3. Luna

THREE

luna

G houl's Night.

I loved how ridiculously into Halloween this town was, and especially that our only bar did these themed nights every so often. There was a special drink menu with spooky drink concoctions, and the speakers were playing classic Halloween hits like I Put a Spell on You and The Monster Mash. For a town of witches, sometimes it was a little too kitschy. But I was happy, and after a few songs spent dancing with my sister—and the two drinks I'd already consumed making me happy and carefree—I headed back to the bar.

Willow might as well have the time alone to dance with her man. She was trying to play it off that there was nothing between them, but the way they looked at each other… it was obvious what was growing between them. It didn't take a seer to tell that.

Damien was nothing like I'd ever imagined, and yet, he was undoubtedly perfect for her. And the way he'd watched her with a heated stare and the possessive growl when someone else had tried to move in on her? Hot. I fanned myself just thinking about it.

He was like a hero out of my romance novels, and I was decidedly envious. At one point, maybe I'd imagined that I'd find that too.

Not that I'd never been with a man before—I was no virgin and enjoyed sex. But relationships? That wasn't something I'd ever found for myself. Maybe it was because I'd never really been interested in anyone else in town. Most of the guys here I had known since diapers. No thanks.

I still had time, though. At twenty-five, what was the rush? There were years left where I could have fun and mess around before I needed to think about meeting someone. Find a man I loved and wanted to start a family with.

A man who looked at me like that .

But if anyone deserved love and a happy ending, it was Willow.

After our parents had died in an accident, she'd graduated college and come back to town, forsaking her own dream to help me start mine. The Witches' Brew wouldn't have existed without both of us. Willow had always been skilled at brewing potions, and she translated that into brewing the best coffee drinks in our entire town. I wasn't biased, either. Everyone came in the mornings to get a drink from her.

Her recipes were magical. I'd loved our time being in business together, even if it was coming to a close. I could sense it. Willow liked to say that I was a seer , but I'd never really thought of myself like that.

All thirteen witches in my coven had a special ability given to us at birth. Mine was Precognition. Seeing the future in my dreams.

It should have been useful, but I rarely understood the premonitions, which made me feel slightly worthless .

What good was a gift if you couldn't use it?

And yet… I had a good feeling about tonight, like I was supposed to be here, for whatever reason.

Brushing the thought away, I turned my gaze away from the dance floor. From my sister and her dark-haired suitor, who were still dancing close together. The bar, thankfully, wasn't as loud, and it had been easy to flag the bartender over to get a drink. I'd chosen a stool in the middle, giving me an equal view of the place and both ends of the counter.

Swiveling back and forth, I took another sip of my drink. It was probably straight sugar, but it was pretty, which basically fulfilled my only two requirements for alcohol.

Only—holy hell. Goddess, I'd never seen anyone who looked like that . In fact, I'd never believed in the tall, dark, and handsome stranger stereotype before. And yet, the man standing at the other edge of the bar was equally all three. He must have been ten years older than me, at least in his mid-thirties.

He looked almost familiar in a way that I couldn't quite put my finger on. Although all it would take would be one touch…

My mouth watered, even as there was a part of me that wanted to do a one-eighty and run. That saw the beautiful man and thought, turn around, Luna. Look the other way, and don't go over there.

But I'd never been good at listening to my intuition. No matter how good it was. It was one thing to see the future, and it was another to let that rule my life. Anything could happen, so why worry about it? There were plenty of times it hadn't come true or had played out in completely different ways than I'd thought.

If I could foresee the ending of a fling before it even started, was it even worth pursuing it? Maybe not, but it'd been so long since I'd had an orgasm given to me by anyone other than myself. Even the battery-powered wand I kept in my nightstand drawer wasn't the same anymore. I craved the connection. Craved intimacy. Something more.

So what was the harm? I didn't have to see the future.

The man sipped from his glass of amber-colored liquid, and I slid off my stool, my feet hitting the floor before I'd even made my decision yet.

