I turned to see snowflakes fluttering on the breeze outside in the dwindling light as the sun set over the distant mountain ridges. If she needed a distraction, I would happily provide one. “Well, grab your jacket. Let’s go enjoy it before it stops.”
A sweet smile spread across her face and she headed for the foyer, where she grabbed her coat and threw it over her shoulders. Her happiness filled my lungs, the aroma like wildflowers, her scent of jasmine and her citrus shampoo dancing in the air around her. I could breathe that fragrance in all day, drown myself in it.
Cold air flooded the foyer as she opened the front door, and I could barely keep up with her as she raced into the cold. She didn’t hesitate as she hurried down the stairs into the front yard.
“Careful you don’t slip now,” I warned as I closed the door behind me.
“Oh, I’ll be fine! I know I’m a klutz but give me some credit.” She stuck her hands out, trying to catch the small crystals of ice as they fluttered around her. Dwindling light faded over the horizon as night stretched out around us. The streetlights lit up as darkness fell, and the snowflakes came to life, catching the glow of the lamps.
Her breath billowed out in misty puffs as she watched the falling snowflakes glow in the light. A soft smile spread across her face as she watched it all. “It’s so beautiful.”
She was a sight I could watch endlessly. I walked over and pulled her against me, leaning my forehead to hers. Her laughter filled my senses, the most beautiful music to ever grace my ears. “Not as beautiful as you,mea luna.”My moon.
Her cheeks turned a beautiful shade of pink. “You’re just saying that,mea sol.”My sun.
My chest swelled as she called me by that special name—one she’d called me for centuries. If only she knew how special that name was for us. If only she knew I didn’t call hermy moonas a simple term of endearment. She was truly the light in my life, the light in the darkness guiding me forward. She’d named me her sun, without whom she could not glow as brightly in the darkness.
And I would bask in her glow until the end of time.
3
CASSIE
My phone vibrated in my pocket with Kat’s text.
I’ve gotta get to class, I’ll talk to you later!
I tapped away quickly on my phone.
Before you go, are we doing pizza night Friday?
I toyed with the necklace she’d gotten me for my birthday as I waited for her response. It was a simple locket with a photo of us inside, and I cherished it.
Her text came through, and I sighed.
I’m so sorry, I’m bogged down with midterms. Anatomy and Physiology is kicking my ass this semester, and Cody is taking me on a weekend trip for a concert to force me to take a break. Can we take a raincheck? I feel so terrible, I would have invited you, but I think it’s gonna be that kind of trip, if you know what I mean. ??
I bit back a smile at her implication. I responded with a short ‘sure’ before shoving my phone in my pocket. It was foolish of me to think she would have time between her job and school, plus things developing between her and Cody. I was happy for her, but it felt like we were growing apart somehow. We’d only been able to hang out a few times since I’d moved in with Damien. We kept up with each other, visiting when we could. She’d even joined us for Christmas with my parents. It had been... interesting, and I giggled at the memory of Damien and his brothers trying to figure out how to celebrate Christmas to give me some normalcy.
It was getting more difficult, though, as Kat got deeper into med school. Her schedule had been a juggling act of hopping from class to work and back to class again early the following morning. It didn’t help that my training had taken up so much of my own time. It had been over a week since I’d seen her in person.
I should’ve known this would happen. How could I maintain a friendship with her when I now lived in a world she didn’t even know existed, a world she couldneverknow existed? As a human, she couldn’t know anything of the immortals, the Elythians... the darklings.
“‘Ow would ye like yer eggs t’day, deary?” Ethel shuffled about in the kitchen, working efficiently as she cooked us breakfast, her salty white hair tied into a ponytail.
I eased back in the chair. “I’ll just take them scrambled. Thank you,Mitera.”
“You’re not going to ask me,Mitera?” Damien said, his tone sheepish as he entered the kitchen. By the coy grin on his face, I knew he was teasing her. It seemed to be his favorite pastime, and I rolled my eyes at the troublemaking grin smeared across his face.
Without sparing him a glance, she waved the spatula in the air. “Lord Damien, there’s nae a day that ye ‘aven’t asked fer yer eggs o’er easy. Ah’ve offered countless times, an’ it’s always the same.”
He walked over to her, resting his hands on her shoulders. “Maybe I’m going to want something different today.”
She turned to him, crossing her arms. “Fine. Tell me, Lord Damien. ‘Ow wuid ye like yer eggs this mornin’?”
The crooked grin remained on his face as he spoke. “Over easy would be nice.”
I choked on my drink as she swung her spatula at him with a huff. He evaded her easily, grunting out a laugh, ducking around the table to dodge her as she went after him again. He slid a sideways grin at me as she returned to the stove, to which I shook my head, unable to fight the smile curving my lips.
