26

Forrest

Sienna's eyes sparkled with excitement as they met mine, and a genuine smile appeared on her face. My heart swelled at the sight of her smiling because of me. It was a feeling I had never known before, a surge of pride that enveloped my entire being.

She radiated joy, and I couldn't help but feel like the luckiest person in the world to witness her happiness. To provide it.

"You look beautiful."

"Thank you," she replied with a blush. "You told me to dress comfortably."

We strolled to my truck together, and as we reached it, I gallantly offered her my arm, which she gracefully accepted. As I helped her, our gazes locked and held for a lingering moment, filled with unspoken emotions.

"Where are we going?" she asked as soon as I started the engine.

"You'll see."

My truck's tires were soon crunching against the soft grass of the same field where we had watched the sunrise together.

"I thought a picnic would be nice," I explained. "A casual second date."

I wanted to take the pressure off the whole ‘date' thing. She didn't seem too keen on the idea of dating, so I thought getting her toes wet first was a smart move.

"Oh, I love picnics!" Her face lit up with the familiar smile that I had come to adore, and I knew without a doubt that I had made the right decision.

I reached behind the seat and retrieved a sturdy wicker basket, my fingers curling around the handle as I hopped out of the truck and briskly made my way to her side. The autumn grass beneath our feet was a rich, deep brown, crackling slightly with each step we took. The warm afternoon sun caressed our skin and provided us with much-needed warmth. We wandered through the field, searching for the perfect spot to enjoy our picnic feast.

Finally, we laid out the soft blanket and settled down comfortably, surrounded by nature's beauty. With a soft click, the lid of the basket swung open to reveal an assortment of meats and cheeses accompanied by plump grapes, bursting with juicy sweetness. But the true showstopper was the plate of chocolate-dipped strawberries.

"Wow! This is impressive."

"I might have had some help," I admitted.

"Some help?" Sienna echoed, raising an eyebrow. "This looks like you had an entire team of romantic consultants."

"More like an entire coven."

"They like you," she said. "I'm so relieved that they see what I do in you. That they trust you."

I nodded, popping a grape into my mouth. "I am honored to have the coven's trust. To be part of your coven."

Sienna reached across the picnic blanket and took my hand, her fingers intertwining with mine. The warmth of her touch sent a jolt of electricity through me, and I marveled at how such a simple gesture could feel so profound.

"You know," she said softly, "being part of a coven isn't just about trust. It's about family. About belonging."

I swallowed hard, feeling the weight of her words. "I've never really had that before."

Her eyes softened. "Well, you do now. And we protect our own."

I was honored to be a member of the Cider Falls Coven. I felt like the luckiest wizard alive.

"Thank you, Sienna."

"Stop thanking me!" She laughed. "I should be the one thanking you."

"Let's just say, we're both grateful," I kissed her lips softly.

"Extremely," she said as she kissed me back with urgency.

"So," I said, "do I get a third date?"

Sienna's eyes twinkled with amusement. "Oh, I think that can be arranged," she said. She snuggled closer to me on the picnic blanket, plucking a chocolate-covered strawberry out of the basket and holding it teasingly in front of my lips. I opened my mouth slightly, expecting her to feed me the fruit, but instead, she pulled it away with a playful giggle.

"Not so fast," Sienna teased, her warm breath tickling my ear. "You have to earn it first."

My heart raced as I gazed into her eyes, trying to decipher her intentions. "And how exactly do I do that?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

Sienna's free hand traced lazy circles on my arm. "Tell me a secret," she said. "Something you've never told anyone else."

I hesitated, my breath catching in my throat. There were so many things I'd kept hidden, locked away in the darkest corners of my mind. But as I gazed into Sienna's eyes, warm and inviting, I felt my defenses crumbling.

"When I was ten," I began softly, "I found a bird with a broken wing in our backyard. I brought it inside, determined to use my magic to nurse it back to health. But my dad," I swallowed hard, "said I couldn't help it. That nature had to take its course."

Sienna's fingers stilled on my arm, her eyes searching mine.

"I begged him to let me try to save it. But he was adamant that it was a waste of our powers."

"Oh, Forrest—"

"I turned to others in our coven, but everyone sided with my dad. So that night, after everyone was asleep, I snuck out with the bird. I used every ounce of my powers to heal it."

I paused, lost in the memory. Sienna's hand found mine, and her touch brought me back to reality.

"When I released it back into the wild, I cried. Not because I'd miss it, but because I was so proud. Proud that I'd defied my father, proud that I'd saved a life. As I watched it fly away, I knew I'd never be the same."

I met Sienna's gaze. "That's when I decided to leave home, to leave the coven I was raised in," I finished quietly. "A life is a life, no matter how small," I told her. "If they could so easily not care for a helpless animal who was to say they wouldn't turn on me?"

"Leaving couldn't have been easy," she said.

"It wasn't," I admitted, running a hand through my hair. "But it was necessary. I couldn't stay somewhere that valued power over compassion."

Sienna's hand enveloped mine, her touch warm and comforting like hot tea on a cold day. "You did the right thing," she said softly, her voice filled with empathy. "It takes courage to leave everything you've ever known behind."

I gave a small nod, grateful for her understanding. The weight of my confession hung heavy in the air between us.

But then Sienna spoke again, breaking the heavy silence. "Cider Falls is your home now, and you have a new coven," she said, gesturing to the town around us. "And we see and cherish the compassionate person that you are." A sense of warmth and belonging spread through me at her words, reminding me that I was no longer alone.

"Thank you, Sienna," I said, our lips finding each other's like magnets.

As we pulled apart, I felt a gentle breeze ruffle my hair, carrying with it the sweet scent of autumn and a sense of hope.