He glanced up, catching my eye. “I’m glad.” He smiled gently. “It sure was a lot of effort, it better be worth it.”
“It’s worth it.” Everything about the trip had been worth it.
His gaze softened. Warmed. His smile grew. It was almost like he could read my mind. “Is it?”
I nodded urgently. I braced myself, finally ready to confess my feelings. “Tandor, I?—”
He interrupted me. “Kizzi, you are the most breathtaking, impatient, nosey, kind-hearted woman I have ever met. You could brew a potion to shatter the realm, if you set your mind to it.” His voice was quiet, only for my ears. He gathered my hands in his. “I will be grateful every day that you invited me on that journey with you. Now, go ahead—” He pressed my knuckles to his lips, “—I just had to get that out.”
I gaped at him. My cheeks were burning hot—the tips of my ears absolutely flaming. “I don’t know what to say. I can’t believe you just stole my moment like that.”
The corners of his eyes wrinkled in glee. “You were about to confess your undying love for me?”
Impossibly, my cheeks heated even further. My lips refused to form words.
His eyes widened. “You were, weren’t you? In front of the entire town? Kizzi, I didn’t realize you were such a romantic!” He kissed my knuckles again. “I think this is the best day of my life.”
I laughed, any lingering tension draining away. “I was just going to tell you, since we’re back home, and things will be going back to normal?—”
“That you love me?”
“That being around you makes me feel alive. I’ve never been happier. I want to keep doing this.” I paused, gathering my thoughts. “I want to be with you, if you’ll have me.”
“Kizzi, you’ve held my heart in the palm of your hand for longer than you know.”
I melted. “I’ll take good care of it. I promise.”
I gazed into his liquid onyx eyes, getting lost in them. His smile was beautiful. I saw countless happy days in the twinkle of his eyes, the creases in his cheeks.
Somewhere behind me, someone cleared their throat.
Pulling my eyes away from Tandor’s magnetic stare, I remembered where I was—leaning over the bar in Ginger’s crowded pub.
I couldn’t muster any embarrassment. All I felt was sweet, heartwarming, soul-tingling happiness.
I straightened. “I better get out of your hair—you’ve got a line here.”
Someone muttered a bratty thank you, but I ignored it, too giddy to come up with any retorts.
Tandor released my hands, returning to his customers. “Have a happy Hallow’s Eve, little witch.”
“Happy Hallow’s Eve to you too, orc.”
“I’ll see you later,” he called out as I stood from my barstool. He drifted away.
Later? What did he mean by that?
When the suns began their descent, I returned to my shop to gather my supplies and don my traditional cloak and pointed witch hat.
The witches were gathering in a small clearing just inside the perimeter of the Greenwood Forest. We didn’t go in very far, only far enough to be surrounded by trees. Most of us didn’t want to hike any further, and the clearing worked perfectly.
This would be the ninth Hallow’s Eve ritual that I got to participate in. Young witches not yet to adulthood were welcometo watch, to observe the rituals, but only the adults could participate. It was safer that way.
I wasn’t the only witch hauling supplies to the clearing in the woods. Hyacinth was, too. And a few others—Giada and Giselle, the red-haired rust-complected twins and Rayna, a younger witch with hair and eyes the color of sunflower petals, all carried baskets.
We marched to the clearing like bees returning to a hive.
“Can you ladies help me with something?” I asked when every basket was placed in the clearing.
