Page 103 of Sincerely, Secretary of Doom

Lily cracked a smile. “Not exactly. But listen, if there’s one thing I understand, it’s wanting to duck foster homes and stay off the radar. I was eight when my parents died, and I had no other family. My parents didn’t even have any friends close enough to want to take me in. I was on my own for a long time until I met the Lewis’s and joined Kate’s family,” she said, kicking a loose rock with the toe of her uniform shoe. “I can’t judge you for choosing to stay invisible back then. Sometimes hopping from home to home is no better.”

Violet pursed her lips and closed the folder. She handed it back to Lily. “The truth is, I don’t remember any of this. I think it’s worse for you because you remember.”

Lily took the folder slowly. “Are you sure you don’t want to keep it?”

Memories. What was the exact worth and weight of a memory? Violet thought about Mor who’d spent years wanting to forget his past, while Violet had spent years trying to get hers back. But in the end, it turned out they’d both wanted to forget, and she’d been the only one lucky enough to be able to do it.

Violet shook her head. “If things were so bad back then that I wanted to have my memory erased, then there’s no need to dig up the past. I like my life now.” Violet didn’t tell Lily the part where she remembered her mother’s voice—that distant woman calling her name, urging her to get into a car and read Peter Pan. She smiled when she thought about it. It was a good memory. Maybe one of the only good ones of her past life, and therefore, it was the only one she wanted.

Lily flashed her a smile. “So, what’s next for you and Mor, then?” she asked, changing the subject.

Violet chuckled. “What about you, Officer Baker? Anything going on between you and Shayne?” she asked, and Lily made a repulsed face.

“Don’t make me gag this early in the morning,” she pleaded and stood. She brushed the dust off her police vest. “Shayne is already fake dating me for the sake of my coworkers, and he’s become terrible. I get in more trouble from his messing around than anything else on the job. It’s unreal.”

Violet raised a brow. Shayne didn’t seem like the sort to be a terrible boyfriend. Maybe the fairy had sharpened up his troublemaking especially for Lily.

“Anyway, here comes Mor. I’ll see you guys at the café after my shift.” Lily pulled on her police hat as Mor appeared casually walking down the sidewalk with his hands in his pockets. “Don’t let Cress near my lemon pie, Mor!” Lily called to him before heading in the opposite direction. “I expect it to still be there when I get back! Westbow is going to kill me if I show up for a community bake sale empty-handed again.”

Mor cast Lily a smile that made no promises, and Lily grunted as she broke into a jog toward her squad car at the curb.

Violet took in the sight of the curly-haired guy she’d once been convinced was a vampire. The Master of Doom. The person she belonged to.

Mor came to the bench and stopped in front of Violet, blocking out the sun with his body. “Secretary, would you mind assisting me on my walk along the harbour?” Mor asked. His hand came out of his pocket and extended toward her.

When Violet took it, Mor lifted her to her feet but didn’t let go of her hand. They walked for a few seconds, his side warming her from the chilly air. Birds squawked along the distant shores, and boat horns sounded from the lake.

“Where are we going?” Violet asked to break the comfortable silence.

Instead of answering, Mor pulled an apple from his pocket. “Would you like a shiny human grape?” he asked, holding it out to her. It glistened in the early sun.

“Is this breakfast?” Violet asked through a smirk as she took it.

“It’s our first real date, Human,” Mor said. “In fact, as per human date customs, I’ve provided dinneranda show.” He slowed his walking, and Violet realized they were across the street from the building where she used to work. The largeTheSprinkled Scoopsign hung out front for all to see.

Yelling erupted from inside.

Violet’s smile faded. She dropped her hand without taking a bite of the apple.

“Mor…” she said in a warning voice. “What did you do?”

Mor appeared to be flexing every muscle in his body to keep from laughing. He made a strained sound and pushed his fist against his mouth. “You’ll see,” he squeaked.

Violet’s gaze fired back to The Sprinkled Scoop in time to see Shayne and Dranian come bursting out the front door in their burgundy Fae Café aprons clutching empty delivery boxes.

In the second before the door shut, Violet heard cries and shouts such as, “Why can’t I stop?!” and, “What’s happening to us?!” and “Don’t youdaresit on my chair!”

Violet’s mouth parted, her jaw hanging open as she watched Shayne and Dranian race off in a speed walk. Dranian was straight faced as usual, but Shayne was grinning from ear to ear.

“I suppose I should have warned you,” Mor said when he finally got it together. He handed Violet a small card. “The delivery note I attached to the boxes of Cress’s legendary newUnfortunateMudslide Cupcakesis a replica of this one.”

Violet read the note that said:

I COMPLETELY UNDERSTAND YOUR DECISION TO DECLINE TO BE INTERVIEWED BY US AT THE FAIRY POST DUE TO YOUR BUSY SCHEDULES, AND I EMPATHIZE WITH HOW YOU MUST BE SOBACKED UPTHESE DAYS.

IN THESE SORTS OF SITUATIONS, I FIND CUPCAKES HELP.

SINCERELY,

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