I'd always been the girl who kept looking forward. Asking myself what was next. I'd been asking that for the last year. I loved my life in Pleasant Grove, the bakery I ran with my sister, and having all of my coven at my side.

But something was missing.

Orgasms. Yes, that was definitely it.

He looked like he would deliver, too. His dark hair was cut shorter on the sides but still long enough on the top that there would be something to hold on to. And the way he stood at the bar, all cocky and assuming, spoke to something in me.

Would he like it rough? I bit my lip, letting my hips sway as I walked towards him.

I'd zeroed in on him like I was in a trance. But who could blame me? Handsome strangers rarely showed up in our town. I liked to blame the wards that the founders had put up around the town, keeping non-magical folk out of our little community, but it was more than that.

Maybe it was the realization that Willow was moving on. She was out there on the dance floor, dancing with Damien. Her something more.

That was the funny thing about fate. It hit you when you were least expecting it. Maybe I'd never see him again. But maybe… I could see where it went. Even if it would only last a little while.

"Hi," I said, adjusting my lavender colored dress. The skirt was sewn to look like a spiderweb, with each seam coming to a point .

Why come to a themed night at The Enchanted Cauldron and not dress on theme? Ghoul's Night was the quintessential spooky night at the bar, but I'd never been a witch who loved the color black or jewel tones. Pastels were more my speed.

The dark-haired man raised his eyebrow as he looked at me like he was appraising me. Just one look and a shiver ran through me. Up close, he was absolutely delicious. I'd never met a stranger I'd been so instantly attracted to, but I couldn't deny how my body vibrated as I stood next to him.

"Hello." His voice was deep—a baritone I didn't hear often from the men in this town. It was hot. Sexy, even. I bit my lip as I slid onto the stool next to him, setting my drink down on the counter.

"Come here often?" I asked, taking a sip of my poisoned apple martini.

He chuckled, the deep sound reverberating through me. "No. This is a first."

"Ah." I wasn't even trying to hide the fact that I was staring at him. "Are you just passing through?" Pleasant Grove was well-warded, after all. Since normal humans had no clue that magic or witches even existed, most patrons here were magical themselves.

"You could say that."

"What else could you say?" I raised an eyebrow.

"That I'm looking for something."

"And did you find it?"

He looked directly at me, those dark eyes—almost black—practically peering into my soul. "I think I did."

"Oh." I took another drink, bobbing my head. "That's good."

The handsome stranger set his glass—now empty—down on the bar. "Yes. Yes, it is." He flashed me a dazzling smile, offering his hand to me. "Hi. I'm Zain."

"Luna," I answered, putting my hand in his to shake it. Just one touch and it was like an electric shock to my system. Or maybe that was my fingertips tingling from the contact.

Just one touch… The future was hazy but warm. And maybe that was enough. The not knowing was the exciting part.

"It's nice to meet you, Luna," Zain murmured, kissing my knuckles.

The alcohol must have been affecting my system more than I thought because I giggled . I actually giggled. Was I drunk? I peered at my glass. I had a good buzz going but didn't think I'd consumed that much.

Looking back up at the Zain—my handsome stranger—I got lost in his eyes. His hand reached out, cupping my cheek as he peered at me with unabashed curiosity.

"You're beautiful," he said, the thumb of his finger tracing my cheekbone.

Maybe the copious amounts of blush I always wore would hide the flush that ran to my face, even as a part of me preened at his words.

"Thank you." I dipped my head before finishing my drink. I'd never been so bold before, but there was something about him… Something that intrigued me. Something that I wanted to get to know more about.

"Do you… want to get out of here?" I murmured, placing the glass back down on the bar.

"Yes," he agreed.

And when he slipped his hand in mine, everything just felt… right.

I'd always thought Pleasant Grove at night was magical , and the waning crescent moon in the sky was like a calming balm to my racing thoughts. That warm fuzziness in my chest hadn't faded, and whatever it was from— him or the alcohol—I decided I didn't care.

