Jillian cringed. “Wow, that’s . . . kind of mean, Mel.”

“I never said I come from a particularly nice family, sweetheart.”

Zed asked, “What if they were too polite to say, ‘Hey, I noticed you served me plain mushrooms, you bunch of cheapskates?’”

Mel’s wide mouth turned down. “That might be why my birth family died out.”

“Mel’s family traditions aside, shouldn’t Zed maybe go on a few dates with Dani before you start talking about breeding?” Bael asked.

Clarissa shrugged. “Well, sure if you want to complicate things.”

“Yeah, I’m just going to go before y’all truss me up and toss me on Dani’s porch,” said Zed.

Bael shook his head at his mate and his honorary mother. “I told you two to stop talking that way, it gives him too much warning.”

Zed drove Dani home in his maman’s truck. While he was a confident driver, it didn’t feel right to drive her through the parish in the dark on his bike. Less than savory fae folk came out at night, the kind that didn’t come into town and didn’t interact with humans unless it was to hurt or trick them. And travelers on dark roads attracted unsavory fae like sharks to a bleeding baby seal. He wasn’t about to expose Dani to that risk.

“Did you have a nice time?” he asked.

“I loved it,” said Dani. “I haven’t eaten that well in years. I’m so full, I can barely keep my eyes open.”

“Nothing like a good meal on a warm night to send you off to hibernation.”

Dani giggled sleepily, her head leaned against the glass of the passenger window. “You were right about Siobhan’s pies. I’ve never had better. Well, except my Gramma’s apple crumble, but since it’s sort of a different dessert category, I’ll let it stand. Ever since I ate it, I’ve just felt . . . peaceful? Does that make sense?”

“Absolutely. Siobhan must have sensed you needed to relax a little.”

“Or she slipped me a supernaturally-boosted THC edible.”

“Either one is possible, really. So how well do you know Dr. Ass . . . Aspern?” he asked.

“You mean Rob? Hardly at all. I met him at the grocery store a while ago. He seems like a nice guy who enjoys difficult math and fantasy card games.”

Zed squinted at her. “What?”

“Long story.”

Zed huffed. That didn’t tell him much about whether Dani liked Dr. Assface. He was quiet for the rest of the short drive home. The spirit bottles were in full glow as Zed guided the truck up the driveway. Dani was too busy dozing against the window to notice their ethereal light. Pauve ti bete must have been tuckered out from working so hard. Zed parked the truck and jogged around to the passenger side.

“Curbside service,” he told her, opening the door and catching her before she tumbled out.