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Luna

W hy was I suddenly nervous as we walked toward the inn?

The tavern Vincent had taken me to was on the southwest side of the Suden District, meaning it was a short journey to the inn.

My palms grew sweatier with each step.

This was silly—Vincent had already seen it.

We’d sat in the library and struck our bargain.

But that was before I got to know him.

I shook myself free of my thoughts.

I still didn’t know him.

Just because I now knew he had an ex who used him for his position and a sister he’d do anything for didn’t mean I knew him.

This was a bargain, nothing more.

Why did drinks feel more like a date, then?

The sound of waves crashing and the refreshing scent of the sea hit my nose before I could wrestle with that unwelcome question.

I led us to the familiar stairs to the inn’s private beach.

“Didn’t Markus say we should start from the north side? That’s where the hiking trails drop off, right?”

He was correct, and I guessed that should be part of the tour.

Especially if he thought the story might have a hiking or city escape angle.

“Yeah, sure, those stairs are this way.”

We crossed through the forest on Cliff House property, staying close to the edge so Vincent could enjoy the view.

“It’s a wonder this is here at all,” he said.

“I can’t believe more people don’t know about it. Markus is right. It feels like such an escape from the city, and it’s less than an hour’s walk for most.”

I liked that he liked it here.

So few people took the time to appreciate it.

I know Darius didn’t.

We fell into a comfortable silence again as he took in the sights.

I wondered where his thoughts had taken him as we approached the second staircase.

Something prickled along my spine as I led him down the stairs just north of the property.

Too late, I realized why I never came over here—realized why my instinct was to go to the inn’s private beach instead.

This was the cove where the current had hauled me to as a child, the night I should have drowned.

I was swept under again as we descended, the memories resurfacing as they had only a few days ago.

Water.

Darkness.

Waves.

Moonlight.

Attempting to avoid those thoughts while we walked, I did what I did best—rambled.

“My mom and I came to the inn on vacation when I was young. Does your family have any favorite vacation spots?” I kept a wary eye on the sea, like it would splash forward and drag me under at any moment.

No.

The water didn’t scare me—I loved it.

In any other circumstance, I’d dive right in.

Something about this beach, though, and the memory of Darius reaching for me left me cold.

I wrapped my arms around myself, rubbing them over my jacket, searching for warmth.

Vincent’s gaze heated my skin.

I gave it even odds of whether he found the question impertinent or whether he saw too much in my words.

Thankfully, he decided to answer.

“We didn’t travel much as children. My parents claimed we had too much responsibility in the city.”

“Oh, right, old fae family. I knew that.” I ran my hand through my hair absentmindedly.

Darius always seemed to be in town.

Not that I knew the details of his comings and goings.

It was reasonably public knowledge that his father worked on something in the north, but no one ever spoke of Darius or his mother going to visit.

I thought that was odd for an old fae family.

Usually, they all lived together on the family estate.

The one I had yet to visit, but needed an invite to for my bargain with Vincent.

“Luna?” Vincent tapped my shoulder hesitantly as we walked along the beach.

I must have missed a question.

.

.

or the end of his explanation.

I’d missed it all.

I shook my head.

“Sorry, what did you say?”

“I was just…” He waved his hand dismissively.

“Nothing. I was answering your question.”

Now I was being rude.

That couldn’t stand.

It wasn’t his fault I was worried about the terms of our arrangement.

“No, I apologize. I’m listening now. Please, continue.”

“I was thinking about what you said at the tavern—about my articles.”

Heat touched my cheeks, finally ridding me of the bone-chilling cold brought by the memories of this beach.

Although, it only reminded me of my earlier stupidity: confessing how much I’d read his column.

He continued, not noticing, or pretending not to notice, my embarrassment.

“The column is most successful when what I recommend is also a product or experience that I can welcome the reader into. You and Markus might be onto something with the ‘in-the-city’ escape. So many get too tied up in the hustle and bustle and forget that this is here.” He spread his arms, gesturing to the cliffs and the sea.

“Maybe part of the key to saving the inn is reminding them.”

It sounded nice, but I wasn’t sure how we would accomplish that.

“It’s still an inn,” I pointed out.

“My primary customers are not those who live in Sandrin but those visiting.”

“Agreed. I think there is value in ensuring the locals think it’s the best place in town to stay, though. As many visitors are here now for friends and family as they are for trade.”

This was true.

I’d checked the stats myself in the governor’s office as part of my research.

The most recent Bayside Times had also included many interviews and polls about visitors and what brought them here.

“We should turn around,” I said, considering how to combine the two ideas.

“Does this beach wrap around the cliff?” he asked.

I looked up.

“No, it doesn’t. The first staircase I took us to leads to a beach on the other side.” I patted the rugged stone, trying not to look at the water.

“This beach ends here.”

A playful smile curved his lip as he asked, “Can you get us around the cliff from down here?”

I turned and stared at him, my hands falling to my hips.