Shoving my hands in my pockets before I did something dumb—like let my powers free or grab his hand again—I enjoyed our leisurely pace. We passed some of my favorite businesses in downtown, places I'd spent my whole life frequenting. Most of the shops in town had the most ridiculous puns as names, but I loved it.

Where else could you find magical artifacts next door to the most recent witch fashions?

"Is this your first time here?" I asked, looking over at the man walking by my side. The streets were quiet, given the hour of the night, but our walk felt comforting and unhurried. "In Pleasant Grove, I mean." He'd said he hadn't been to our bar before, so I was guessing it was his first time here, too.

He nodded his head.

"Hm. Is it prying if I asked how you got through the wards?" I tilted my head, watching him.

"I suppose not." Zain mused, but I noticed he didn't answer my question.

His presence was unusual. But that wasn't too strange, given that most people in this town were witches. But it was different—a sort of power I could almost feel, down to my bones—something I'd never encountered before.

Except… His presence felt familiar, too. Like?—

"What?" He murmured, turning his head to meet mine. "You're staring."

My heart skipped a beat in my chest. "Nothing." I shook my head, shaking off the feeling.

We'd reached the end of Main Street, and if we kept going, we'd reach the residential streets of town. A few blocks over was my childhood home, the one my parents had left to Willow and me when they'd passed away.

Turning in a different direction, I headed towards the gazebo in the middle of town. He slipped his hand back into mine.

"Where are we going?" Zain asked, keeping pace with me as we kept our fingers interlocked. I kept my powers tampered down, willing myself not to look into his future.

Our future? If we had one. For once, I didn't want to know how it would end. I just wanted to enjoy the night. Besides, the warm fuzzy was a good feeling. I wanted to sink into it.

The entire square had a faint glow thanks to the orange lights strung around the gazebo. On Halloween, the entire block would bustle with trick-or-treaters, laughing children, and families of witches, but tonight, it was empty.

Dropping our hands, I plopped down on the grass, looking up at the stars. Zain laid down beside me, his knuckles pressing up against mine.

"I've always thought this was the best spot in town for looking up at the stars," I whispered. This moment felt intimate—almost precious. "You can see so many constellations here." Cait, my cousin, loved astrology and had taught me about all of them when we were younger. I could name most of the star formations visible in our sky easily now.

When the city was upgrading to modern lights years ago, they'd created local ordinances that no lights could point up towards the sky, preventing light pollution. It was incredible because on clear nights like tonight, it felt like you could see an entire galaxy—a world beyond our fingertips. If I stretched my fingers up, I could almost imagine them.

"It's wonderful."

I rolled onto the grass so I could look at him. He'd thrown one arm behind him, resting his head on it, but kept his eyes pointed upwards, giving me the perfect view of his undeniably handsome side profile. That powerful jaw, beautiful eyelashes—it should be illegal, actually, how long they were—and I wanted to run my fingers through his dark hair. It looked soft. But I kept my hands to myself. God, he was gorgeous.

"So…" I wiggled my fingers through the grass, feeling the magic of the world all around me. "Should we ask each other questions or something?" I hoped the darkness would hide the blush on my face. "I didn't bring you out here with ulterior motives anything."

He looked amused, giving me the nod of his head. "What do you want to know?"

Everything. But I couldn't exactly say that. I traced patterns in the grass instead of looking into his eyes. "I don't know. Do you have any siblings?"

"One. That I know of, at least."

There was bitterness in his voice, and it made me frown. "Older or younger?" I asked.

"I think it's my turn to ask something now." A chuckle slipped from his lips.

"Oh. Right." Returning to my back, I looked up at the stars. "Ask away."

"What do you do?"

A laugh burst out of me. Unexpected but… exhilarating. Because he truly had no idea who I was. And in this tiny town, that wasn't something I experienced very often. A chance to be just Luna. Not a Clarke daughter who had lost her parents. Not Willow's sister, who needed protecting. Not the baker who smiled at everyone each morning. Just me. I was all of those things, and yet, I was so much more.

