Page 95 of Whispers of the Elderoak

“I don’t know yet. But I sense you’re important to us in some way. That there is a connection we haven’t uncovered yet.”

She shifted in her seat as he spoke.

“Besides, you’ve been through so much the last few weeks… I think you deserve some kindness. And I’m nice to everyone. It’s what makes me so irresistible,” he added.

They finished their food and drinks and Raine stood, gesturing for her to follow. “Now, it’s time for dessert.”

They pushed through the crowds to the other side of the square, stopping before a quaint shop. A wooden sign hung from the front, carved with a picture of a loaf of bread. They entered the bakery and Ava was immediately hit with the smells of yeast, sugar and fruit.

Like the other shops they had explored, it was homey, decorated in warm browns with windows letting in the sunlight. Baked goods were carefully arranged behind the large counter. Cookies and cakes sat among muffins, danishes and other concoctions she could only dream of. Loaves of bread were displayed next to large fruit pies and rolls while the shelves on the walls held baking ingredients for purchase.

Someone was humming in the back and Raine shouted, “Fanya!”

The humming ceased and a stunning fae woman appeared through a door behind the counter. “Brother!” she exclaimed as she set down the tray of pastries she was carrying and rushed to hug him.

They looked so much alike, they could have been twins. She had the same platinum hair though hers was curly, Raine’s blue-gray eyes and even their nose shape was identical. Her green apron was covered in flour and a bushy-tailed blacksquirrel with bright blue eyes sat on her shoulder, chattering as Fanya greeted them.

Pulling away she chastised him in a sing-song voice and thumped him on the nose. “I heard you’ve been back for almost three days, and you just now deign to visit your big sister?”

He smiled sheepishly. “Sorry. We’ve had things to attend to.”

“More important than your family?” She placed her hands on her hips as her animal companion leapt from her shoulder and ran over to a window and perched, tail twitching.

He sighed. “No.” Turning toward Ava, he added. “Ava, I’d like you to meet myoldersister.”

Fanya huffed. “Older by just a couple of years. But I’m also wiser and much more mature.” She walked to Ava and pulled her into a hug. “It’s nice to meet you.”

Ava smiled as Fanya released her. “You too.”

“So,” she said, dusting her hands on her apron. “I finally get to meet the human woman everyone has been talking about.”

Ava shifted on her feet. “Everyone?”

“Oh yes,” said Raine from beside her. “The whole city knows. That’s the problem with being in Mosshaven. The animals are terrible gossips.”

“Wonderful,” said Ava.

The three of them spent the afternoon chatting in between customers and Ava learned their father was a farmer and had a plot of land on the edge of town, growing most of the ingredients Fanya used in her concoctions. Ava liked Fanya immediately. She was warm and bubbly and welcomed her to Mosshaven without any reservations.

Her companion’s name was Coco and she had quickly climbed up Ava’s arm and chattered excitedly within minutes of them taking their seats. Raine and Fanya had been stunned by Coco’s friendliness. It seemed it wasn’t common for companions to warm to strangers quickly and now Aro, Sabriel andCoco had all accepted Ava. She wondered what the fae thought about the unusual behavior of their animals, but Raine and Fanya didn’t say much more about it, though Raine scrutinized her even closer than before.

As they chatted, Fanya kept feeding the two of them samples of new confections she was creating, listening intently to their feedback. By the time they left—Raine demanding his sister stop feeding them before they became sick—they had tried dozens of treats.

Fanya even insisted on sending more to Ava’s room, noting her pleasure at the sweets. Ava didn’t decline the gesture.

34

Ava dragged her feet through the streets as the sun painted the town in an orange glow, turning day to night. They had been out all day, and she longed for a place to sit and something to drink. Thanks to Kai, she was feeling much better, but the exhaustion was hitting after being on her feet for hours.

She was about to suggest to Raine they find a place to relax, when he tilted his head, appearing to hear something communicated to him through his wolf companion.

He grinned at her. “Everyone’s meeting at the pub. Let’s go.”

He picked up speed as he walked down one of the side streets and she almost had to jog to keep up with his pace. “Slow down, I’m not as fast as you.”

“Sorry,” he said as he slowed his stride. “I forgot you have short little legs.”

She furrowed her brow. “Actually, I’m tall for a human woman. You guys are just giants.”

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