Page 98 of Fool Moon First Aid

Eloise counters with a mischievous bop on Mia’s nose. “Yes, yes, yes, is my preferred response.”

Mia turns to me, her expression silently screaming for backup.

“She’s been sharing her location,” I say, not sure if my words are helpful.

“Which is utterly pointless if you’re living off the grid,” Mia remarks, nodding toward the untouched phone box on the coffee table.

“I’ll deal with that phone when I’m good and ready,” I declare, pulling my blanket—a temporary loan from Eloise—up to my chin and placing my ice cream right next to the phone box, concealing it. If I can’t see it, then it doesn’t exist.

“Ava,” Mia starts, dropping her purse onto what can only be described as an available space in Eloise’s apartment. “Eloise mentioned your dramatic entrance, sans a broken ankle. Why don’t we start from there?”

I let out a groan, my head falling back against the borrowed pillow. Above me, the ceiling transforms into a night sky, thanks to Eloise’s decorating whimsy. She painted it black and dotted it with little stars—not just any stars, but plastic, glow-in-the-dark ones she bedazzled and glued up there herself.

“I don’t even know where to begin,” I mutter. Starting from my healed ankle isn’t going to work, so I have to go further back.

“I have the perfect starting point…” Eloise announces, her voice trailing off as she vanishes down her hallway.

“I’m wary of whatever she’s about to drag back here.” I tilt my head, watching her walk away.

“Say nothing,” Mia says as she sheds her coat, revealing a frog onesie underneath. It’s a sight that demands commentary, but she preempts me with, “Eloise ambushed my cozy night in—pajamas, wine, and a Netflix binge.”

“They are?—”

“Don’t even start,” Mia warns, the fire in her eyes daring me to continue. “Everyone’s allowed their quirks.”

“You look fantastic,” I tell her, biting my lip to hold back a laugh. “Adorable even.”

“All right, we have peach and blue raspberry,” Eloise interjects, reappearing in the living room in her pajamas, wielding two small bags of candies like trophies.

“What on earth are those?” Mia asks, skepticism thick in her voice as she grabs a bottle of water from her bag, eyeing Eloise with a mix of curiosity and concern.

“This feels like a conversation that could use a bit of…enhancement. Ava doesn’t drink, after all,” Eloise replies, her tone dripping with an innocence that fails to mask the mischief in her eyes. Behind that cute exterior lies a determination that outstrips both Mia and me by miles.

“That’s not an explanation, Ellie,” Mia retorts, pointing her water bottle at the suspicious baggies. “What are they, really?”

“Candy,” Eloise drawls, her frustration evident. “Okay, fine. It’s fae candy.”

Mia does a spit take.

“Where did you get fae candy?” My interest is piqued, and I sit up straighter.

Fae candy is in a legal gray zone—not outright banned but not exactly approved for public consumption. Everyone has their escapes. Some choose alcohol, others nicotine or marijuana, but for those of us a bit more…unique, our rapid metabolisms make such mundane vices nearly ineffective. The buzz hits too quickly and dissipates just as fast. It’s why vampires might sip from someone tipsy, seeking a borrowed euphoria.

Hearing tales about shifters and their moonbrew always piqued my interest—a concoction steeped in herbs and moon water, rumored to be spiked with a drop of shifter blood for an extra kick—but now, standing in front of Eloise as she wields bags of fae candy, I’m introduced to a whole new level of mystical indulgence. These aren’t your average sweets. They are crafted with an artistry only the fae possess. The ingredients? Nothing short of magical—crystallized nectar from twilight blossoms that only open under a crescent moon, morning dew powder from the oldest willow trees, and a hint of aurora borealis essence, snagged during those fleeting celestial moments. Each piece is laced with a hint of fae magic, shimmering and beckoning with an irresistible flavor.

Some promise a rush of euphoria, dialing up happiness and coloring the world in vibrant hues. Others boost magic—a boon for spiritkin, fae, or even witches. Then there are the more adventurous kinds, offering lucid dreaming, where the realms of imagination know no bounds. They all come with a side of ethereal sense of floating, leaving you feeling as light as air, a sensation all too familiar to the fae.

Eloise wiggles the bags enticingly. “Totally safe, I swear. I had one just last night.”

“This is an awful idea,” Mia mutters, yet her intrigue wins as she reaches out. “Bliss, please, but steer clear of the blue raspberry,” she adds, scrunching her nose. “They are basically love potions.”

“Oops,” Eloise responds, not a hint of actual apology in her voice. “Bliss it is.”

“Hit me with one,” I chime in, catching them off guard. “We have enough time to order in before the magic hits.”

“Thai!” Eloise bursts with excitement, practically vibrating on the spot.

Mia hands me a little gummy. “Here goes nothing.” I toss it into my mouth. I could eat some spicy noodles, but I don’t know if that’s what I really want. When I sat here with them like this before, we always had my mama’s cooking in our freezer.

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