"Is that not a normal question to ask?" He was frowning when I looked over at his face.

"No. Yes. Of course it's normal. It's just that no one's ever asked me it before. Everyone knows me in town. I run the local bakery."

"Ah. And you like it?"

"My question," I reminded him, poking at his arm. It was firm. Hard.

I'd never taken the time to properly appreciate a man's arms before, but then again, no one had ever worn a suit quite like he did. Black shirt, black suit coat—no tie—and black slacks, and he was mouthwatering. Delicious. Was I still drunk?

"Older or younger?" I repeated, still curious.

"He is younger than me, but we didn't grow up together." He paused, seeming to hesitate. "There's quite a few years between us."

"Oh." I fiddled with the hem of my dress. "I'm the younger sister," I offered, even though he hadn't asked. Our insistence on who asked the next question felt more like playing than it did insistence, anyway. "My sister is three years older than me, but after our parents died, it felt like she kind of took over their role of taking care of me. She helped me open the bakery and runs it with me. Even though I know that's not really what she wants to do." A deep sigh escaped me.

Even in the last few years, it felt like she was constantly putting me first when all I wanted was for her to prioritize her own dreams. Maybe now that Damien had come into her life, she would actually do that. If I was being honest, I envied that. The having someone part.

He hummed in response. "But you like it? Your job? Baking?"

I sighed, tracing the constellation of Cassiopeia in the sky with my eyes. "Sometimes." I looked over at him, and he raised an eyebrow. Go on, I liked to think it meant. And I did. "I love baking. I always will. Making something from scratch—that first bite when everything has paid off, and you' ve made something delicious—it's my favorite thing. But lately, I feel like I've been missing something. Like maybe it's time for something new." It was a truth I hadn't offered to anyone—even Willow.

But with him, with this stranger, it felt easier to admit.

"And you want that?" His fingers brushed against mine, and I wanted him to hold my hand again. The warm tingling feeling had faded, and I missed it.

"Maybe. But I feel guilty, too."

"Why?"

"Because this was the dream that I chose. And how selfish is it for me to change my mind? Willow—my sister—she gave up everything for me. Her life. A career of her choosing. And now, I just…" I shook my head.

"I don't think she'd feel that way."

"What?" Even though his words rang true, they still felt shocking.

"Your sister. I'm sure she wants you to be happy." He moved his hand over mine and gave me a reassuring squeeze.

My body instantly relaxed at his touch.

"Maybe." I still didn't know how I'd broach the subject with her, but maybe he was right. Of course, she wanted me to be happy. I'd never doubted that. But it was the rest of it I feared. Admitting I wanted something else.

Even if I didn't know what that something else was.

"Your turn." Letting go of my hand, he nudged my side.

"What?"

Zain shrugged. "To ask me another question."

"Oh. Right." His reminder distracted me from my thoughts. I appreciated the reprieve from my emotional spiral. "If you could do anything with your life, be anyone… What would you do?" Who would you be?

"That is…" He blew out a breath, furrowing his brow. "Di fficult."

I nodded. "Yeah. For me, too."

"Growing up, I always knew the role I would fulfill when I got older. I resented it—watching all of my so-called friends get to have fun and screw around while I was stuck in lessons to learn what I needed to know. So I guess… Maybe I never thought about what I'd do if I had a choice."

"And now?"

"Now, I think a normal, simple life is more than I could ever ask for."

I couldn't keep the frown off my face. "Doesn't everyone deserve that?"

He gave a strangled sigh. "If only."

"You do." I turned my head so I could look squarely into his eyes.

I'd only just met him, but I knew that was true. He was lying with me in the grass after just meeting me, for goddess' sake. There were a thousand things we could have been doing besides stargazing on a Friday night, but he was here. With me .

"How old are you?" he asked.

"Twenty-five. But my birthday's in a few months, so…"

I'd always loved having a winter birthday, and secretly, it was my favorite season. Even if Willow's favorite was fall, with All Hallow's Eve the perfect cornerstone of the month—I loved the Winter Solstice. Christmas, too, though we didn't celebrate it. I loved it when the snow covered the world in a blanket of white. That was when it felt like time slowed down, and everyone stopped rushing around to focus on what really mattered.

