Page 511 of Once Upon a Fable

Afterward, Gem finally decided she’d tortured Fang and me enough, permitting us to find something to eat. I had no idea what to feed him, but Gem bought him a blue-rare steak from a local restaurant, all while we indulged in burgers with all the trimmings.

The eatery was busy, even where we sat outside in the sun.

Bike riders sat in their tight neon outfits sipping coffees and other dog walkers shot wary glances at my tuna head T-shirt, Gemma’s stunning gown, and a twitchy dog with a bandage around his throat.

It was the most interaction I’d had in one spot, and even though people milled around, waitstaff brought us food, and my instincts were on high alert, not once did I feel threatened. It wasn’t me I was worried about for once. It wasn’t Gemma or my Fable family. It was a dog who rested his chin on my thigh and let out the biggest sigh of relief as I rubbed his head.

I stayed sane for him.

I noticed everything, judged everyone, yet I wasn’t afraid.

I knew I could protect him if needed.

Fang never left my side as we finished our lunch and walked the short distance to a pet store Gem had found on her phone.

And...without even thinking about it, without second-guessing my violent reactions or how smart it was putting me in a busy retailenvironment, I stepped into my first official store and fucking loved it. Any whispers of my past and how I’d been stolen vanished. I didn’t care how I’d first been kidnapped. I no longer needed to chase such nightmares.

I was just there.

Present.

Loving the way Fang’s tail wagged as he sniffed toys, food, and beds. He had my entire attention as we went down aisles, filling a cart full of dog stuff, grabbing almost everything that Fang nosed.

Someone brushed by me, and I didn’t flinch in disgust. A man smiled at me, and I didn’t hear voices in my head. It was as if all my panic had been channeled into ensuring Fang was happy, which in turn gave me space to justbe.

To be normal in a busy store of other like-minded, pet-loving individuals.

I felt kinship as I caught the gaze of a young girl who reminded me of Nyx when we first met, cuddling a tiny puppy gnawing on her yellow jacket. I nodded at an elderly woman as she hobbled down the aisle with her equally elderly dog.

There was nothing to fear.

Nothing to lash out at.

And by the time Gem slipped her hand into mine and we caught another ride home, and Fang curled up beside me with bags full of stuff for him in the trunk, I had a heat inside my heart.

A heat that could only be described as joy.

“He’s making himself right at home, I see.” Gem laughed as Fang dragged his new bed to the window and promptly curled up in it, his gray and white coat almost vanishing into the silver plushness.

The heat in my chest expanded until I burned with it. Until my fingertips throbbed and my body hardened with so, so much fucking gratitude. Grabbing Gem by the waist as she bent to grab the bag of dog food, I nuzzled her neck, feeling the satin of her ball gown catching on the roughness of my fingers. “Thank you, Gem. For all of it.”

“I enjoyed today just as much as you.” She spun in my hold, looping her arms around my neck. “I can’t tell you how much pleasure it gave me to go shopping with you. To eat out in public with you—even if we are dressed like maniacs and haven’t slept. I didn’t think that would happen for a very long time.”

“I’m sorry it took the time it did.”

“I’m not.” Gemma yawned, shaking her head. “It made today all the sweeter.” Her eyes unfocused a little as I kissed her, exhaustion evident on her face.

“You’re almost asleep standing.”

She yawned again. “Sorry. I must admit, being back home again, after such a busy twenty-four hours...it’s just hit me out of nowhere.”

I glanced outside, guessing with the sun’s angle that it was close to four p.m. Not bedtime but after the stressful evening and the entertaining day, she could be forgiven for crashing early. I needed to sleep too, eventhough I was still flying on joy—that joy strong enough to cancel out the tiredness of my lingering concussion.

“Come. Let’s get you into bed.” I kissed the tip of her nose, taking her hand and guiding her down the corridor to her room.

Fang’s claws sounded immediately behind us, never letting us out of his sight.

Gemma swayed on her feet as we entered her bedroom. She shivered as I removed my shirt that she still wore then pushed the straps of her dress off her shoulders.