"Don't goblins eat people?"
Oron started to shake his head no, then stopped. "Goblins don't, but there are creatures there I wouldn't tempt with human flesh." His eyes grew wide. "You are under no circumstances to go into that forest."
"Right." Izzy looked around. "Did you have a particular snack in mind?"
"I'm serious, Izzy, no forest."
"Such a worrywart."
Oron placed both hands on her shoulders. "You're forgetting, I dreamt of you, I know how your curiosity is."
"Food," she said simply, still ignoring him.
His shoulders slumped forward. "Fine, but if you get eaten, I will be very put out with you," he threatened. He took her hand and they wove between the people on the bustling street.
When they stopped, Izzy looked up. "Is this a tavern?"
Oron nodded and pushed the door open. "Dav, you in?"
They stepped inside, and it took a few moments for Izzy's eyes to adjust to the dark interior.
"Oron! Well met! What'll you have?" a male voice called out.
"Hey Dav, I'll have a pint and some of your beer-battered fish." He looked down at her. "What about you?" he asked, as he lifted her onto the stool at the bar. Everything in this city seemed to be giant-sized. She never considered herself short, but she was starting to feel puny. "I'll have the same." She smiled up at the barkeep. He was handsome, with more character on his face than most of the too beautiful fae she'd seen.
Dav winked at her making her blush. "Who are you pretty lady?" he flirted.
Oron wrapped an arm around her shoulders. "My mate."
Dav stepped back and held up his hands. "No offense intended." He eyed her closely. "But I will say this, she's too beautiful for your ugly mug."
She felt Oron move his hand, and Dav laughed at whatever gesture Oron had done behind her back. "Dav Li'Filrien, meet Isabelle Campbell. Izzy, Dav is a retired unit warrior, he opened up this tavern so us poor grunts had somewhere to go when our unit leaders let us off our leashes."
"Izzy, can I call you Izzy?" Dav asked. She nodded. "Izzy, welcome! How do you like our city?"
She played with one of the small cloth napkins at the bar. "I like this side of town more than the other side."
Dav scratched his chin. "Seems more real? Friendlier? More human?"
Izzy stopped and thought about it. "Yes, to all of it. Why is that?"
Dav chuckled. "Border City is slightly older, we don't keep up appearances and aren't as picky about what people wear or who they're related too. Many human mated couples move here because we seem more open, which of course led to the majority of people being a mixture of human and fae, and in turn, made them more open and friendly, drawing in more human or shifter mated couples. Over several generations, the result is what you see."
"I like it." She looked up at Oron. "Even your mom's room didn't feel as homey as this," she indicated to the tavern.
Dav burst into laughter. "What a fine compliment! Better than the royal chambers! I should put that on a wall plaque."
"Quit embarrassing her," Oron said, kissing her temple before moving to stand behind her. He wrapped his arms around her as if he were making himself her shield.
Dav quieted. "She meant that?"
She nodded. "His mom is really nice, but her room still felt kinda cold, maybe it was all the marble. But it feels warm here and inviting." She ran her hand over the worn wood of the bar. "I feel like the happiness of this place has seeped into the wood and it's radiating from within like a happiness air freshener."
When she looked up from inspecting the bar, she found that not only Dav but the other patrons at the bar were staring at her. "What?"
Dav turned to Oron. "Did you tell her?"
Oron wore a broad grin. "Haven't had time. I only met her yesterday. That's when she found out about our world by the way. She got thrown into the deep end."