Page 17 of Riot of Autumn

There are a few people running some errands, but they’re townies, not tourists. They are focused on getting their own shit done and not paying any attention to us.

“Sure, if you say so.”

I’m surprised when Ezra drops it, but my guard is up when he looks at me, a question clearly written all over his face.

“What? Just spit it out. I can tell you want to say something.”

“You never really said…I guess…are you okay with what happened the other day at your studio?”

I stop walking in front of Fairy Cakes, the scent of pastries and sweets hanging in the air around the bakery.

“I really don’t want to talk about my job. Or my art.”

“What? No, I meant me changing into an animal,” he whispers the last part, like someone might overhear.

I turn and glance at Ezra, noticing for the first time how tense he is. Is he worried that his turning into a wolf or a crow bothers me? He crosses his arms, a stern expression on his face, but I see vulnerability underneath. The devil on my shoulder tells me to pick at it, because that’s what people have done to me in the past. But I don’t want to do that now. Not while Ezra is actually showing me he’s human for once. Which is ironic because we’re talking about him turning into an animal.

“Um, it’s pretty fucking awesome. As far as magical powers go, that one kind of kicks ass. Zara goes to sleep for her Fairy power, so be glad that’s not what you got. Mine’s okay. I can summon things to me or throw objects, I guess.”

There’s a little cart of fruit sitting out in front of Enchanted Grocers that grabs my attention.

“Excelsior apple!” I shout with a chuckle and then cringe when the piece of fruit flies through the air toward us. It smacks into Ezra’s side with a loudthwack,and I hiss at the sound.

“Fucking ouch, Ruby,” Ezra groans, rubbing his side where the pulverized apple pulp has left a wet spot. “Christ, that’s going to bruise.”

“Holy crap. I didn’t think that would work. Wait, do you think it worked because I used a magic word?”

“Excelsior isn’t a magic word.” Ezra picks off the bits of apple, grumbling under his breath.

“I think Stan Lee would disagree. Do you think I have to use all special words to make magic happen?”

“No. You didn’t say anything when you sent Colton flying the other day.”

“Oh yeah, that’s right.” I peek at the messy spot on his shirt and grimace. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to hit you.”

Ezra opens his mouth to say something else, but I spot Colton and Seraphina coming around the corner. I react without thinking, grabbing Ezra’s shirt and yanking him into the space between Fairy Cakes and The Glittering Page. Ezra doesn’t even fight it. He cocks his head to the side, and I wonder if he can hear them talking. Does he have super hearing now too? I need to ask him that.

Instead, I’m about to ask him what they’re saying, but his hand clamps down over my mouth. Ew.

“It’s sticky,” I whisper-hiss against his palm.

“Because you whipped an apple at me. Be quiet,” Ezra grumbles back, pushing me against the wall. He grips my hip, but his other hand is still covering my mouth. I give him a dead-eyed stare, because really? Is that necessary? His brows are furrowed, and his head is tilted to the side. I cock my head too, squinting as I try to listen. What is he hearing?

Finally, a conversation carries to us from the street, and I recognize Colton’s slick voice. “I had one begging to suck my cock last night.”

I pretend like I’m going to puke, and Ezra finally moves his hand, planting it on the wall over my head. He’s got me caged by his body, and I’m slowly realizing that we’re pressed together from chest to hip. I already know there’s not an ounce of fat on his body, but feeling his muscles rubbing all up on me is way different from simply seeing it.

Ezra and I have always had a spark between us. Well, I guess I can’t speak for him, but I’ve always felt it. I even tried to chase it once upon a time, but that’s not a mistake I’ll make again. I don’t do serious, and flings with friends are a bad idea. Besides, I’m not really the relationship type. Not that I think Ezra’s dick pressing against my stomach equals going steady. It’s just, people leave. They give up on you, even when they’re supposed to be hard wired to love you. The pain of that abandonment isn’t something I want to go through again. Thanks, Dad, for ditching out on me before I could even walk. And shout out to my Mom for being a drug addict who technically was physically around. I mean, she was splayed out on our couch most of the time. It’s just mentally she was far, far away.

“Why would you want some disgusting human’s mouth to touch you?” Seraphina’s equally grotesque words reach me.

“A hole is a hole.”

The smarminess of Colton’s voice makes me want to douse myself in bleach.

“Spoken like a true Summer Fae. Is the Duke’s goal to turn your house into a constant orgy?”

“That’s just a perk. He’s got bigger plans.”

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