Page 25 of Tempt

‘Tell me what you want today,’ he signs, and turns to the right a little, making the light glint off of all his piercings.

I take a quick glance at the menu, though not much has changed since the last time I came in. The board behind Syl’s head has all the traditional drinks that you can find at any other coffee shop in town, and the one on the far left has the Eretharian blends.

There’s the Duskroot Latte, which has an herb that Zinni brings back from Erethar that I haven’t tried, but apparently tastes like vanilla and cinnamon. There’s also a Kirrashev Matcha Mist, featuring the moss-like leaves that I’ve seen Rathyn and Cielo munch on. I’ve never tried it, so I point to it and fingerspell the one I want to Hepyn.

His eyes light up, and he gives me a nod. He always likes it when humans order monster drinks. ‘A good choice, lazy human.’

That makes me laugh. This fucker never calls me by my name. Last week it was short shirt, and the week before that it was dirty shoes. It used to bother me, but I’ve come to accept it now. It reminds me of sign names, and I wonder if maybe he thinks of me like we’re friends.

And I have a feeling Hepyn doesn’t have many of those.

I move to pull out my phone to pay, but he shakes his head. Syl stares at him in disapproval, his face screwed up in frustration as he speaks, but I have no idea what he’s saying. It’s only when Hepyn dismisses him with a flick of his tail to go back to the register that he vents to me.

‘That human is also obstinate and annoying. I do not like him. He thinks he can tell me how to run my café. His brain is small, and his mouth is far too wide.’

I bite back a smile as Zinni rolls his eyes. ‘Don’t listen to Hepyn. Syl is fine. He’s just young.’

‘I wish he would quit. I do not want the frustration of firing him. I do not think he would go easily,’ Hepyn adds as he begins to make my drink. When he turns, my eyes catch on something along his back—two raised lines pushing against the fabric of his shirt. Not his shoulder blades…but something else.

I want to ask, but I don’t. I have my own secrets. Nothing scandalous, but I try to give what I want to get, and I have a feeling the reason that these two are here to stay isn’t a pleasant story, and the last thing I’m sure they want is to relive the details with some human.

Before I can get too deep in my thoughts, a crowd of businessmen moves into the shop, nearly shoving me aside as they step up to the counter.

I watch Syl curiously as he attempts to take their orders. Hepyn’s right; he’s not very good at what he does, but Zinni seems to have more patience than most people. He steps over and assists him with a kind smile on his face, fangs poking gently at his lower lip.

When Zinni puts a hand on his lower back and points to something on the register, Syl’s cheeks flame bright pink. I see his throat bob as he swallows, and he peers up at Zinni, their eyes catching for a long moment.

It’s almost as if they’ve forgotten there are other people in the room.

One of the men in front of me must make some kind of noise because Zinni flinches, and Syl quickly gets to work as the monster steps away from him to make the drinks.

Hepyn waves his hand in my periphery to catch my attention, and I glance over. ‘Zinni is infatuated with the human. Says he is cute. I do not see the appeal. He looks like a gryblin.’ He spells that last word. I have no idea what that is, and Hepyn does not offer an explanation.

Instead, he snags the drink Zinni just made and slides it toward me with a look of expectation.

I take a long sip, pleased by the way the Vyastil plant tastes. It kind of reminds me of the way that Eissa tasted when I licked into his mouth.

It sends a flare of longing through me, but I push it aside as I get Zinni’s attention. ‘Love this drink.’

He grins widely. ‘I’m so glad you do.’

‘Why you roll eyes?’ I ask with a smile when Hepyn does.

‘We know it is good. He does not need to indulge you with thanks.’

That makes me snort. I do love a good blunt person, human or not. ‘That’s just customer service. Anyway, I have to go.’

Zinni leans on the counter. ‘Big plans?’

I shake my head. ‘My cousin have birthday party tonight.’

‘Weird human traditions,’ Hepyn says, and it’s Zinni’s turn to roll his eyes.

‘Ignore him. He has never enjoyed anything.’

I feel a laugh rumble out of my throat. ‘It’s fine. Stay the way you are. I like.’ I give a small attempt to wave at Syl, but he avoids eye contact, wiping down the counter instead.

It’s just as well. It’s not like I need any more human friends anyway. Besides, these three clearly have something going on—I don’t know what, but I do know that it’s better if I stay out of it.