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Teasing and Denial--73

  I gave the bear one last, fond look before offering it. “Here—you look like you need a friend.”

  The boy’s eyes widened as he reached for the toy, his small hands clamping around it like he’d never let go. He hugged it tightly to his chest, a brilliant, unguarded smile stretching across his face.

  Clover jolted in surprise, confusion creasing her brow. “But, Frederick, you said that was for your sister…”

  I nodded, leaning back as the boy nestled the bear under his chin. “It was. But Daedra has our siblings to comfort her, and I can always make her another. She’d want me to do this.”

  Clover’s eyes softened, warmth pooling in them until it became almost overwhelming to look at. She reached for my hand and gave it a gentle squeeze, saying nothing—but she didn’t have to. That look carried every ounce of approval and aching fondness she felt.

  Then she turned to the merchant, his confused gaze taking us in, and stood. “This is just how he is. Trust me on that. Now, onto business. We need those potions if we want the best chance of getting that herb. With any luck, we’ll find Haltir along the way…”

  Wolren’s expression darkened, his wolf ears angling back. “He’s been in that dungeon for a week, Clover. The odds that he’s still alive…”

  She waved off the concern before he could finish. “Aren’t in his favor, I know. But you met him. If anyone could figure out how to survive alone in that place, it’s Haltir.”

  The merchant exhaled, tipping his head in reluctant agreement. Then his sharp gaze flicked to me. “Outsider, did you take the jackalope hunting job?”

  I blinked, caught off guard. “Yeah, why?” I rifled through the stack of requests to confirm.

  “That one is mine,” he said, nodding toward the papers. “I put it up when Haltir first went into the dungeon. He told me if I got enough hides, he’d make toys for the kids.” A shadow passed through his expression before he continued, voice quieter. “Given how long it’s been, I don’t have much hope for his return. If the worst has happened… will you make them instead?”

  The wariness he’d held toward me earlier had vanished, replaced by something cautious, something almost hopeful. I swallowed my surprise and nodded.

  “Hopefully, we’ll find Haltir. But if we can’t… or if he’s already gone, then yes, I’ll make them.” I tucked the request back into the roll. “I’ll focus on food and blankets first, though. With any luck, I’ll have time for this as well.”

  Wolren waved a dismissive hand. “Toys aren’t vital. Finish the urgent work first. Once you’re back from the dungeon, you can take care of it then.”

  That settled, I glanced at Clover. “Are you heading to help the sick now?”

  She nodded. “Once I pay, yes.” She turned back to the merchant. “How much for the lot, Wolren?”

  He scratched his chin, considering. “Forty silver coins.”

  Clover raised an eyebrow. I frowned, uncertain. “That seems… low.” I wasn’t about to complain, but I also didn’t want to take advantage of a miscalculation.

  Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

  A small smirk tugged at the merchant’s lips as he nodded. “It is. Normally, five minor healing potions, three mana restorations, and three rejuvenation elixirs would run close to three gold coins.” He shrugged. “But you and Clover are doing right by Starkfell. We’re not the kind to ignore that. Good people are hard to come by these days—I try to keep them alive when I can.”

  I shifted, unsure how to accept the generosity—or if I even should.

  Before I could figure out how to respond, he gestured toward the papers at my hip. “Take the discount and make sure to get plenty of meat to feed everyone, alright?”

  Ah. So it was a kind of payment—the discount in exchange for the work I was already planning to do. A fair trade.

  “I will. Roughly how many people am I feeding?”

  Wolren grimaced. “Dozens. Just focus on hunting the Lunar wolves around town. Trust me, there are plenty, and more spawn every night. They’ve been targeting livestock, so you’ll be solving two problems at once.”

  I nodded as Clover handed over the silver and carefully packed the potions into her bag. Once done, she ruffled the boy’s hair before turning to me, offering the bag.

  “Here. You’ll need the space for gathering materials.”

  I reached for it, only for her to yank it upward, her eyes narrowing.

  “Do not put meat in this,” she warned. “I don’t want anything getting stained or reeking.”

  I gently took the bag with a small smile. “Got it. All meat goes in my pack. But are you sure you won’t need this?”

  She waved a hand dismissively. “Any herbs I need are already here. Besides, you want to finish as many quests as possible before we leave tomorrow, right? Fewer trips to town will help with that.”

  Turning partially to face the door, she paused, her eyes trailing to something behind my leg with a snort. “I was wondering where that snail went…”

  I jolted, looking down to see the snail I’d brought with us happily stuck to my leg. Wolren tilted his head, eyeing it curiously, and I grinned. “I meant to check on him after Timbur’s outburst but everything happened so fast! I’m glad to see he’s okay.”

  Clover shook her head, amusement clear. “If you want him to stay that way, you’ll want to leave him with me while you’re out. Monsters won’t bother him thanks to the scent he gives off, but he could still get hurt in the crossfire.”

  She had a point.

  Gently dislodging him, I handed him over. “If you wouldn’t mind watching him, I’d appreciate it.”

  She rolled her eyes and put him on her shoulder, wrinkling her nose briefly at the slime trail it left before shaking her head with a sigh. “You had better be happy I like you.”

  Dusting off her hands, she nodded, setting aside the topic for now. “Alright, I’m off then. And don’t push yourself too hard.” She poked my chest, eyes firm. “You’re still healing too, Frederick. If you come back in pieces because you overexerted yourself, I will be displeased.”

  Then, with a mischievous glint, she grabbed the front of my armor and tugged me down, pressing a kiss to my cheek.

  “You’ll much prefer me when I’m happy with you,” she murmured with a wink. “Try to keep that in mind.”

  Before I could recover, she spun on her heel and sauntered out of the shop, leaving me blinking after her.

  Behind me, Wolren chuckled, one hand covering the boy’s eyes.

  “Ah, young love.”

  Heat crawled up my neck, but I turned away, ignoring his laughter as it followed me out the door.

  I had a full to-do list.

  And that was the only reason I hurried off.

  Really.

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