happy after-supper conversation, Dani approached their table with a beer in her hand and an empty pie plate. Zed was quick to hop up and make room for her, which immediately caught the attention of his maman.
“You must be Dani.” Clarissa Berend was a broad-shouldered woman who gave Zed his gray eyes and dark hair. She eyed the newcomer up and down and extended her hand to Dani. “My Zed tells me you’re living out at the maison de fous, and that he stomped all over your shower.”
“He’s right on both counts. I’m Danica Teel, it’s nice to meet you.”
Dani cleared her throat and reached out to Clarissa, who gripped her hand so hard that Zed could see the ripple of discomfort on Dani’s face. Before he could tell his mother to back off, Dani squeezed right back and made a line appear between Clarissa’s steely gray eyebrows.
“Well, Miss Teel, do you cook at all?”
“Not much beyond salads and soups,” Dani admitted. “I’m more of baker.”
Clarissa nodded. “You like children?”
“Depends on the child.”
“Any genetic disorders in your family?”
“That strikes me as being none of your business,” Dani replied.
Clarissa’s lips quirked into a smile as Zed’s brows shot up to his hairline. “All right, then.”
“Zed, Lara mentioned she could give me a ride home,” said Dani. “She’s about to head out and I don’t want to—”
“Nope, I’ll be ready to go in a minute. I’m sober as a judge and ready to drive responsibly.”
Under his breath, Bael made a “whipping” noise. Zed shot him a poisonous look.
“All right, then,” said Dani. “I’m going to go say my goodbyes. Thank you, Miss Clarissa, for putting together an amazing welcome for us all. The food was delicious.”
Clarissa gave her what could only be described as a mama bear hug. “Aw, you’re welcome, sweetheart, you come back any time.”
“Goodnight, everybody.”
Dani walked away while everybody called their goodnights to her.
“I like that gal. Smart. Strong as hell.” Clarissa shook out her hand as if Dani’s grip was still stinging.
“So why were you giving her the third-degree?” asked Jillian.“I thought you wanted Zed to settle down with a nice girl and give you a passel of cubs to dote over? It would be smarter to give her the red carpet treatment.”
“That girl would make me some beautiful grandbabies. But I gotta test the girl’s mettle to make sure she’s tough enough to breed with a bear.”
Suddenly, Zed was struck with the image of Dani’s already luscious curves padded further with his cubs. And he got a little dizzy.
“That makes sense,” Mel told her. “We used to do something similar in my family. But it was more like a ‘princess and the pea’ test. We’d serve the prospective new family member a bowl of matsutake suimono soup, and if they didn’t know we’d given them plain old shimeji mushrooms instead of rare matsutake mushrooms, they weren’t sensitive enough to be a member of our family.”
Jillian cringed. “Wow, that’s . . . kind of mean, Mel.”
“I never said I come from a particularly nice family, sweetheart.”
Zed asked, “What if they were too polite to say, ‘Hey, I noticed you served me plain mushrooms, you bunch of cheapskates?’”
Mel’s wide mouth turned down. “That might be why my birth family died out.”
“Mel’s family traditions aside, shouldn’t Zed maybe go on a few dates with Dani before you start talking about breeding?” Bael asked.
Clarissa shrugged. “Well,
sure if you want to complicate things.”
“Yeah, I’m just going to go before y’all truss me up and toss me on Dani’s porch,” said Zed.
Bael shook his head at his mate and his honorary mother. “I told you two to stop talking that way, it gives him too much warning.”
Zed drove Dani home in his maman’s truck. While he was a confident driver, it didn’t feel right to drive her through the parish in the dark on his bike. Less than savory fae folk came out at night, the kind that didn’t come into town and didn’t interact with humans unless it was to hurt or trick them. And travelers on dark roads attracted unsavory fae like sharks to a bleeding baby seal. He wasn’t about to expose Dani to that risk.
“Did you have a nice time?” he asked.
“I loved it,” said Dani. “I haven’t eaten that well in years. I’m so full, I can barely keep my eyes open.”
“Nothing like a good meal on a warm night to send you off to hibernation.”
Dani giggled sleepily, her head leaned against the glass of the passenger window. “You were right about Siobhan’s pies. I’ve never had better. Well, except my Gramma’s apple crumble, but since it’s sort of a different dessert category, I’ll let it stand. Ever since I ate it, I’ve just felt . . . peaceful? Does that make sense?”
“Absolutely. Siobhan must have sensed you needed to relax a little.”
“Or she slipped me a supernaturally-boosted THC edible.”
“Either one is possible, really. So how well do you know Dr. Ass . . . Aspern?” he asked.
“You mean Rob? Hardly at all. I met him at the grocery store a while ago. He seems like a nice guy who enjoys difficult math and fantasy card games.”
Zed squinted at her. “What?”
“Long story.”
Zed huffed. That didn’t tell him much about whether Dani liked Dr. Assface. He was quiet for the rest of the short drive home. The spirit bottles were in full glow as Zed guided the truck up the driveway. Dani was too busy dozing against the window to notice their ethereal light. Pauve ti bete must have been tuckered out from working so hard. Zed parked the truck and jogged around to the passenger side.