Page 62 of Extraordinary Quests for Amateur Witches

Kieran and the others fell into Adelaide’s story just as they always did.

When she was finished, Kieran and Sebastian excused themselves to get drinks, hoping to warm up a bit.

As the night went on, Kieran introduced Sebastian to more of the guests, feeling pride well in his chest as he got to say they were together.

Sebastian and Ash even spoke for a bit and seemed to get along swimmingly.

As most guests got too cold to stay out, Briar and Delilah led them to the trail to head down to the cabins, where they could warm up and sit on the furniture that the two of them had managed to move from their old apartment to their new home.

Seaweed joined them, seemingly excited to curl up in her usual spot in front of the fire.

Soon, the only people left outside were Kieran and Sebastian.

They cleaned up everything, the only step left being carrying out the trash, to be disposed of elsewhere.

When they’d finished, Kieran invited Sebastian to sit down with him on the lip of one of the hot spring pools.

The two dipped their feet in, the water warm and silky with minerals.

Kieran leaned his head on Sebastian’s shoulder, and Sebastian tilted his head to rest against Kieran’s.

After a moment, Sebastian lifted his head and pressed a kiss to Kieran’s hair as if he’d forgotten to before, then laid his head back down.

“So,” Sebastian said, staring out at the water, “what’s next for us?”

Kieran couldn’t help but laugh. “Oh, did you want my five-year plan? Because I have one now, for the record. Now that I’ve gotten better at magic, I was thinking about writing a book.”

“Really? About what?”

“Adventures. Magic.” He waggled his eyebrows and added, in a faux-sultry voice, “Romance.”

Sebastian sputtered a laugh. “Do you need an editor? Because I might be willing to offer my services, if you asked.”

“Naturally. Who else would be there to tell me how often I use just as a crutch word? Plus, you’re the reason I switched from poetry to prose in the first place. Turns out I like telling stories more than trying to wrestle with rhyme schemes.”

“One could argue that poetry can tell a story too, but I understand what you mean.” Sebastian bumped his shoulder against Kieran’s. “Do you think you’d want to write up here by yourself or…have some company?”

“As in…have you move in with me?” When Sebastian nodded, Kieran’s eyes widened. “Wait—really? You’d want to live with me up here?”

Sebastian nodded. “Of course—if you’re willing.

I know it’ll be tight quarters with me and both my sisters, but they’d love to get out of the city.

Maybe not for a few months—since you still need time to get settled—but sooner rather than later.

I’m in love with you, Kieran. You’re the best thing that’s ever happened to me.

Sure, we don’t know how things will change in the future, but right now, I feel like this is the best choice.

It’ll keep Mei and Lisha safe, and I’ll get to be with you—there’s not much else I could ask for. ”

Kieran couldn’t bite back the goofy smile warming his face. It was only recently that Sebastian had started using the word love. Every time Kieran heard it, he wanted to bounce up and down like a child and kiss Sebastian until he couldn’t breathe.

“Plus, it’s…good for me, I think, to be farther from the city.

Keeps me away from my old job.” Sebastian ran a hand through his hair, which had started to get longer in the last few months since they returned to the city.

Kieran found it ridiculously attractive, so Sebastian hadn’t cut it.

“I want to stay far away from that part of my life now. Break the cycle, you know?”

Kieran nodded. “Intimately, yes. I just…I hope you realize how proud I am of you.”

Sebastian’s nose wrinkled a bit as he smiled. Kieran resisted the urge to lean in and kiss it. “I’m proud too. Of both of us. We’ve come a long way.”

Sebastian’s eyes flickered to Kieran’s lips as he said it, so Kieran took it upon himself to lean in and kiss him. Kieran felt the warmth coming off Sebastian, yearning for it. Kieran kissed him once, twice, three times before pulling back, nudging his nose against Sebastian’s.

“You know,” Sebastian said, face pink, “I don’t want to gossip or anything, but when I was helping your sister pack the other day, I found something hidden in her dresser.”

Kieran gagged. “Oh, gross—”

“Not like that!” Sebastian barely held back his laughter. He gently shoved Kieran. “It was a velvet box. With a ring inside.”

Kieran’s jaw dropped. “ What? You’re kidding.”

“I’m not. She made me promise not to tell Delilah. Sounds like she’s not going to use it anytime soon but wanted to have it just in case. ” Sebastian shook his head, smiling. “If I were a betting man, I’d say it’ll be on Delilah’s finger before spring is over.”

“I don’t know. I think Briar’s got a little more self-restraint than that.” Kieran paused, considering. “It’ll be early summer, on the anniversary of the cursebreaking.”

“Did she tell you that?”

“No—just a twin hunch.” Kieran laughed. “Of course they’d get engaged at eighteen years old. When do you think the wedding will be? Before we turn twenty?”

Sebastian shrugged. “Who knows? If it works for them, it works.”

Kieran nodded at that. He swirled his foot in the other direction, grateful for the warmth the steam offered as it rose out of the spring.

He thought back to a few months ago, when Ash had pointed out Kieran’s insistence on comparing their relationship with Briar and Delilah’s.

For once, Kieran didn’t feel that he had to do that.

Even now, when it seemed as if they were about to take a big step and he wasn’t.

But then again, he didn’t feel that he needed to.

He didn’t have to prove to anyone that his relationship was valid.

What he and Sebastian had was just for them, and he liked it that way.

It made everything feel so much more natural to move on their own timeline without outside influence making Kieran feel inferior for no reason.

Sebastian broke the silence. “Do you think about it much? The future, I mean?”

“Oh, yeah—nonstop. That’s just the way my brain works.” Kieran rested his hand atop Sebastian’s where it was waiting, open-palmed, beside him. “But…I guess I’m not scared of it anymore. It feels like I’m going somewhere, you know? I can’t exactly say where yet, but…I think that’s okay.”

“I do too.” Sebastian squeezed the hand. “I’m just happy you’re in it, Kieran.”

“Listen, I’m extremely hard to get rid of. Many have tried and failed. I’m not going anywhere.” Kieran stroked Sebastian’s fingers with his own. “Not when I’m this embarrassingly in love with you.”

Sebastian leaned in and kissed him again, then pressed his forehead to Kieran’s.

“I love you too, Kier.”

And as they fell into each other’s arms again, Sebastian pressing kisses down Kieran’s jawline as he laughed, the lights seemed to glow a little brighter and the dying fires sparked anew once more.

Because for the first time in both their lives, they’d finally found home.