Page 17 of Magic & Matchmaking (Moonflower Witches)

Chapter Sixteen

EMMA

I stood behind the counter inside Steeped in Love after another busy day.

Layla finished wiping down a table as the last patron left the shop.

The sun was sinking outside, the sky a lilac that reminded me of our latest tea creation: purple haze, which consisted of currants, purple tea leaves, and hints of blackberry jam.

Purple leaves came from the desert region of Thaloria.

The leaves were found in a plant that only bloomed during the coolest time of the year in the desert, making it rare and quite a delicacy.

It had a subtle floral flavor that was sweet and light.

I loved looking at pictures of the desert with its swelling hills of sand and rock outcroppings.

It must have been magnificent to see in person.

“What another successful day,” Herman said from where he was curled up on the counter, eyes blinking closed.

“Yes.” I grabbed empty tea leaf tins and set them up on the wooden shelves. “You were very successful at napping today.”

He peeked an eye open. “Well, I wouldn’t be so tired if you and your boyfriend hadn’t kept me up late last night.”

My cheeks heated.

“Here I was, curled up by the fire.” He pointed his tail at a hearth that sat in the corner of the shop. We hadn’t used it during the day because it was too warm, but at night, it got cool enough that Herman liked it to be lit. “Then bam: the door busts open and in stumbles Riven Shiu, half naked.”

I cleared my throat. I’d forgotten Herman would be here. I was so used to him sleeping at Arcane Creatures Emporium with his siblings, and it wasn’t like I ever came to the shop at night.

Riven and I had been at the tavern, having a few drinks, and then he’d casually reached my hand under the table and rubbed his inner thighs.

That was all it took for Riven to yank me out of the tavern.

We’d barely made it to the tea shop, already undressing each other as we stumbled inside.

He’d just slipped his hand between my legs, rubbing over my panties, when Herman shrieked and shot fire at us, thinking we were intruders.

My skirt had caught on fire, and coupled with Herman’s shrieks, that had effectively killed the mood.

“I’m glad you and your boyfriend are getting along so well, but if you could get along behind closed doors and not in public, I’d appreciate it.” Herman huffed, smoke puffing from his nostrils.

I groaned, my cheeks now flaming as Layla hid a smile behind her hand. “We both apologized.” Several times. “And we promised that wouldn’t happen again. I didn’t realize anyone would be here.”

He pointed his tail at the windows. “And what about those? You two were going to be on display for all of Thistlegrove?”

Okay, so we hadn’t exactly been thinking clearly, not after the alcohol. In the last two weeks since that day in the forest, we’d barely been able to keep our hands off each other. I’d never felt like this before.

“Oh, she’s smiling again,” Herman said to Layla. “I know that smile. She’s thinking about Riven. Probably about his abs. I got a good peek at them last night, and holy witch. You could cut stone on those things.”

“Herman,” I said, shooting a glance at Layla. “That’s enough about Riven.”

Layla approached the counter. She tugged at her black hair, twisting a strand around her finger and not meeting my eyes.

“Everything alright?” I asked.

“I, um, well, I was hoping I could have tomorrow off? If it’s too much of an imposition, then just tell me, and I’ll rearrange my plans?—”

I lay a hand over hers. Her gaze slowly rose to meet mine .

“Of course you can have the day off.” I raised a brow. “Special plans with a special someone?”

Layla’s cheeks turned pink, which was confirmation enough for me.

Layla had taken my advice and had come to another matchmaking event, this time mingling and meeting lots of different witches.

By the end of the night, I’d figured out the perfect match for her: a witch who was in town selling special charms she made.

She traveled all over the realm selling these charms. I’d overheard her conversation with Layla, and her life seemed to wondrous.

Her adventures. The things she’d seen. She could open up Layla’s whole world.

Get her out of her shell. So I might have pushed Layla to pursue her.

Now, a week and a half later and they’d seen each other every day since.

“How did purple haze do today?” Layla asked, changing the subject.

“We sold out,” I said. “Another amazing tea recipe from you. You’ve got so many lately. We’ll miss you if you suddenly get the urge to take off and travel the world...”

I trailed off as Layla’s eyes widened. “Oh, I don’t know about that. That’s... well, that’s a big leap.” She bit at her thumbnail.

