Page 18 of Bewitched by the Fruit Bat King (The Bewitching Hour #3)

"We'll come back for it," Bethany hisses, already dragging Luna away. "Text us when you're done!"

And just like that, they're gone, leaving me alone with Kane and my traitorous bond that hums with excitement at his proximity.

"Subtle," Kane comments, watching them practically sprint toward the farm store.

"About as subtle as a sunflower in a rose garden," I agree, fighting a smile. "Sorry about them."

"I'm not." His eyes meet mine, and the intensity there makes my breath catch. "It gives me a chance to ask how you're doing. Being back here, I mean."

I glance toward the greenhouse, then quickly away. "I'm fine."

"Liar." His voice is gentle. "I can feel your anxiety through the bond, Willow."

I sigh, setting my pumpkin down carefully. "Maybe I'm a little on edge. It's stupid. Everything's fixed, Marcus is recovering, there's no reason to be jumpy."

"It's not stupid to have a normal reaction to trauma," he says quietly. "I should have warned you before you came."

"Warned me about what? That I might have flashbacks to nearly being eaten by a rabid vampire who just happens to also be someone I would consider loosely as a friend? Pretty sure that's a given."

"I meant about the changes I've made." He gestures toward the greenhouse. "Would you let me show you something?"

I hesitate, torn between curiosity and the urge to maintain distance. The bond pulses encouragingly.

"Fine," I say finally. "But if this is just a ploy to get me alone..."

"Would that be so terrible?" His smile is knowing, and I refuse to acknowledge the flutter it causes.

"Lead the way."

Instead of heading toward the greenhouse as I expected, Kane guides me along a winding path behind the pumpkin fields.

We pass through an arbor covered in late-blooming flowers, and suddenly we're in a garden I've never seen before.

It's small but exquisite - a hidden pocket of tranquility framed by tall hedges and filled with herbs and flowers I recognize immediately as protective varieties.

"What is this place?" I ask, drawn to a cluster of wolfsbane and rowan growing in perfect harmony, something that should be botanically impossible.

"I created it after what happened with Marcus," Kane says, watching me. "A safety measure, but also... I thought it might help. If you ever came back."

I turn to him, surprised. "You made this for me?"

"For anyone who might need it. The plants generate a natural barrier against aggression." His hand brushes a sprig of lavender. "Though I did have you in mind when selecting certain varieties."

My fingers trail over moon flowers and protective thistle, feeling the gentle magic humming within them. "This is... incredible. The arrangement creates a perfect harmonic balance."

"I may have consulted your published paper on protective botanicals," he admits. "Very impressive work, by the way."

"You read my paper?" I stare at him, genuinely surprised. "It was published in an obscure magical botany journal with like, twelve subscribers."

"Thirteen." His smile is small but genuine. "I found it fascinating."

Something warm unfurls in my chest that has nothing to do with our mate bond and everything to do with being seen - truly seen - for my work, my passion.

"Thank you," I say simply. "For this. For... noticing."

He steps closer, and the garden seems to hold its breath. "I notice everything about you, Willow. It's becoming something of a problem, actually."

"A problem?" My voice comes out embarrassingly breathless.

"Mmm." He reaches up, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear. "Hard to run a business empire when you're constantly thinking about a certain florist who keeps threatening to turn your cars into various squash varieties."

I laugh despite myself. "I stand by those threats."

"I've increased security at my garage, just in case."

We're standing close now, the bond humming between us like a living thing. Flowers sway gently around us, their scents filling the air with calm and protection and something like possibility.

"Kane..." I don't know what I'm going to say, but it doesn't matter because he's looking at me with a question in his eyes.

"May I?" he asks softly.

I should say no. I should remember all the complications, all the secrets, all the reasons this is a terrible idea. Instead, I nod, just once.

His lips meet mine with unexpected gentleness, a contrast to the possessive energy I feel through our bond. The kiss is questioning, careful - until it isn't. Until I respond, my hands finding his shoulders as his arms wrap around my waist.

The bond explodes, transforming from a gentle hum to a symphonic crescendo. It's nothing like the brief, chaotic contacts we've shared before. This is deliberate, chosen, electric with mutual want.

When we break apart, I'm slightly dazed, my fingers clutching his flannel shirt like an anchor.

"Well," I manage after a moment. "That was..."

"A start," he supplies, his voice rougher than usual. His eyes have that subtle silver glow they get when his emotions run high. "If you're amenable."

I should have a witty response, but my brain seems to have temporarily short-circuited. My phone buzzes in my pocket, breaking the moment.

Luna: Are you guys done making out yet??? We can only pretend to shop for so long!

I laugh, showing Kane the screen. "Apparently we have a time limit."

"Your friends are remarkably persistent." He doesn't move away, his hands still resting lightly on my waist. "Though I suppose I should return you before they send a search party."

"Probably wise." I step back reluctantly, the bond protesting the distance. "I should get my pumpkin anyway."

"I'll carry it," he offers. "Least I can do after ambushing you in my secret garden."

"Your second secret garden," I point out as we start back toward the pumpkin patch. "Should I be concerned about how many hidden botanical spaces you maintain?"

"A gentleman never reveals all his secrets at once," he says with that infuriating smile. "Keeps things interesting."

My phone buzzes again.

Bethany: DETAILS LATER OR ELSE!!!

"They're going to interrogate me mercilessly, you know," I sigh.

"Worth it," Kane says with such certainty that I feel myself blushing.

As we reach the pumpkin patch, he hesitates. "Save me a dance at the festival?"

"Bold of you to assume I'm dancing at all."

"Humor me." His eyes hold mine. "Just one dance with the reigning pumpkin carving champion."

"We'll see if you're still champion after this year," I counter. "But... maybe one dance. If you're lucky."

His smile is nearly blinding. "I'm counting on it."

I watch him stride away to help my friends with Bethany's ridiculous pumpkin, the memory of his kiss still tingling on my lips, the bond singing in my chest. One dance. What could possibly go wrong with that?

Everything, probably. But for once, I find I don't really care.