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“Let’s go see what I won,” she laughs.

What she won was a giant stuffed vampire duck that she presented to me with glee.

I laughed so hard I snorted.

With my prize firmly tucked under my arm, Cordelya slips her hand in mine, and we venture further into the festival. We go on a few of the rides before following the sound of music. I catch a glimpse of Officer Burrows as we stroll. He tips his head when I raise my hand.

Before I went to Cordelya’s this morning, I stopped by the police station and dropped off the blanket. After I explained the strange scent, as well as Cordelya’s odd behavior and the way Minna reacted to the scent, he agreed to pass the blanket on to the patrol officers with heightened senses. If he got any hints, he said he’d let me know.

At the very back of the carnival is a raised stage with a live band playing. Small tables and chairs are scattered around the makeshift dance floor, with a few food booths strewn about here and there.

I spot a familiar face and lead Cordelya over to one of the food booths.

Darren stands behind the counter with what I assume to be a smile on his face. More of a grimace, but less dour than his usual scowl.

“Cordelya. Augustus,” he greets in his usual gruff tone as his brow furrows. “What in the hells is that?” he asks, motioning to my prize.

I hold out my vampire duck, beaming with pride as I look at Cordelya. “Cordelya won it for me playing skee-ball.”

He opens his mouth to comment but changes his mind.

“How’s the cider going?” Cordelya asks.

“Can I get two ciders?”

He reaches behind him and grabs two of the amber-filled mason jars.

“Hot or cold?”

I look to Cordelya, who looks to me, then to Darren. “As the person who brews it, however you think it’s best served,” she says simply.

Darren’s lips twitch, and I hold my breath, bracing for the possible appearance of a smile.

One side of his mouth quirks up as he dips the jars into a steaming vat for a moment, then places them in koozies, pops the lids off, and hands them to me.

“Can’t complain. Line has been steady. How are you enjoying the Halloween Festival?” he asks Cordelya.

“It’s been so much fun,” she says happily before taking a sip of cider.

I watch her eyes saucer before she goes for a second taste.

“Darren. Oh my god. This is incredible!”

This time the grump does, in fact, smile. I start scanning the area for the nearest medical station because there is clearly something wrong if Darren is smiling.

“Thank you,” he says simply before the smile slips off his face. “Family recipe never disappoints.”

A group of people line up behind us, so we bid our farewells and head for a table.

Cordelya sips her drink happily, head bopping along to the band, watching the many people of the town socializing and dancing. We stand in companionable silence at the pub table before she takes my hand.

“Would you like to dance?” she asks shyly.

Electric tingles race up my arms as I step out from behind the table and let her lead me to the dance floor.

She wraps her arms around me, pulls me close, and begins to move to the music. Everything else falls away until it’s just the two of us, moving to a song only we can hear.

As I gaze into her eyes, I trace every detail of her face.