Page 32

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Luna

W e may have woken up in all the haze of a burgeoning relationship, but too quickly after Vincent left, I, too, had to return to my duties.

I might have cleansed this room yesterday with my water magic, but it still needed a proper cleaning with a dust rag, mop, and bucket.

I was scrubbing the floor when I heard the call from downstairs.

“Hello?”

I didn’t recognize the voice.

Standing, I wiped my hands on my skirt and descended the stairs.

Two women stood by the check-in desk.

Their clothes were slightly rumpled, and each had a large bag at their side.

Both gave every appearance they had been traveling for days.

My heart beat faster, though I couldn’t quite put the why of it into a coherent thought.

“Can I help you?” I asked.

“I’m Nadia. This is Rachelle. We’d like to rent a room through Long Night if you have vacancy.” They had the good grace not to glance around the empty inn .

Guests.

They were guests .

“You want to stay here?” I asked, unable to stop the words falling from my lips.

Vincent’s article wouldn’t come out for another few days.

Besides unlocking the room, I’d done nothing differently.

Part of me hadn’t wanted to believe the magic Mom used had caused all the inn’s problems.

Nadia’s brow furrowed, and she glanced at Rachelle as if double-checking that this was, in fact, what they wanted to do.

“Yes, we do,” Rachelle said hesitantly.

Immediately, I realized I was not only driving away my first customers but also scaring them.

I snapped into action.

“Wonderful.” I clapped my hands together and moved behind the desk.

“You’ll get our best room.” I pulled out a check-in form and gave them the price before handing them a key.

“I’m Luna, the manager. I’ll be around if you need anything, and I live out in the cottage if you require assistance and can’t find me.”

They nodded, and I directed them to the room.

I slumped into the chair behind the desk when they walked away.

I pushed my hair back from my face in disbelief.

“I have customers,” I whispered to myself.

The bright smile crossing my face was unstoppable.

“Luna?” a more familiar voice called.

Darius was at the inn’s entrance.

I stood, making myself visible behind the desk, and he strode purposefully toward me.

“I’m sorry to come. I know you said you needed time, but…I felt your magic last night, so I wanted to check on you.” His blue-gray eyes searched mine with concern.

“You can do that?” I asked.

A blush touched his cheeks.

“I think it’s because we’re family, but, yes, I’ve felt your magic multiple times on this property.”

“The night the current swept me away?” I asked before I could think better of it .

He ran his hand through his hair and swallowed thickly.

“Yes.”

“Well, I’m fine,” I said.

He took a step back, and I realized that sounded a bit dismissive, which hadn’t been my intention.

Even these few words between us had opened up so much about my magic, my fae self, that had been lost to me the last twenty-five years.

“Let’s have some tea,” I said, gesturing to the library.

He nodded and followed me to the kitchen.

I had been baking fresh bread while I cleaned.

“Did I see customers?” he asked as I boiled water.

I let the excitement slip into my voice as I replied.

“Yes! My first ones.”

“I knew you could figure it out, Luna.” His smile was warm.

I wondered if he knew what Mom had done.

According to the memory, he’d left after their argument.

Maybe he had no idea if the room was sealed the next day when we departed.

I wasn’t sure I wanted to be the one to tell him.

Though, I guess he deserved to know.

“That smells great.” He gestured to the oven.

“Thanks. I was planning to do breakfast for guests. Fresh bread and some muffins. You can help me test this batch for tomorrow.”

He nodded, clearly wanting to say more, but maybe he wasn’t sure how.

“I’m sorry last night ended up being so eventful.” He finished pouring the tea while I pulled the baked goods from the oven.

“Whenever you’re ready, we’d love to have you back for a quiet meal.”

He carried the mugs as I pulled two muffins from the tray and gestured for him to lead us into the library.

After setting the snacks aside on a table to cool, we took seats in the plush gold chairs, and when he offered me my mug, I held it in my hand for the comfort of its warmth.

I searched his features as he performed a similar routine .

“Do you know what was wrong with the inn?” I asked.

If I’d learned anything from my beginning with Vincent, it was that the truth helped, even when it hurt.

My parents had both left so much out in everything I knew so far.

I didn’t want that to continue.

He set his mug aside and ran his hand through his hair.

A nervous habit, I guessed.

I assumed it meant he knew what I was asking and wasn’t sure how to respond.

“I suspect, Luna.” He cleared his throat.

“It’s different than knowing, and I won’t accuse someone so important to you without proof, which I know I’ll never have.”

I swallowed.

That was honest, and I could respect the line he’d drawn.

“I witnessed a memory when I opened the door with my magic last night. It was Mom’s.” I paused.

“That same night, when you found me in the water. I was asleep in the room after, but you two argued. She had blood magic prepared already to use after you left. I don’t know how she knew you’d offer to give me the inn, but she thought you couldn’t give it to me if it didn’t have customers.”

There was no hint of surprise on his face.

“I’d told her in a letter when we agreed on the date for your annual trip that I had a big surprise for you. Something I wanted to discuss giving you. She would have had plenty of time to prepare.”

“Well, I cleansed it.” I gestured toward the staircase.

“And I have customers to prove it worked.”

“It was moonlight, then?” he asked.

I blinked rapidly at his question, trying to determine if I heard him correctly.

He continued, “I always suspected, especially since that night when I found you in the sea. It was like the moon’s glow fell directly on the safe space you’d created for yourself.”

“Yes, and in the spirit of transparency, I think it’s important to tell you I always thought it was you who saved me that day and then…disappeared as if saving me was a burden.” I didn’t kn ow why it was so important to me to tell him.

