Page 36 of Riot of Autumn

“You ate them with me. Besides, I bought the damn bag from Fairy Cakes during one of the bazillion festivals Wild Haven has. I thought they were cookies.” I might have been a little drunk when I bought them, but it’s not like they weren’t edible. They had sweet potato or some shit in them. Plus, they were tasty as hell.

“I guess it explains why one of us has dog breath.” I smirk at him, hinting at his newly found animal side.

“Ruby hides smutty romance novels under her bed.”

“I don’t hide them. I don’t have any bookshelves, asshole. That’s where I store all my books. I love smutty books. I’ll never be ashamed. And also, I found your copy of The Pirate’s Daughter in your bedside drawer. So, hello, pot, nice to meet you.”

“Why are you going through my bedside drawers?”

“Afraid I’ll find your lube and sex toys?” I’m all but standing on the rung of my stool, my chest heaving a bit.

“As much as I love all the juicy dirt that you two are spewing about each other, we should probably get to the point of why we’re here tonight. Unless this is it. Us, watching the two of you have your weird argument foreplay.” Archer opens a can of fizzy water as he talks. The kind that only smells like it has flavor. When you actually drink the stuff, it’s like your mouth has been tricked because there’s zero taste. It makes me mad just to look at it.

Ezra and I both give him a dirty look, but then I swing my head back around to look at Ezra.

“You didn’t tell them?” I look in Ezra’s general direction but don’t make eye contact. I’m still feeling off balance with him, although the arguing helped.

“I assumed someone else did.”

“You know what they say about people who assume.”

Archer sets his drink down and claps three times. “Let’s not get distracted. An explanation please? What’s blown up now?”

Ezra hesitates and I jump in, not wanting to prolong all the reveals. “Ezra can shift into different animals. A wolf and a crow currently. But I’m secretly hoping for a dragon someday.”

“That’s not a real animal,” Miri says.

“It’s magic. What does it matter?” Davis shakes his head at Miri, as he slides in behind her, pulling her back against his front.

“Also, the Duke caught us spying at his house last night and forced Ezra to shift. He was able to control him. Zara had an idea about what we could do to protect him against any future incidents.”

Archer and Lena are staring at Ezra with shocked expressions on their faces. It’s almost comical.

“When did you figure all this out?” Archer’s gripping the edge of the island, his mouth almost a full pout.

“Just recently. It wasn’t like I was purposely keeping it a secret. There’s been a lot of shit going on.”

“Everyone else knows, though?” Archer raises a brow, lifting his flavorless water and taking a long drink.

“Well, they do now.”

Archer makes a harrumphing sound, muttering to himself. “How did I miss this?”

I don’t think he’s pissed that Ezra didn’t tell him sooner. Knowing Archer, he’s mad that he’s the last to know.

“Okay, we could dissect the whys all night long, but Zara, you have an idea how we can keep the Duke from controlling Ezra?” Rhys asks Zara sweetly, although he’s all focused and ready to get down to business.

Six more pairs of eyes turn in her direction, and she shrinks a little, her blonde hair falling forward to hide her face.

“Ah, yes. I already told Ruby, but I think between her ability to do ritual magic and your potion making, you should be able to make a protective amulet for Ezra. Since Rhys has the ability to enchant objects, he’ll help.”

“I sound like a Prince Charming, enchanting things,” Rhys says with a grin. Zara pats his chest.

“But I really think it’s better if Ruby casts the spell on the amulet.” Zara turns to look at Ezra, some of her resolve and strength returning. “You’ll have to keep it on you at all times. It’s the only way you’ll be protected.”

Ezra nods, and then his brows pinch. “I didn’t bring anything to make into an amulet.”

I grin. “Ruby to the rescue! I ran to the store before my shift earlier today and picked up this beauty.” I flip open the flap on my cross-body bag and find the little pouch. Upending the bag, I let the contents spill onto the counter.

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