Page 52 of Horn in My Side
“Uhm, I should go back outside,” she said, breaking the spell.“The crowds will be thinning soon.There’s a big concert in Town Square tonight so most people will head there early to secure a spot.You can head home if you want.”
“No, I can stay until you close up.”
“It’s fine, r-really.I’ll be okay.”
Clearly, the awkwardness between them had ramped up and she was giving him an escape from it.“I’m going to check on the hatching tank before I go,” he said.“Had to tell off some punk troll kid and his friends for trying to open it.”
Jasmine massaged the bridge of her nose.“Oh no.I forgot about the egg, too.I’ll just—”
“Excuse me, miss?”A white-haired woman tapped her on the shoulders.“Can you help me find the treats for luscas, please?”
Jasmine snapped to attention, going into customer-service mode instantly.“Yes, of course.Right this way.”
As she led the woman away, Mal strode over to the hatching tank.He checked the glass to make sure there were no cracks and double-hexed the lock on the front opening so that anyone aside from him and Jasmine who attempted to open it would get a nasty rash instantly.He’d love to see that teen troll come back and try to pull that stunt again.
Don’t you worry, little one, he said to the egg as he crouched down to its level.I won’t let anything happen to you.
“Did those kids damage it?How’s Clawed or Clawdia?”
As Jasmine’s form materialized on the other side of the glass, a brief flash of blue light filled the tank.
Was that—
“Mal?”
“Huh?”
“The tank,” she repeated.“Did those kids break anything?”
“No, thank Vorlak.”He rose up and circled the tank to reach her side.“I reinforced the front opening lock with a double hex.Better put up a ‘do not touch’ sign.”
“Thanks, I will.”She cocked her head.“Are you all right?”
“Yeah.All good.”He dusted his hands on his pants.“Are you sure you’re okay?”
“Yup, I can close up.You should probably head home or get some dinner.You haven’t eaten all day, I bet.”
“Neither have you,” he pointed out.
“I did.Scarfed a sandwich sometime after noon.”
“That was hours ago.Why don’t I wait for you, and we can grab something at the café?”
“No, I have leftovers at home.”
Mal told himself the rejection of his invitation didn’t sting, and he was only being polite when he asked her anyway.“All right, I should go.Have a good night, Jasmine.”
“You too, Mal.”
As he turned to leave, he gave a last glance toward the hatching tank.He still wasn’t sure what he had seen just now, but his gut screamed that this was no ordinary carcinos egg.
Or, perhaps, Jasmine wasn’t quite what she seemed.
Chapter Twelve
JASMINE
“Thanks for your purchase,” Jasmine said to the father and son duo who had bought the last of their kelpies.“Come see us again.”
