Page 138 of Something Handsome This Way Comes

“You’re—a—menace—” Milo said, punctuating each word by hitting Grievance with a pillow.

Grievance laughed, caught his wrist, and dragged his mate closer until Milo grumbled and buried his face against his chest.

“Good morning, my love,” Grievance said, kissing the top of the witch’s head.

“Mrnin,” Milo replied with an indignant muffle from between Grievance’s pecs.

It was a good way to begin Pumpkin Festival.

Unfortunately, they had work to do.

By the time they left the cottage, dawn had painted the horizon a pale lavender. Milo carried a wooden crate tucked against his hip, packed with the last of their popping crystals for the Wicked Whisk. The tiny orange crystals snapped and crackled inside their glass jars whenever the crate jostled.

They were one of Milo’s seasonal bestsellers. And, according to Rowen, the secret behind his wildly popular Pumpkin Pop Toffees.

Grievance had eaten exactly one.

The toffee itself was delicious. The problem came thirty seconds later when he’d hiccupped, and a flock of tiny glowing bats flew out of his mouth. They had circled his head three times before exploding into orange sparks.

Milo had laughed so hard he nearly choked. Grievance had not been amused.

They were halfway down Elderberry Lane when someone came barreling toward them. Not quite running; it looked more like a struggle against gravity as she hiked up the steep hill on very short legs.

“Pembrooke!”

Officer Hobbs hurried up the lane, one hand clutching the brim of her hat while the other pumped furiously at her side. By the time she reached them, the dwarf was red-faced and breathing hard.

“Pembrooke!” she huffed. “Please tell me you⁠—”

“We’ve captured the culprit,” Grievance answered. “A baby Glaceryn with a case of the sniffles. It has been taken care of.”

Hobbs stared at him. Then released a breath so enormous her entire body seemed to deflate.

“Thank goodness. I’ve been so busy with safety preparations for tonight I almost forgot to check in with you.” She planted her hands on her hips. “But you got the blighter, huh? Good. Won’t have to worry about children breaking their necks slipping on ice tonight.” She pointed between them. “Thank you. Knew I could count on you two.”

“Same time next year?” Milo asked as a joke.

Hobbs laughed, wagging a pointed finger at him. “Don’t you go jinxing us now. Not unless you want another beastie boyfriend.”

“No, thanks.” Milo’s cheeks immediately went pink. “One is already more than I can handle.”

Grievance grinned and reached over to pinch his mate’s ass. Milo squeaked.

Hobbs groaned. “All right, keep it in your pants, boys.”

Milo slapped Grievance’s hand away. Grievance put it right back.

“Thank you again,” Hobbs continued, pointedly ignoring them. “Oh! Are you coming to this afternoon’s firework safety briefing?”

“Uuuuuuh…” Milo stalled, panic flashing in his eyes as real words completely abandoned him.

“We have to care for the Glaceryn,” Grievance answered smoothly. “We are very busy keeping up with a baby dragon.”

Hobbs blinked. “You kept it?”

“She took a liking to us.”

“And babies are a lot of work,” Milo added quickly.