Page 289 of May: Bloom & Bane

I grin. “I’ve actually been craving strawberry shortcake all week.”

She whips her head toward Damien, her eyes impossibly wide.

“Did you hear that?” she whispers. “She wants all of them. She even wants the shortcake, Damien.”

Damien’s chest rumbles with an affectionate chuckle, his thumb tracing soothing circles along the back of her neck. “I heard her, sweetheart. You did perfect.”

I’ve never seen him look so happy. He is so incredibly smitten with her.

“See?” Jack grins, “I told you, Birdie. Monster pregnancy is an elite force. There is no such thing as too many baked goods.”

“He’s not wrong,” I giggle. “Please tell me we can go inside and eat them immediately. If I have to smell that strawberry shortcake for another two minutes without a fork, I fear I may perish.”

She eagerly steps back, opening the door wide enough to invite the whole town. “Yes! Come in, please. I cleared off the big table. I normally keep all my extra inventory there. I made sure to sew an extra cushion for one of the chairs because Lucifer said your back was hurting. I have five different kinds of tea—none of them have caffeine or anything that will upset Vaelína⁠—”

“Magpie,” Damien murmurs, smiling as he squeezes the back of her neck.

She inhales deeply.

“You have to let them through the door first.”

“You really outdid yourself, mon petit oiseau,” Lucifer murmurs, effortlessly lifting the desserts from her trembling arms.

I step through the doorway and wrap my arms around her.

She goes perfectly still.

“... Hi,” I whisper.

After the smallest hesitation, her arms slip around me just as tightly.

“... Hi.”

“You smell like a bakery.”

She lets out a watery little laugh. “That’s because I practically am one.”

“You also smell a little like my favorite candle.”

Jack snorts. “Pretty sharp nose for a human. You’re right though, Winnie smells like plumeria and wine.”

Winnie ducks her head. “That’s the fragrance oil.”

“It is not the fragrance oil,” Jack retorts. “She has always⁠—”

“Shall we eat, mesdames?” Lucifer interrupts.

I glance at Sage. He’s already watching me. Understanding, settling quietly between us.

I wonder how much of their story she’s still waiting to discover.

“Tea? Coffee? It’s decaf! Lemonade? Water? Oh—Eden, can pregnant women have hibiscus? Wait... maybe not.”

Damien scoops Winnie clear off the ground. “Honey. Sit.”

Winnie lets out a startled squeak as he hoists her into the air, her black-and-white hair swinging around her face before he sets her on the top of the table. He tips her chin with two fingers. “We’ll get the drinks. You sit and relax with Eden. Can you do that, Win?”

She nods once. “I… I can do that.”