“Excuse me?” My tone was frigid.

Did he think this was funny?

I felt my gaze narrow and my brow pinch in frustration.

I thought we’d moved past fae snobbery.

His face paled immediately like he knew he had made a mistake, but it appeared he genuinely didn’t know what it was.

His hands were raised in defense.

“Luna, I’m sorry. I don’t know what I said, but I assure you I didn’t intend any harm with it.”

I let out a breath.

He wasn’t being cruel.

He didn’t know.

Every half-fae had a different hold on their magic.

I wasn’t even sure how many he’d met.

I studied his reaction as I spoke the words—the words that meant I had little value, especially to those of old fae families.

“I don’t have magic.”

His brow furrowed slightly, but he was quick to smooth it out.

“My apologies, Luna. I never would have asked if I’d known.”

I dipped my chin.

“It’s fine. We should turn around.”

His wind surrounded me before I finished the sentence.

It blew through my hair, and I could feel it circling my body beneath my jacket, slipping against the exposed skin of my back.

I shivered, giving him a look.

He flushed as he pulled it back.

“I must apologize again,” he started.

Then, with another heavy dose of hesitation, he said, “I could get us across, if you’d like.”

His wind seemed so different from him.

Reasonably, though, I knew it was him, and the fact that it was so eager to be near me was a little intoxicating.

I ignored his question and replied, “I think your wind likes me.”

He sighed, rubbing his hand across his forehead.

“You have no idea,” I thought I heard him mumble under his breath.

He turned, taking my segue as refusal, and walked back along the beach where we’d been.

“I thought you were going to get us across,” I called.

This was such a bad idea, but he’d looked so hesitant in his offer, and I liked the way his wind made me feel.

He didn’t seem like he got a lot of opportunities to use it for fun.

Ferrying us over the sea was practical, but it was also unnecessary, and I felt a deep desire to encourage any unnecessary usage of his magic.

He paused his steps, turning to evaluate my sincerity.

“That sounds frivolous enough for me to approve,” I said, pulling out my brightest smile.

Now that I’d decided to do it, I couldn’t wait to feel his wind lifting me and gliding me around the rock face jutting into the sea.

It would require me to be airborne for more than a few moments.

I knew he was old fae, and I knew his wind was strong from how it whipped around me when freed, but was he capable of this?

He tilted his head like he wasn’t sure he’d heard me right and returned to my side where the beach ended.

“You think gliding around the cliff on the wind is wasteful?”

“That’s not what I said, Vincent. I said it was frivolous. Fun. Something you should lean into while you can. From how your wind slips free, I don’t imagine it gets many chances to...play.”

His lip tilted into a half smile.

It was adorable, and I needed to think about anything other than how charming he looked.

His wind-tousled hair was next on the list of things for me not to focus on.

“Where do you want me?” I asked.

“I should go around the corner first to see where I’m taking you.” His brow furrowed like he was now unsure of the offer.

I wanted to giggle as we approached the jagged edge of the cliff face where the beach abruptly ended.

His features flipped between determination and indecision with each step.

Finally, Vincent gave me another crooked smile and did the last thing I expected.

He took a running jump, his long brown coat billowing behind him as he fell onto a gust of wind that sailed him around the edge toward Cliff House beach.

My smile vanished when I realized I was alone.

I hadn’t considered it when he’d offered to go first.

My gaze was drawn to the precise location a few feet into the water where Darius had pulled me from the waves.

I needed to get out of here.

With nothing left to distract me, my body shook with nerves as memories of that night poured in.

Water swept me away from Mom.

The current pulled me under and pushed me down to the bottom of the sea.

Darius’s strong arms, solid and warm, lifted me from the eye of the storm to safety.

I’d been ashamed of how I clung to him, even as a child.

When I thought about it now, all I could imagine was what a fool he must have thought me—half water fae, about to drown.

“Ready?” Vincent’s voice was soft on the wind, his words slipping straight to my ear like a lover whispering at my shoulder.

I shivered.

The image of him standing so close broke through the haze of memories.

I’d never felt wind magic do this.

It was like he was right beside me.

I nodded reflexively as I collected myself.

Too late, I realized he probably couldn’t see that.

I pushed more energy into my voice than I felt.

“Ready!” I called.

“Run and jump. I’ll catch you.” His low voice was at my ear again, sending a confusing sensation down my spine.

I needed to relax.

Run and jump?

I should have known it would require something.

It suddenly occurred to me precisely how much trust I was putting in Vincent Andiveron and his magic.

My gaze raked the water.

The cove was calm.

This wasn’t the unexpected change of tides from memory.

At worst, I’d get a little wet, but a part of me wanted to believe that Vincent wouldn’t let me fall.

At the thought, his wind was there, swirling and seducing.

Tempting me to jump.

Briefly, I wondered how long it’d be before I learned a hard lesson about the nature of fae.

For now, I ignored the deluge of uncertainty.

I ran and jumped.