"What's your favorite season?" I asked, my mind on the snow.

He frowned. "Where I'm from, it's mostly just hot."

"Oh." Where was that, exactly? He hadn't mentioned, but I'd been to Florida before, and it was hot basically year round, so I wondered if he was somewhere in the south. "That's sad."

"Why?"

"Because I love the winter." I thrust my arms out like I was making imaginary snow angels. "The snow, cozying up in front of a fireplace with the person you love… It's the most wonderful time of the year." I giggled, thinking of the song.

Turning my head to look at him, I found that during our questions, Zain had turned on his side, resting his head on one of his hands as he watched me.

"Have you ever been in love?" I asked, my voice in a low whisper, unsure why that was the question that popped into my mind.

"No."

"What about you?"

"Hm?" I hummed in response, looking over at the furrowed expression on his face.

He directed my question at me. "Have you ever been in love?"

I sighed. "Maybe I thought I had been when I was younger, but… no. Just waiting for the right person, I guess."

"And what kind of person is that?"

I looked back up at the sky, imagining that life. "Someone who will be by my side, no matter what life throws our way. Someone who will dance with me in the kitchen at 3 am when I can't sleep. Who will be there for me whenever things get tough." I smiled, thinking of my parents, letting the thoughts spill out. "Someone who will be a great dad. Who will throw our child in the air, no matter how many times they laugh, because he can't bear to stop. I guess I just want someone to build a life with. Someone who will love me through all of it. Someone who feels like home." Closing my eyes, I could almost picture it. The laughter. The love. The happiness there .

But I opened my eyes, and it was gone, just the moon and the stars blinking back at me.

"You want kids?"

"Yeah. I've always liked the idea of two or three if I got lucky enough. What about you?"

He ran his fingers through his hair. "I hope so." Zain cleared his throat. "I don't know if I'd be a great dad, though. I don't exactly have an excellent role model."

I wanted to wrap my arms around him. Tell him he was wrong. That he'd be a great dad. But what did I really know about him? Nothing.

We were just two strangers who'd probably never see each other again after tonight. But I liked tonight. I hadn't felt this alive in so long. That happy thrumming in my veins couldn't be wrong.

My knuckles brushed against his in the grass.

"What are you thinking about?" I whispered.

"Your hair," he murmured, reaching out to tug at a strand. "It's like moonlight." His eyes flashed gold for a moment. I blinked, and they were back to normal.

I was just imagining it, like always.

"Oh." I sucked in a breath, looking away. Shivering, I sat up. It was getting late, and the temperatures were dropping—plus, the heat that had flowed through me from my alcohol buzz was fading.

Wordlessly, Zain shrugged his coat off, placing the jacket around my shoulders. I slipped my arms through the holes, appreciating how big it was on me—and inhaling his scent that clung to the fabric. He smelled like spice and musk and something absolutely delicious that I couldn't place, but I wanted to wrap my body in that smell. Bathe in it.

It spoke to something deep in my soul. Something I couldn't name .

My handsome stranger stood up and offered me a hand up. "It's late," he said. "We should get you home."

"Right." Taking his hand, I let him pull me up from the grass, briefly brushing off my backside as he kept our hands intertwined. We headed back downtown, but before we got back to the bar, I tugged on his hand, pulling us to a stop.

"This is me," I murmured, looking at the side door to my upstairs apartment and then back down at our hands.

"You live up there?" He asked.

I nodded. "Above the bakery. I wanted some privacy. It's weird to live with your sibling when you're in your mid-twenties." That was the understatement of the century. Even if I loved Willow, sometimes it was exhausting fighting over who would take the trash out or do the dishes, or to stop hogging the laundry machine.

He chuckled. "I can see that."

Clearing my throat, I looked back at him. "Do you want to come up?"

