Lynx smiled at me, which only seemed to spur my gift on, prickling under my skin, begging me to invite him, his husband, and my ex over for a full moon get-your-freak-on. He eyed me curiously. Could he sense where my mind was going?Fuck.I pushed the image of the three forbidden witches out of my mind.
Why, Oakley?
But I already knew the reason. My Desire was rebelling against my intentional dry spell, the Moon Goddess coaxing me to not waste her blessing. A flurry of dusty magic swirled in my gut.
“I know you must be furious with me, but I promise I can explain.” He reached for me, but I moved sideways, nodding to my drinks to move along with me. “Just not here. Not now.”
“Did you or did you not contact your friend at the APD about Hazel?”
The usual stardust littering his irises vanished in an instant. “I did not.”
“Tell me why,” I pleaded.
He moved to speak but then clamped his mouth shut instead, a thick vein pulsing at his neck.
“If you’re not going to tell me, then I really must be getting back to Aspen and Atlas.” I whipped my head away from him. “Hope you and yourhusbandhave a Goddess-blessed full moon.”
When the lust demon sent his two cocktails his way, I stormed off, heading toward Atlas. I refused to listen to any more lies, and there was really nothing for Lynx and I to discuss until he was willing to give me the truth.
“You okay?” Atlas asked when I got to him. He grabbed his floating Dirty Devil and took a sip. “You’re pale.”
“Yep. I’m fine.” I chugged down my mocktail in one big gulp, then quickly grabbed the water, smacking my lips together when both cups were drained. They jetted off, weaving through the crowd on its way back toward the bar. “Let’s get home. The Moon Goddess should reach her ascension soon.”
Atlas guided us toward the yard’s exit, and I loaded Aspen into the stroller. While I never glanced behind me, I couldn’t help but feel a warm gaze heating my back as we left.
Chapter14
Oakley
As soon as we got home, I readied Aspen for bed and fed him before settling him down for the night in his crib. I hovered over him a few extra minutes, watching his eyes drink in the constellations projected onto the ceiling. Being in here was probably distracting him from falling asleep, but the alternative was heading to the living room where I knew Atlas would be getting changed for bed.
A streak of spit-up smeared along the material of my dress caught my eye. That was enough to stop the flutters down under.
When did that happen?
Not that it mattered. Spit-up was basically an accessory for me at this point. A postpartum badge of honor.
Of survival.
I walked over to the bathroom and rinsed off the stain a bit before taking my time walking out to the living room. Atlas was already dressed in just dark-green pajama pants slung low at his hips, breaking up the divots that led straight toward—
“You look beautiful,” he said, his full lips sliding into a rueful smile.
My Desire was still reacting to the moon and the lust running through me, ready to pin him down on the couch and ride him till first light.
Rude.
“Thanks,” I said awkwardly. My gaze dragged over to the window, the coppery orb glittering down on the cul-de-sac below. Café au Luna’s light was on, reminding me of Saros and hishusband—who I refused to even think of by name.
“It’s the full moon tonight,” Atlas said, drawing my attention back to him and his stupidly perfect physique.As if I didn’t know.He moved toward me, reaching out to clasp my hand. My skin crackled beneath his touch, starved for more of this. Of him. “I know you haven’t replenished your magic and—”
“You’re here to offer your services?” I pulled my hand back, brushing away the sensation beneath my skin. “We both know that would be a horrible idea.”
“Would it?” he asked. “It wouldn’t have to mean anything.”
“You’re living in one of your own illusions if you think that’s possible.” My mind flitted to our nights under the full moon together, and so many others. They were exquisite, ethereal, and I loved every moment of them. Part of me still loved him and probably always would. That was why I couldn’t idly enjoy life by his side, knowing it would rip him away from me all too soon.
And it wasn’t just us anymore.