It felt like the more I could share about the picture of him I’d built in my mind, the more he’d understand as that picture changed.

I didn’t want to hurt him, but I thought it might help us wherever we went from here.

He coughed into his fist, and his eyes rimmed with water when he looked at me again.

“I’m sorry, Luna. I’m so sorry for every time my actions made you feel unimportant or uncared for. You were never far from my thoughts.” He swallowed.

“I did what I thought was right, but I can see how bad it looked.”

“There is nothing to be done about the past,” I said, and I meant it.

“I do hope we can move forward with more open communication.”

“Of course. I would like that.” He glanced out the window at the sea, watching the waves crash against the cliff side.

“I guess, then, in the spirit of sharing, we should talk.” He took a sip of the tea and met my gaze.

“Do you have anything else you want to tell me about what you and Vincent were looking into at the house?”

I pursed my lips; Vincent had told him everything about the tip and the stairwell.

Thinking of him brought a flush as memories from last night cascaded in.

I coughed, shaking my head to clear it.

“I don’t think I have anything else to add.”

His brow furrowed.

“Luna.” He set his mug down again and rested his hands on his knees.

I knew whatever he would say, I really wouldn’t like it.

“The story is running.” He held my gaze.

“The story is running,” I repeated, unsure I understood.

“That you are bribing the governor?”

His lips pressed into a thin line, and he nodded.

“It can’t. Vincent said—” The look of pity in his gaze made sense to me now.

He thought Vincent had gone ahead with the story anyway.

He had accused Vincent of some terrible things last night.

It didn’t entirely surprise me that he would think this .

“Why do you dislike him so much?” I asked.

He shook his head in confusion.

“I’m sorry, Luna. That family is bad news. Everything you were worried about me being—well, they are that.” He tapped his fingers on the end table.

“They’ve always appreciated the elevation of fae in society. They have no love for the changes at Compass Lake. And I think they’ll do anything necessary to ensure things stay as they are.”

“You think his parents are the ones bribing the governor?” I asked, realizing what he was saying.

Still, he looked at me with concern.

“You think Vincent is in on it with them?” My voice raised at the end.

“Luna, I know you care for him, but it doesn’t make sense that he would act without them. He’s an Andiveron.”

I wondered how Darius could be so progressive in some areas and so…

outdated in others.

Of course, he didn’t know what I did about Vincent’s split from his family.

It must be the best-kept secret in Sandrin.

“Parents and children can have differing views,” I pointed out.

He pursed his lips.

“Improbable.”

“You don’t know him.”

“You’re right. I don’t, but I’ve known them for a long time. They wouldn’t let their chosen heir out of their grasp.”

I laughed, but Vincent’s secret wasn’t mine to share.

He pressed, unwilling to let me hold onto my view of Vincent Andiveron.

“The paper is running the article. Someone came by this morning to ask if I had a comment. Vincent’s parents don’t work at the paper, Luna.”

I tightened my grip around the mug.

He did have me there, but I was sure there was a reasonable explanation, and I said as much.

“Luna—”

“Father,” I said, and he stopped whatever he was about to say, “we will work on our relationship no matter what you say here, but I must tell you. Just because you failed to protect Mom from the fae and it…imploded so badly across our lives doesn’t mean that Vincent is the same. I can’t expect you to understand how I know this about Vincent, but I do. And I need you to respect my decision. I will talk to him to see what can be done about the article, but I assure you he isn’t the one running it.”

Darius scratched his temple.

“The article doesn’t matter, Luna. I’ve been in communication with the Norden Point. She doesn’t believe I’m working against her in such a fashion. I don’t care about my reputation. All I care about is protecting you. I think Vincent Andiveron is bad news, but as you say, you’re an adult, and I’ll trust your judgment.”

“Wonderful,” I said with more confidence than I felt.

“Now, I need to finish cleaning the last room and prepare for more customers.” I stood, and Darius stood with me.

“Thank you for coming by. I’d love to come for a meal again soon.”

“Anytime,” he said and smiled as he left the library.

I watched him go, but another familiar face walked in before I could hurry up the stairs.

“Eloise, you just missed Darius,” I said.

The names felt strange on my tongue.

Maybe Father and Grandmother would work better eventually.

She gave me a wicked grin.

“I waited for him to leave. I couldn’t stop him from warning you about Vincent, but I did realize that as soon as he told you, you’d need to run off and see if everything was alright with the boy.”

“You don’t think I’m foolish for not assuming the worst?” I asked, tilting my head.

“Your father was blindsided by everything last night…Today”—she gestured around the inn—“he didn’t really look at Vincent in the study yesterday. I admit I had doubts when I sat do wn, but before you left, it was clear that boy would do anything for you.”

My heart warmed at her words.

“Thank you.”

“You can thank me by finishing whatever you were about to do and going after him. I assume you have guests checking in now that you have unleashed your magic on the place? I’ll mind the inn while you’re gone.”

Tears pricked in my eyes, and I swallowed.

“No time for tears, dear.” She shooed me along up the stairs.

I paused halfway up and turned.

“What should I call you?”

“Eloise is fine.” She swallowed, showing some emotion deep in the blue eyes that matched my own.

“Maybe Gram, when you’re comfortable.”

I swallowed down a swell of emotion and took off up the stairs.

I needed to clean up my mess in the recently opened room before I could chase after Vincent—especially if more guests might be arriving.

I, like my gram, didn’t believe for a second he was publishing that article, but I was sure something had gone terribly wrong to lead to this.