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah. We can have another drink, maybe." I had a bottle of wine in the fridge. And I didn't want to say goodbye. Not yet.

"Okay," he agreed, and I started up the stairs, pausing at the top step. What was I doing?

Leading this man up to my apartment? Bringing him inside, so that… what? I hesitated as I unlocked the door, and when I looked up at him, there was a frown on my face.

Zain squeezed my hand, as if he sensed the conflict inside of me. "I can go."

That was all it took. All my apprehension melted away. A reminder that this felt so right. Our future might have been hazy, but there was no grief in it.

"No." I shook my head, my hand wrapping around his wrist. "Come in. Please. I want you to. "

He chuckled, following me into the apartment. "Okay."

I led him into the living room, slowly sinking down onto the couch. Tucking my knees underneath me, I leaned my head against the fabric. I was still wearing his jacket. Part of me knew I should probably have given it back to him sooner, but it was cozy, and I hated relinquishing it.

Zain followed me, somehow looking completely out of place in my tiny apartment.

Selene brushed up against his leg, and Zain practically jumped. "What is that?"

I giggled. "That's my cat." I picked her up, holding her in my arms as she started to purr. "She's friendly, I promise."

Zain quirked an eyebrow. "And she just lives here?"

"Have you never seen a cat before?" I frowned. Where exactly had this man been living that he'd never encountered one?

Leaning down, he brushed a hand over her white fur. "Not like this one."

"She's been with me since I was little," I said. "Every witch gets their familiar when their powers manifest."

My lips curled into a smile as he scratched under Selene's chin, and a loud purring sound emitted from her throat. "She likes you."

She wasn't the only one. I did, too.

"Huh." He kept making the motion, even as Selene emitted a few happy chirps and purred away.

Finally, he joined me on the couch, sitting on the opposite side, so the only part of our bodies that touched were our knees.

"I had fun tonight," I said, unable to wipe the smile off of my face as I bumped his knee with mine. "Thank you. It's been a while since I enjoyed myself so much." Maybe I needed to pick up hot, handsome strangers in bars more often .

The thought felt slimy. Was it because Zain was currently on my couch? Either way, I couldn't imagine this night with anyone else but him. Something about him just felt right.

"Me too," he agreed. "It was the best night I've had in a long time."

I moved closer to him, leaning in slightly, wanting him to kiss me. Hoping he'd pick up on the signals I was dropping.

"I should go," Zain murmured, brushing a hair off my forehead.

I frowned. "You don't want to stay?" As far as I was concerned, a girl inviting a guy into her apartment was an explicit invitation for sex. But maybe he didn't want to sleep with me. He hadn't even so much as tried to kiss me. How old-fashioned was he? He was acting like the perfect gentleman. As much as I loved it, I also hated it. Because I really, really wanted to jump his bones.

"I need to get back."

"Will I see you again?" I couldn't help the hopeful tone of my voice.

He chuckled. "Would you like that, moonbeam?"

Moonbeam. The nickname lit me up inside, filling me with a strange warmth. "Yes."

I hurried over to my counter, jotting my phone number onto a piece of scrap paper, and came back to hand it to him. "There."

"What's this?"

"My number, silly. So you can text me next time you're in town? Maybe we can have a proper date."

He picked up my hand, kissing the back of it. "Sure, Luna. I'd like to see you again."

It wasn't everything, but it was a start. Shrugging out of his coat, I handed it back to him. "Thank you for this." Instantly, I missed his smell surrounding me, already mourning the loss. "I'll be waiting by the phone."

He gave me a weird look. "Waiting?"

"Just call me," I said, laughing. Wherever he was from, it wasn't around here.

Leaning up on my tiptoes, I kissed his cheek before he slipped out my door. The prickle of his scruff was rough against my lips, but I found I didn't mind it. "Bye, Zain."

"Goodbye, Luna."

Later that night, wrapped up in the warmth of my sheets, I couldn't stop smiling, already looking forward to the next time he came into town. I didn't even realize that he'd never explained how he got through our wards.