Page 81 of Tricky Magic
He opened the front door and gestured to his old, black SUV. “Your chariot awaits, princess.”
“Don’t start with that,” she scolded him.
“I don’t mean it like Ros does,” he said with a smirk. “But I’m pretty sure you’re actually royalty.”
Ellea laughed at him as she headed toward the SUV. It was open, and she got into the passenger seat. He got in and started it. “Isn’t this a little large for you?”
“Nope. I can fit like four wolven in here,” he said while pulling out of her driveway.
Ellea looked at the large back seat. “Only four?” It seemed like he should be able to fit way more than that with its three rows of seats.
“Have you seen how big they are?” Devon laughed. “And when they’re drunk…Gods, it’s a mess.”
Ellea laughed at the vision of Devon trying to wrangle four drunk, Sam-sized men. “You poor thing.”
Devon rolled his eyes at her and turned on the music. It was similar to what she’d been listening to earlier. She got comfortable in her seat and watched the colorful trees flash by her window.
“I figured we could grab coffee and walk before stopping at Ag’s on the way back?” Devon asked.
“I will always say yes to coffee.” She smiled, then remembered they would be exploring the town. “And, um, walking sounds fine.”
“What’s wrong with walking?” Devon pressed, obviously seeing through her.
“Nothing.” He gave her a look, and she groaned. Honesty was key with the three new people in her life. “No one likes me in Halifax.”
“We aren’t in Halifax.”
“Yeah, well, it’s just what I’m used to,” she said.
“I will say it again, we aren’t there, and I’m sure you’ll learn quickly that things are different here.”
Ellea grumbled into her seat as they turned onto the Main Street of the small town. In the center was a small castle-type structure, and a roundabout circled it. Four small streets stretched away, and small shops and restaurants lined the stone sidewalks. Houses of every size sat on the outskirts of the small square. Some businesses seemed to be built into the old houses too.
There were a few people walking down each street; they all seemed to smile and greet everyone that passed them.
“Did we just step into one of those sappy movies?” Ellea asked.
Devon laughed. “It’s still early; the night crew is a little rougher.”
“Oh good, I was worried.”
Devon parked at one of the parks under a large oak tree, its leaves fully turned orange and yellow. Ellea got out and anxiety instantly settled in her chest. An older couple was walking down the street close to them, and she readied herself for a sneer. Her face slipped into a mask of indifference.
Devon stepped onto the sidewalk, and the couple gave him happy hellos and shook his hand. The older female kissed him on the cheek before he turned toward Ellea, who hadn’t moved a step.
“Ellea, stop that and come here.” The couple looked at her eagerly. “Ned, Claire, this is Ellea.”
Ellea stepped up to them and they gave her such warm smiles.
“My word, are you the trickster who has distracted Rosier?” the old man, Ned, said.
Ellea tried to smile but a grimace came instead. Claire gave a sweet laugh. “Ned, don’t scare the poor girl. But my Gods, you’re so pretty.”
Devon’s eyes widened at her, waiting for her to say something.
“Don’t mind Ellea,” he said to the too-nice couple. He leaned in and whispered, “She’s from Halifax.”
They nodded their heads in understanding.
