“It was nice to meet you,” I say, and then I start down the aisle to join Ryder, passing a pair of middle-aged fox shifters, a handsome high fae man with a cool complexion and black hair, and Meg.
“Hello, Kit,” the young high fae woman says warmly, scooting a little closer to the man next to her to make room for me on the bench.
“Hi, Meg,” I say. “Will your grandmother attend tonight?”
“No, but this is my brother.” She gestures to the black-haired fae next to her. “River, this is Kit. She’s Laverna’s niece.”
The high fae man leans around his sister and extends his hand, his smile crinkling his cobalt blue eyes. “It’s a pleasure to meet you. I run the bookshop.”
I shake his hand, feeling a small thrill as my magic connects with his. Another winter.
His eyes spark as our opposing magic is drawn together. Thankfully, I don’t shimmer for River. Apparently, that’s only something I do for Ash.
As soon as he releases my hand, Meg gestures past him to the fox shifters, “And those are Jasper and Hazel. They own the meat and cheese shop.”
“Hello, Kit,” Hazel says. “Welcome to Moss Hollow.”
“And that there is Arlo,” Meg says, gesturing to a fox shifter in his mid-twenties who’s currently talking to Marshall near the front of the room. “Hazel’s younger brother.”
“He manages our ice cream shop,” Hazel says. “It’s in the same building as our store, but across the hall.”
“Let’s see. I’ve heard you’ve met Marshall,” Meg continues, gesturing toward the man who works at the garden nursery. “And that’s?—”
“You’re monopolizing Kit’s attention,” Ryder says playfully, “and I’ve already reserved her for the evening.”
“Word has it you’ve already lost that game.” Meg jerks her chin at Ash.
“It’s not over until there’s a ring,” Ryder answers lazily.
She rolls her eyes, sighing a little, and turns back to me. “Do you want me to keep going, or is your head already too full of names?”
I laugh, probably infecting all the nearby people with my magic—which is evident when several look my way.
“Sorry,” I murmur, wanting to disappear in my seat.
Meg loops her arm in mine. “Not at all. You can sit next to me during all the town meetings. If you’re close enough, your magic might shield me from Arista’s.”
“Is she the winter pixie who owns the bakery?” I ask quietly, feeling a bit like a gossip but just trying to keep everyone straight.
“Correct.”
Meg lowers her voice to a whisper. “Not to mention Tessalie.”
“She’s here?” I ask, somewhat surprised.
Spring pixie magic in this tight space could be turbulent. It would either work like a love potion, making people fawn all over the person next to them, whether they like them or not, or cause passionate, jealousrage.
“Where is she?” I ask.
Meg turns in her seat and tips her head to the side. “In the very back, by herself over there.”
The woman looks much like her sister, but with fawn-brown hair and a freckle-free complexion. She plays on her phone like she’s bored, but she seems a little lonely.
“Does she always have to sit by herself?”
“Only when Cosette is here,” Ryder says, joining the conversation. “The two sisters make each other so mad, they can’t control their magic when they’re in the same room. It isn’t a problem if Cosette infects us with tranquility, but Tessalie…”
“I understand.”
