Page 51 of Of Potions and Honey
“She does that a lot, I gather?”
“Whenever I let her. She’s good with children, and they love playing with her.”
“She looks big enough for some of them to ride her around.”
“Oh, they have figured that out, too,” Kayden said dryly. “That’s where she draws the line. She doesn’t mind mud wrestling though.” He sighed. “Unfortunately.”
“Should have gotten a brown dog instead,” Mira teased. Kayden chuckled.
“If only the random litter we found in the shed had been so courteous.”
“A whole litter like Poppy?”
Maybe she had soundeda littleterrified there, because Kayden burst into laughter.
“Don’t worry. I begged to keep them, too, but, my grandfather was a sensible man and refused. The other two went to good homes elsewhere. I don’t think Emberglen is big enough for three of her, even if the other two had the good sense to stay away from any wood sprites.” He seemed wistful. “At least I know they both had long, happy lives.”
Mira watched dog and children chase after the ball when it went rolling off after one player’s miscalculation. If anyone had asked her, she’d assumed that Poppy was barely out of adolescence. “Exactly how old is she again?”
“Old enough that she’s been there when my grandfather gave me my first set of tools, and took me out for a treat at the inn after I managed to apply the hammer to my thumb.”
“Huh. All that from a wood sprite?
“Theyaremagical, and I suppose so is Poppy now.” He looked at her sideways. “You know, as much as I enjoy reminiscing about Poppy’s chaotic puppy days, I’d rather talk about you.”
“Me?” Mira repeated, confused. “What about me?”
He nudged her. “You and…?”
Oh, so that was where this was going.
“Me and nothing,” Mira insisted. “We mutually decided not to call it anything yet, and just take our time.”
“Hm.” He turned his cup in his hands. “You’re not just stringing her along, are you?”
“Of course not!” That stung a little. “Why would I do that?”
“I don’t know, but-”
“I know about her ex,” Mira said. “She told me. When I… When we first… talked. And no, I don’t have any plans to just up and leave her like he did.”
“Good.” Kayden exhaled sharply. “That’s good.” He looked a little guilty. “I don’t want to assume, I really don’t, I just wanted to make sure. It took her a long time to get over Alexander, I don’t want to watch that happen all over again.”
“And you won’t. Promise.”
If things would ever even go anywhere to begin with. That was still very much up in the air. Who knew, maybe they’d simply decide that they were better off as friends, massively disappointing as that would be.
“So…” Kayden leaned back and took a deep drink. “Ah, that’s the stuff. So I take it the shop is going well enough, then?”
“Better than I expected, if I’m being honest.” Mira tapped an erratic rhythm on her cup. “I really thought the whole thing would crash and burn around me.”
“Ah, come on. Just because you never made a potion before and had no experience running a shop by yourself.”
“I’m sure that’s exactly what Uncle Lochlin thought when he wrote that letter.”
“What letter?”
Mira felt her cheeks turn red. Right. She’d never actually told anyone exactlywhyshe had made this slightly insane decision in the first place.
