Page 43 of Welcome to Fae Cafe

“That’s herrealname?” Cress asked, just to be sure.

Officer Westbow handed the parchment back. “Of course. You want a sandwich?” The officer pulled two poisonous bread-coated snacks out of a brown paper sack, and Cress suppressed a snarl. “Hey, did you hear about the deal the Chief is negotiating with Desmount Tech Industries for our new gear…”

But Cress was already out the station door, trotting down the stairs, and pulling off his police hat. He unbuttoned the uniform as he followed streets and crossed roads, breathing in cold air and the dull human stories lacing the wind. He didn’t stop moving until he reached the edge of the city.

It took him half an hour of twists and turns and hopping rails before the Prince found a small house in an assembly of trees. An old human woman walked from room to room inside, turning out the lights. Plants and a collection of photos in frames filled the windowsills, and the smell of fresh baking leaked from the dwelling. Cress breathed it in, reminded briefly of a time many faeborn years ago when he smelled a similar sweetness and ate cocoa crisps in the grass.

But this was not the time for childling memories.

It was the time to hit Kate Kole in the place that would hurt her the most.

Cress stepped to the front door of the old woman’s house and knocked. Shuffling sounded on the other side. He slid the balled-up police garments behind his back as the human came to the door. Scents of syrup and herbal tea flooded over him the moment she opened it—just a crack. The old woman peeked out.

“Good evening,” Cress said, stuffing down the cruelty from his gaze and replacing it with a look that could melt ice and sweeten bitter beans.

“Evening? It’s well past evening, son. And you’re not wearing a coat,” the old woman said.

“I don’t get cold easily. May I—” he looked her over—her cottony slippers, her knit sweater with large wooden buttons, her thick glasses. None of it looked threatening—“come in?”

“I don’t trust strangers,” she stated. “And I should warn you that I’m armed. I’ve learned the hard way to take precautions. I hope you understand.”

Cress’s smile dropped at her tone. There was a clatter behind the door where he couldn’t see. He didn’t leave.

After a moment, the old woman sighed. “Fine. Get inside if you have something to say. But Ididwarn you.” The old woman swept aside, pulling the door open with her.

Cress stepped into the dwelling and was encompassed with the aroma of baking. There was something else though… His gaze darted to the living room to where he detected traces of ill intent and human fear lingering there from many years ago. It seemed the old woman wasn’t lying when she said she had to learn the hard way not to trust strangers. Cress shifted his footing, but kept his face composed and forced a smile when he turned back to face the human.

“I’ve only come to—”

He nearly bit off his tongue. She was, in fact, armed—the same sort of human weapon the officers carried was pointed at Cress’s chest, only this woman’s was much larger with a long snout. Shayne claimed that human weapons were the equivalent of crossbows that shot lead rather than arrows.

Cress sorted through several words, but nothing proper came to mind. Finally, he pointed to the weapon. “Can that thing kill me?” he asked with legitimate curiosity.

The old woman’s laugh was raspy, and his abdomen tightened. It sounded far too much like Kate Kole’s wretched, spellbinding laugh.

“It can. But I won’t shoot you, son, unless you try any nonsense. I’ll just listen to what you have to say at this inconsiderately late hour, then I’ll let you be off so I can go to bed. All is well.”

Cress worked his jaw as he considered that. He was sure he could snatch the weapon and take it from this frail old woman. But if she was anything as clever as his human target, she would probably see it coming.

“You’re not smiling anymore,” the old woman added. “It seems I’ve flustered you.”

“I’m not easily flustered,” Cress shot back. “Nothing frightens me.”

When she laughed again, Cress accidentally took a small step back.

“I can see through you, son. I’m not sure why; maybe it’s my age. I can tell you’re afraid of a lot of things.” She dropped the snout of the weapon to the floor. “But I don’t think you have any real interest in robbing me. This gun’s not loaded anyway.” Her grayish gaze swept down his clean attire and healthy body as she came to her own conclusions. “Though you’re the most unusual looking salesman I’ve ever seen.”

For the first time, Cress noticed the old woman had a simple, easy smile amidst her wrinkles—a smile that had held up better than his.

The old woman sighed and set the human weapon against the wall by the coats. “You’re practically shivering.” She brushed past him into the next room where the scent of baking came from. “Hurry on in. I’ll make you tea and give you some fresh cookies before I send you away. You can try to sell me whatever it is you came here to sell while we eat.”

Cress hid his police shirt inside one of the coats by the door and followed the woman to a feasting table. The chairs looked ready to snap beneath someone of his stature. But she nodded to the closest one and he slid into it obediently. He watched the old woman hobble to a metallic jug and fill it with water. A moment later, she slid a platter of thin round cakes off the counter and lifted the corner of a clear blanket to pull one out. Cress nearly choked on the whiff of sugar that rushed toward him—he slammed a fist over his mouth so he would not lunge for the entire plate and gobble it down right in front of her.

“What is this?” he asked when she set a thin round cake before him on a paper cloth.

“It’s a freshly baked chocolate chip cookie.” The old woman pulled a tin box from the cupboard and walked over to the metal jug.

Cress poked the thin cake. Dark brown chunks speckled the surface. It didn’t look like bread.

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