The two were meant to be together.
My eyes fell shut. His soul caressed mine and then latched on. I heard his sharp inhale of breath as much as I felt it from within.
His essence overwhelmed me. Encompassed me. Filled me entirely.
It wasn’t that I felt incomplete before, or like my being was missing anything, but once Redd’s soul united with mine, any emptiness inside me was filled. It felt good. It feltright.
I pulled my eyes open to find that Redd was already staring down at me. Our eyes bore into each other, communicating things our words would never be able to say. I could feel his intentions, almost as though they were my own. He was happy. Happy wasn’t a vast enough word for it. He was fulfilled. Complete. Overjoyed.
We were one.
Around us, the witches stopped chanting, and the town broke into applause.
I heard my best friend cheering the loudest, her voice booming over the crowd, and my smile grew so wide I feared my face would crack in half. My heart wasn’t built to contain this much joy.
All I could focus on was Redd. He leaned forward, capturing my lips in a ferocious kiss. The sensation was different than before, and entirely overwhelming.
When we finally broke apart, Redd resting his forehead against mine, I finally registered the cheering around us. Our friends and neighbors were hooting and hollering.
“I think this calls for a drink!” Ginger’s voice rang out over the noise.
The cheers became louder, and the crowd headed towards Ginger’s Pub.
Redd and I lingered, soaking up the moment.
“Hello, my beautiful mate,” Redd said quietly, caressing my cheek.
The suns were shining within my chest, warming me from the inside out. “Hi, mate.”
“I would like to throw you over my shoulder and lock you in the cottage for the next few days, but I suppose we better go celebrate with the others.” He gazed at me longingly.
I gulped, suppressing the shiver that tried to travel down my spine. “Well, we could ditch them.”
He growled. “Don’t tempt me, Fiella.”
I laughed. “Okay fine. One drink, and then we’ll slip out the back door.”
“Fine,” he sighed. “You better drink fast.” His eyes raked over me, from my hairline to my toes and back up again. He licked his fangs. He grabbed my ass, squeezing hard. I squealed.
“Can you two cut that out? We’re in public! Gods, I think I’m scarred for life,” Kizzi shouted, stepping forward with her hand over her eyes.
I pulled away from Redd reluctantly, taking his hand in mine. “Don’t be a hater, Kiz. We just love each other.”
“Well, love each other a little less. Ugh. It’s gross.” She lowered her hand from her eyes and looked at us both skeptically before diving forward, throwing an arm around my waist and then around Redd’s. She squeezed us tight. I wrapped my arm around her shoulders. Redd patted her awkwardly on the head.
Her voice wavered as she spoke. “I’m just so happy for you guys. Fiella, you’re my best friend, and my favorite person in the whole realm, and I’m so glad you found someone who understands youalmostas well as I do.” She sniffed, her head buried between Redd and me. “And you, Redd, I wasn’t sure about you at first because you were kind of an asshole, but you’ve really grown on me. But I’ll scoop your eyeballs out with a spoon if you ever hurt my best friend. And I mean that.” She squeezed harder for a moment before releasing us. She stepped back and dragged the back of her hand across her eyes, sniffing hard before composing herself. “Now let’s go. Everyone’s waiting for you.”
My eyes welled with tears and my throat constricted. Redd and I shared a look. “Alright, let’s go,” he declared.
Before I could say anything in response to Kizzi, she whirled and sped toward the pub.
Ihad never seen the pub so packed. It seemed as though the entire town had shown up to celebrate the occasion. Folk werefilling every table, every barstool, and had even overflowed onto the street. Everyone mingled, holding goblets and laughing.
Redd and I were intercepted every few steps with hugs, congratulations, and well wishes. So many smiling faces passed by that they began to blur together. Old Man Wilbur, Velline, Ani, Lunette, Tandor–everyonewas here. My heart squeezed with a tender ache.
We eventually made it to the bar. Ginger sat down two of her largest goblets, full to the brim with cider.
“Bless you.” I reached for the goblet gratefully. “I need this after all those conversations. I love this town, but I don’t think I’ve ever hugged so many folk in one day!”
