But it wasn’t until he put it in his mouth that the full experience really hit him.
Oh. Wow. Okay, this is –
This is unicorn food!his dragon bellowed suddenly, eyes snapping open. We can taste it!
Caleb chewed thoughtfully, but he had to admit, his dragon was right. He could taste the unicorn magic in every bite. Unicorns had a natural flair for tending plants – and whatever fruits, vegetables, herbs and spices they grew were lusher and more flavorful than any others. If this cupcake was made with home-grown ingredients, then that definitely explained why it tasted like… well, like this, so rich, so delicious, so warm. Like every other cupcake he’d ever eaten in his life was just a pale imitation of the real thing.
So… I guess this Sylvie must be a unicorn, then,Caleb thought, as he watched Kira eating her half of the cupcake, her eyes closed in rapture. Is it possible that Kira does know about shifters then? That Girdwood Springs has a shifter population who live openly in the community?
Caleb couldn’t be sure. He’d heard of towns where shifters and humans lived openly side-by-side, but it was possible Sylvie the unicorn had come here to try to live low-key, and he couldn’t risk telling everyone what she was if she wasn’t ready for people to know. He’d just have to be discreet and try to find out more.
“See what I mean?” Kira asked, as she opened her eyes. “Amazing, right?”
“Right,” Caleb agreed. “I definitely haven’t tasted anything like that befo—”
Before he could finish his sentence, however, there was a sudden crack! and the plate holding the cupcake split apart in his hand, ceramic shards cascading to the ground – and of course the cupcake fell with them, and of course it landed at his feet, icing-side down.
Oh, the curse. Of course it can’t even let me enjoy a delicious cake,Caleb thought glumly, staring down at the ruined cupcake.
He was used to this kind of thing happening – but he’d forgotten that Kira wasn’t.
“Oh my goodness!” She jumped up from where she’d been leaning slightly against the counter. “Are you okay? I’m so sorry! I had no idea that plate was cracked! You didn’t get cut, did you?”
“Oh – no, no, I’m completely fine,” Caleb hastily reassured her. “It’s fine – the plate was fine, I’m just – uh, I’m just a little clumsy, that’s all.”
“No, you didn’t drop it,” Kira said, her hands darting out. “I saw – it just split apart in your hand! Let me check you didn’t get hurt. I have a first aid kit –”
Whatever else Kira said next was lost to the roar of blood in Caleb’s ears as she grabbed his hand in hers, turning his palm up for her inspection. Caleb hauled in a gasping breath as all the blood in his body sang at her touch, his dragon rising within him, spreading its wings, eyes blazing.
Our mate! Our mate! Our mate!
I know she’s our mate! Stop bellowing! I need to be able to think!Caleb told it, as it capered frantically around, tail lashing. It was clear that whenever Kira touched him, the dragon simply couldn’t control itself. But he needed to be able to hold a conversation like a nominally sane person if he ever wanted to get the chance to tell Kira that she was his mate.
“Well… at least it looks like you didn’t cut yourself,” Kira said, her gentle fingers cradling his hand as Caleb did his best to get his racing heartbeat under control. “So that’s something.”
“I – uh – I should clean up the mess I made,” Caleb finally managed to get out, pulling his hand out of Kira’s grip as gracefully as he could, even though it made his dragon howl and stomp its clawed feet. But he just couldn’t think straight when Kira was touching him! “Do you have a cloth or some paper towel?”
“Oh, no, don’t worry about it,” Kira said. “It was my plate – I’ll deal with it.”
It wasn’t your plate, it was my curse, Caleb wanted to tell her, but didn’t. “I’ll help at least,” was what he said instead, reaching for the roll of paper towel he’d finally spotted on the counter. “It’s the least I can do after causing you so much trouble and walking all over those paths I shouldn’t have been on.”
“Don’t worry about it.” Together, they leaned down, carefully picking up pieces of broken crockery. “It happens all the time – just don’t do it again!”
Caleb laughed softly, wrapping up the broken plate – and, regretfully, the remains of the amazing cupcake – in the towel. “Don’t worry, I’ll stick to the trails you marked off. I’ll behave.”
“Thanks.” Kira shot him a grin as she opened the cupboard under the sink, revealing a trash can. “Just pop it in there. And then… well, I guess I should let you get back to your hike.”
Was it just him, Caleb wondered, or did she sound just a little regretful? He wasn’t sure if it was just his wishful thinking, but when he glanced at her, she looked pensive, chewing her lower lip thoughtfully as she looked at him.
But be that as it may, I can’t lose any more time looking for this aurum la-whatever it is, Caleb thought. He didn’t want to leave Kira’s side, but if he was going to help her, first he had to break the curse.
“Yeah, I guess I should be moving,” he said, swallowing. “Thanks again for the trail recommendations, and the cupcake. I really appreciate your help.”
Caleb forced himself to walk toward the door, resting his fingers on the handle. He started to push it open. I can’t just leave things like this, though. At least I have to try to make a time to see her again! “But how about I –”
Just as he started speaking, however, he was interrupted by a sudden clap of thunder – and then, rain began pouring down out of the sky, despite the fact it’d been clear and sunny just a few minutes before.
Oh, typical,Caleb thought, looking gloomily out at the sudden drench. Of course. Why stop at cupcakes? I’m just surprised the curse didn’t wait until I was deep in the forest with no hope of shelter.