“If you really like Sarise, then maybe it’s a risk worth taking.” I gave a shrug. “Or you can write and keep in touch until she’s here again.”

Layla’s face had lost some of its color. “I should go,” she said. “I’m meeting Sarisa for dinner tonight at The Brewhouse.”

“Have fun,” I called after her, and she practically ran out the door.

Herman snorted.

I turned. “Do you have something to say?”

“You just encouraged a twenty-two-year-old to quit her job, pack her bags, and travel the world with someone she just met.”

I scoffed. “That’s not... that didn’t... I didn’t... that’s not what happened,” I finished weakly. “She and Sarise have hit it off spectacularly.”

Herman yawned. “And you know that based on one conversation you witnessed between them?”

I grabbed the wet rag and swatted at the dragon. He shrieked. “I’m supposed to help matches along.”

“Says who?” Herman didn’t have eyebrows, but if he did, I imagined he’d be raising one right now.

“Says me.” I dropped the rag as the door opened .

I was about to yell out that we were closed when Riven stepped through. Butterflies took up residence in my stomach as he strode toward me, his lute strapped around his chest.

He walked behind the counter, wrapping his arms around me and kissing me. I sank into him, melted from the warmth of his body, the feel of his hard muscles?—

“Witch’s tits, can you two give it a rest already?”

I jumped from Riven, shooting a guilty look at Herman.

The dragon rolled his eyes. “You two need to just hole up in a cabin somewhere for a week, maybe a month, and give the rest of us some peace and quiet.”

“Not a bad idea,” Riven murmured. “We would be naked on every surface in that cabin.”

I elbowed him, and he let out a quiet laugh as Herman settled back down.

The door burst open again, this time a pigeon flying in with a letter clutched in its talons.

It dropped the letter in Riven’s hands and flew away.

One of my father’s pigeons. He’d trained them to deliver mail throughout the Witchlands.

He’d even tried to get them to go beyond the Witchlands to the rest of Thaloria, but they’d been shot dead.

Found just outside our borders. Everyone else in the realm tended to be suspicious of our magic, afraid of it.

Riven frowned down at the letter in his hand and the pigeon fluttered off. “It’s from my manager,” he said, then tore it open, reading it.

“Is everything okay?” The butterflies in my stomach turned into knots the deeper his frown grew.

“Well, don’t keep us here in suspense, man,” Herman said. “What does it say?”

I should’ve chastised Herman for being rude, but I kept my mouth shut, hoping Riven would tell us what was going on.

He rubbed the back of his neck. “I have another tour opportunity,” he said.

“Oh.” Over the last few weeks, we’d talked a bit about Riven staying longer since he didn’t have any concrete plans. My heart sank. “That’s great news.”

He swallowed. “It’s in the mortal lands. A royal tour.”

My mouth dropped open. Witches didn’t tend to travel outside the Witchlands. Not when everyone else was afraid of us and our magic. To be invited was a huge opportunity. “What does that mean?” I asked.

His gaze dipped back down to the letter. “They want me to come and play for all the courts, for feasts, balls, weddings. It’s a big contract. The biggest I’ve ever gotten. I normally tour in taverns in the Witchlands. Not castles.”

This was huge. Riven was already famous, but this could elevate him to new levels. It also meant he’d be leaving soon—and traveling far, far away.

“How long is the tour?” I asked.

“One year,” he said.

One year. That was a long time.

I summoned a smile, my throat feeling sticky and thick. “I’m so happy for you.” I surged forward to give him a hug.

“Emma,” he said softly, and I pushed back.

“This is amazing,” I said like he hadn’t spoken. “We should go out to celebrate. Tonight. Let me go home and change and tell my father I’ll be out late.”

“Are you sure, Emma?” Riven asked, his eyes crinkling.

“Herman, can you finish closing up?” My voice shook.

“I suppose,” Herman said. “Although it would be nice to get an invite out every once in a while, you know.”

A tea cup flung itself at me from the shelf, and instead of ducking, I raised my hands to catch it, then threw it on the floor. It burst into hundreds of pieces. “Give it a rest already!” I shouted at the tea shop.

Riven and Herman stared at me with wide eyes as I let out a frustrated grunt.

“Emma,” Riven started but I was already turning, running toward the door as the tears began to fall.