“Nice to see you again, Oakley,” Saros said with a curt nod, then turned his attention to the witch by my side. “Saros.”
“Atlas.” He didn’t put out his hand as usual, instead giving him a curt nod in return.
Something thick clawed the air—or maybe it was just my ribs constricting from the awkwardness. I felt like I might be sick if I stayed here much longer.
Aurora’s gaze dropped to my chest, and I looked down to see Aspen rubbing with his mouth where my nipple hid beneath the black sack I was wearing. My face and neck heated in embarrassment.
“You’re welcome to feed him anywhere you like. If you want privacy, Fitz’s office should be empty.” Aurora stroked his arm adoringly, gaze darting around the man buffet situated in front of her. I couldn’t blame her. Unlike me, she wasn’t covered in drool and spit-up, and they weren’t out of her league.
“Thanks,” I replied hastily, then turned to Atlas. “Why don’t you grab some food, and I’ll come find you?”
He nodded, and I quickly shuffled toward the house. I didn’t care about privacy as much as I just needed a place to freak out in solitude.
* * *
The inside was bustlingwith at least twenty witches in small groups cluttering the dining room. Long tapered wine glasses were strewn across the table, thin candles dripping pale wax down their curved edges, some seeping onto the rich-purple runner overlaid with lace.
A large coffin-shaped display held various meats, cheeses, fruits, and vegetables, along with glossy jet-black caramel apples that reflected the dim candlelight. Aspen babbled and played with my dress as we passed assorted vials with different colored potions that were set on tiered trays with small tented labels. Some were marked to help with libido, others with calming, and a few give a witch enough energy to be able to stay up all night.
Witches were walking up to the display, taking vials and tucking them into their pockets. A few who seemed eager for the moon’s arrival simply gulped the bright-blue liquid down and left the empty ones strewn about the table.
In another corner of the room, a floating ladle was serving dark-magenta drinks in stemless glasses, pale wisps of smoke billowing over their tops.
It was one of the most elaborate lunar celebrations I’d ever seen. Where I was from, our community threw subtle, small gatherings each month—other than official functions I attended with Atlas when we were together, which were never held on this sacred night.
I wondered if their rituals were any different too.
As if it could hear my thoughts, the leftover grains of Desire sifted under my skin. But I’d be abstaining from any ofthat. I just needed to buy time to keep Atlas distracted, then hide in my room tonight, away from the beautiful coppery orb and Goddess whose magic beckoned me.
I’m sorry.I grimaced on the off chance she or her acolytes could hear me somehow, not wanting to sound ungrateful for my gift. While I wasn’t sure I wanted its return, I could never wish her blessings away. There were plenty of them that she’d brought into my life, including Aspen. I’d do an offering of some sort, an apology, once I was home and by myself.
I wandered down the lone narrow hallway, looking for the office.
“It’s that one.”
The familiar voice sent me jolting around.
“You’re unbelievable,” I gritted out at Lynx, not hiding my frustration since we were the only two in the hallway. “What are you doing here?”
He nodded toward the door his hand was on. “Bathroom.”
Ugh. Of course I had to look like the asshole right now.
How could I have been so naïve? Maybe I had misread things, but I could have sworn we were about to kiss. There was a moment… I should have known it was all too good to be true.
“Look, Oakley. I wanted to talk to you—”
“There’s nothing to talk about.” Aspen’s face bobbed into my dress again as he fussed.
“It’s the second door to your left,” he instructed in a gentle tone, looking at my witchling with a glint in his eye. “I’d just recommend aiming yourself away from the cameras. They are everywhere around here.”
His gaze went up and I followed it, spotting a few cameras tucked out of view. That wasn’t creepy at all.
“Thanks for the tip,” I said, heading for the door he’d pointed out and twisting the knob, swinging it wide.
When I went to shut the door behind me, his hand stopped it, holding it open enough to peer through.
“So Archon Thorne is—”
