Page 45 of Sanctuary and Spices
“Yet,” Soryn muttered under his breath.
Erynn trailed behind them, balancing an ornate teapot in one hand and a tray of delicate pastries in the other. Her purple-tinted hair caught the light, making her look effortlessly elegant as always.
“Thought you might need a pick-me-up,” she said, setting the teapot down with a flourish. “And I couldn’t resist bringing these. Fresh from the Eppersip’s ovens this morning.”
“You’re a lifesaver,” Jani said, accepting the pastries and flashing Erynn a grateful smile.
“Special delivery!” Pix announced, grabbing the tray and nearly tripping over a vine that had crept onto the floor.
“You’ve got quite the setup here,” Mai observed, her sharp eyes scanning the glowing plants and carefully arranged tasting displays. “The garden’s practically glowing.”
Jun smirked. “I’m not saying they’re in love with you two, but...”
“Focus,” Jani said, though her cheeks flushed ever so slightly.
Erynn leaned against one of the posts framing the booth, her gaze flicking between me and Jani. “You know, there’s a lot of talk about your booth already. Something about... unusual energy patterns?”
“Just the plants responding to the festival,” Jani said quickly, though her voice carried a hint of uncertainty.
Erynn raised an eyebrow but didn’t press. Instead, she poured herself a cup of tea, her expression entirely too knowing.
The rush returned in full force not long after, and the booth became a whirlwind of activity. Orders flew in faster than we could fill them, but Jani and I moved together like we’d been doing this for years.
“Three more dumplings for table five!” Pix called, darting past with a tray piled high with steaming bowls.
“On it,” Jani replied, her hands a blur as she plated another set of dumplings and added a garnish of Jhrya petals.
I worked beside her, preparing the next batch of crystal-spiced broth. The air around us thrummed with energy—not just from the crowd but from something deeper. The plants swayed in time with our movements, their glow brighter than ever.
“These flavors are unreal,” a customer said, their voice full of wonder. “It’s like you’ve bottled the festival itself.”
Jani glanced at me, her lips curving into a soft smile. “It’s the garden,” she said. “And teamwork.”
My markings brightened in response, though thankfully not enough to draw attention.
The rush slowed briefly in the late afternoon, giving us a rare moment to breathe. Jani leaned against the counter, wiping her hands on her apron as she surveyed the booth. Her hair had come loose in soft curls, framing her face in a way that made my chest ache.
“You’re incredible,” I said before I could stop myself.
She blinked, then smiled—soft and a little shy. “You’re not so bad yourself.”
I reached for her hand, hesitating for only a second before letting my fingers brush hers. The world around us fell away, the hum of the crowd fading as she turned to face me fully.
I caught her free hand, watching light spiral up both our arms. Everything clicked into perfect clarity—what she was to me, what we could be together.
“We need to talk,” I said quietly. “About what’s happening with the crystals. With us.”
She nodded, fingers tightening on mine. “After the next rush?”
“After.” I brought her hand to my lips, kissing her knuckles. “I promise I’ll explain everything.”
The plants swayed toward us, crystal formations chiming in harmony. The station’s very walls seemed to sing with therightness of her in my arms, wearing my clothes, carrying traces of my scent. Mine, everything in me insisted. My mate.
Now I just had to find the words to tell her.
JANI
Ifocused on plating another order of crystal-spiced rolls, garnishing them with glowing Jhyra petals that seemed to shimmer brighter every time I passed near them.
