“You ready for tonight?” Hazel asked, bopping along with Aspen on her hip. “You look…” she swallowed, “comfortable.”
Her eyes dropped to the fuzzy black robe and pumpkin gourd slippers on my feet. “Figured it’s easy access, and who am I trying to impress? Just need to be able to, you know…”
“Reach down and recharge your battery?” She winked, making my cheeks and chest heat. “Speaking of, I have a little—or not so little—gift for you.”
“What did you do?”
“What?” she asked with mock innocence, handing me a satin-trimmed box. When I opened it, there was a black rose-shaped toy with a matching remote. “Figured this might come in handy.”
I had to admit, it looked…intriguing. My Desire agreed, bursting like tiny firecrackers in my belly.
“I packed a few extra goodies in your bag, along with lube. Can never have enough. I hear your witchy bits are drier when you’re nursing.”
I cut her a glare. “Oh my Goddess, Hazel.”
“What?” she said, bringing a hand up in halfhearted surrender. “I’m just looking out for my little sister and her gift.”
I shook my head, waving off my embarrassment. She wasn’t wrong, though I hadn’t remembered any desert issues with Lynx.
But solo? And with these nerves jolting through me right now? Give me all the naughty tricks for my treats.
“Thanks, Haze.”
“No need for any of that. I’m excited to have a night to hang with this cutie.” She peppered Aspen’s cheeks and nose with kisses before taking his hand and waving at me. “Stay out late, Momma.”
I’d probably need to in order to get enough time under the moon’s light. “If you need anything, I’ll have my phone on me.”
“Don’t worry,” she reassured me, giving me another wave off. “I’ve got this.”
“I know you do.” And I did. There was no one I trusted more with Aspen than Hazel, outside of myself and his father. “Thanks again.”
“Now get going.” She nudged me with her free hand. I put the satin box into my bag, wondering what other items I’d find in there.
When I got out to the porch, there was a black candle floating midair, my name carved into its side, cream wax peeking through the etchings. Other runes for luck spanned its exterior, and once I touched the candle, it floated away, heading out toward the pines.
This had Hazel written all over it.
Turning back to the house, I caught her staring out the window, a big grin on her face, waving me on.
I followed her illuminated token, pausing only a moment when I realized I’d gone farther into the woods than I’d planned.She can text me if she needs me, I reminded myself, patting the phone in the pocket of my fluffy robe.
Pleasured moans echoed through the pine canopy. Bodies were pressed up against trees in the distance, some spread blankets. Jade nodded at me as I passed, skyclad, her body bathing directly in the night’s luminescence. Emerald green vines began twisting up the pines and sweeping across to connect with other trunks under the canopy. I watched in awe as she replenished her gift.
Most supernaturals found spots within the pines’ shelter on the full moon. Not all needed it to recharge their magic, but the intensity of its coppery radiance called to the entire community. Shifters would be running deeper in the forest, taking up with each other in caves or out in the open. Vampires would welcome their new bloods, guiding them through their first feedings. Demons would be bargaining, competing within their hellish hierarchy for dominance.
Anything was fair game when it came to the full moon.
Especially from what I’d heard about Celestial Haven. I’d never experienced something like this. We’d had a private wooded area behind Atlas’s home that we would go to.
The grunts and groans were beckoning me to touch the damp spot building between my bare legs. I tried to keep my focus on the candle, curious where it led. Trekking up a hill, closer to the Moon Goddess’s embrace, my thighs began to burn, until the candle came to a halt, extinguishing itself.
Fairy lights flicked on, rising from the ground, illuminating a circular blanket lying over the forest floor. Symbols from the tarot were embroidered onto the fabric, its edges fringed. Floating beneath the lights were crystals: carnelian, rose quartz, and citrine, all spinning in circles at different heights, like a sensual solar system just for me. “Wow.”
“Glad you like it, Wicked.”
I spun, spotting Lynx peering out from behind a tree.
“You did this?” I asked, shocked to see him here.
