“How long do you plan to rent a room at Ember’s?” Levi asked.
“We decided to give it a month and see how it goes,” Ember said.
Maggie smiled. “You seemed to have gotten pretty close already, so it sounds like it’s going well.”
Ember met Nyte’s gaze. “I’ve really enjoyed his company.”
“And I yours.” Nyte nearly addedmy dear little witchto those words, but that felt like something best kept between the two of them. Something her friends didn’t need to overhear and question.
But she smiled as though she’d heard those unspoken words regardless.
The waitress returned with their drinks, setting them upon the table. Both Ember and Maggie’s were bright and colorful,garnished with fruit and sugar crystals along the rims. After taking their food orders, the waitress walked off again.
Glancing up at him, Ember smiled. She picked up her drink, brought the rim to her lips, and drank.
Those fucking lips…
Levi leaned forward and propped his elbows on the table, clasping his hands as he directed his gaze to Nyte. “So, you been in Salem long?”
“No, I haven’t.” Nyte lifted his glass and sipped the water. “But there’s something about this place that feels right. The…” His eyes shifted briefly to Ember. “Vibes.”
Levi gave him a knowing smile. “I was visiting town for work during Halloween six years ago. That’s when I first saw Maggie.”
“Which is amazing consider how ridiculously crowded it gets here,” Maggie said.
Slipping his arm around her waist, Levi drew her close. She leaned against him, rested her head on his shoulder, and cupped his jaw, stroking his beard with her thumb. A loving smile settled on her lips as she gazed up at him.
“One look at her, and I knew I couldn’t stay away.” Levi threaded his fingers through her hair. “My goddess who stole my heart.”
For all his age and strength, it took a significant portion of Nyte’s willpower to keep unease from creeping into his expression. That phrase—stole my heart—roused exactly the feelings he’d sought to escape during his time in seclusion.
Maggie hummed. “Can’t steal what was freely given, my love.”
Levi chuckled. “You’re right. I pretty much handed it over on a silver platter, didn’t I?”
“You did.”
“And I’ve never seen a couple more in love than the two of you,” Ember said with a smile. She looked at Nyte. “Levi rented an apartment in town a couple weeks after they met, just so he could be close. He wants to talk about stealing? He practically stole her from me.”
Laughter bubbled from Maggie as she straightened. “He did.”
“And I was left all alone. Allow me to drink away my sorrows.” Ember brought her glass to her mouth and took a long drink.
“It’s not like I up and disappeared!”
To Ember and her friends, this was undoubtedly warm banter. Their tones were light, their smiles wide, their affection for each other apparent. But Nyte couldn’t hold back his heavy thoughts. Thoughts of hearts being stolen, of hearts being offered, of Ember being so alone.
“I miss you though,” Maggie said more solemnly. “I miss our nights together, miss hanging out, just the two of us.”
Ember set her glass down. “Me too. But I know we’re both so busy with life, and you have Levi as part of yours.”
Maggie reached across the table and covered Ember’s hand. “I know you’ve had some horrible dating experiences, but you’ll find someone who completes you the same way Levi does me.”
Once more Ember’s cheeks pinkened, and Nyte caught her glance his way.
She withdrew her hand from Maggie’s and picked up her drink. “I don’t know if anything could come close to what you and Levi have.”
Nyte frowned, biting back the words that threatened to emerge from his mouth—the repudiation of her opinion, the acceptance of the challenge to prove her wrong, to show her that she deserved so much better than what she’d had thus far.
