Page 52 of Dryad, Try Again
“There’s an emergency at Mummy Mocha! Seth needs you!”
My heart beats faster at his words. Blake doesn’t usually sound this panicked. “What does he need?”
“Should I call campusss security?” Reyson asks from inside the tree.
“No, it’s not that kind of emergency,” Blake says, looking down at the snake. “But Seth needs you! Come on!”
He waves his hands and I have no choice but to follow. It doesn’t take too long to reach the library door—getting around is easy with my trunk legs. But my anxiety pulses as I wonder what’s happening with my best friend.
“Blake, what is—”
“Just come with me!” He opens the door to the dark library building, and halfway through, he shifts back into a tuxedo’d human form. “And for monster god’s sake, shift down.”
“You know it’s not easy…oof!” I bump my wooden head as I bend down to walk into the library. “To shift during this damn blood moon,” I grumble.
“But you’re inside now.”
I huff and focus. My branches pull back and my trunk turns into a human spine. The high ceiling of the library gets farther as I gradually morph down to human height again. It takes more effort than usual, but I can achieve it indoors. Once I’m down, Istraighten out my green t-shirt and blue jeans, then walk up to Blake.
“Okay, can you tell me what’s going on?”
“Follow me!”
I stride after him, still confused as ever. We take the familiar trek to Mummy Mocha, but since the library is closed, we’re walking in the dark of night. Once we get closer, I notice one of Seth’s sarcophagi blocking the entranceway.
“Seth?”
“Kovi!” Seth pokes his head out from behind the gilded, seven-foot structure. “Good you’re here!”
“What is going on?”
By all accounts, Seth looks normal, wearing his dark suit—I expected his mummy wraps to be falling off or something. “Come this way,” he says, moving his mummy coffin. Behind him, the café appears to be glowing in an unfamiliar hue.
“Do I have to call the fire department? When I said I’d bury a body for you, I didn’t think you’d actually—”
I step forward and freeze, my voice cut off at the sight—Tanner.
MyTanner. He’s standing in the middle of Mummy Mocha, holding flowers, and surrounded by glowing lanterns.
22
TANNER
I paceback and forth to get my heart to relax. The six electric lanterns are all set in a hexagon around me, manifesting a soft orange glow in the café. The bouquet of roses in my hand is pristine, and my thrift store suit is as pretty as it’s going to be—thank the monster god Shonda and Rachel helped me with my fashion. Seth loaned me Mummy Mocha, and Blake texted they’ll be here in a minute.
Now I just need to not collapse.Breathe, Tanner. It’s only your first and most important grand romantic gesture. No big deal.
Seth gives me a thumbs up from the entrance and I hear other voices from behind the sarcophagus blocking the way. When Seth moves the massive thing, I clearly hear the next few words, and my heart pounds harder in my throat.
“When I said I’d bury a body for you, I didn’t think you’d actually—”
Kovi.
My Kovi. He’s here, and he’s frozen in front of me. In a t-shirt and jeans, he looks as luscious as ever.
I give him a wave and gulp back my nerves.Game time.
“Hi, Kovi.”
