Evan felt the stars between his body and Vicki's. Getting any closer felt impossible most days, but tonight was different. He couldn't put his finger on why. It was like there was an entire world between them, and every day he would stare at her through fogged-up windows and empty streets as though she was the sun and he the moon.

That wasn't right, was it?

A breeze swept across the blades of grass and the gold of the flowers. Pollen danced in the air as it passed, a fresh note that complimented the slight spice and sweetness emanating from the witch. His nose was better than other vampires, in fact, it rivaled even a purebred werewolf. The scent in the air was heavy, surrounding them both, but the pollen had a muted softness he had smelled before.

He kneeled into a flower and inhaled.

Yes, he recognized it.

Magic.

When he had read through the library at the compound and found the legend of the flower, it never mentioned magic had made them.

He laid back again.

So underdwellers had the moon. Mortals the sun, and witches had magic. Magic brought the sun to the moon every month. He smiled and looked over to the witch.

"What are you looking at?" she asked.

She always wasted her questions.

"Everything," he said.

He watched her smile fade as she looked past him. He followed her gaze toward the mansion looming above them. A light on the second floor was on, faint yellow dimmed by light drapes.

"We'd better go," she whispered, as if whoever was up there would hear them. A twinge of citrus peel hit his nose. He wanted to stay, but not if it made her anxious.

"Alright."

Vicki began putting on her shoes while he packed away the food she hadn't touched. He couldn't have asked for a better night. She had kept her promise to him and then some, but all he had done was give her dinner and ask her about that scumbag ex of hers. And his plan now? Well, after kissing her, he had planned to end the night on the blanket and then in his room, but that would mean more to him than her.

No.

He had another idea.

"Let's go back to your place."

She looked back, wide-eyed.

"Mine? But my stuff is at yours, what do you—"

"I want to take down that painting. It isn't you, and Scented Sticks is your shop."

The corners of her mouth quirked up.

"Alright, let's go."

He waited as she took out her key and unlocked the door. His heart had been hammering away at his chest on the entire walk over, and he had heard hers beating away along with his. After they left the park and got away from the food stalls and blooming flowers, another scent began to build and fill the air. Spiced like cinnamon and sage, he knew where it came from and this time he knew he was the one who put it there and not some incubus.

This was the same perfume she wore when she was stuck in a fantasy.

He heard the lock unlatch and the first squeak of the bearings propelled him forward. He grabbed her shoulders and when she looked back at him, he crashed his lips against hers. They barreled through the door, causing the bell above to clang instead of ring.

His hands were low on her back, keeping her upright even as he moved her forward. She felt like a freshly picked flower in his arms. Strong, soft, erotically scented, and—

She bit his lip.

So she had thorns too.

Evan smiled against her. "Careful, or I'll bite back," he whispered.

"Isn't that supposed to be your thing, vampire?"

Cheeky witch. He had half a mind to bend her over the counter but thought better of it. He trapped any other smart remarks she had with his lips, letting her sharp tongue meet his until they made their way to the stairs. He dropped his hands to the roundness of her ass and lifted her up. She was sucking his bottom lip when he took the first stair.

She pulled away.

"Wait," she said breathlessly.

"You want to do this on the stairs?" he asked and buried his face in her chest. He was up for anything, but he thought a first time should be a little soft.

"No...I...I just want to straighten up first." She pushed him back slightly and he let her down onto her feet.

"Sixty seconds," he said, "and then I'm coming after you."

Her eyes widened. He winked at her and she relaxed and began skipping up the steps.

He let out a breath after she shut the door behind her. He cursed under his breath. He could have had her on the counter or on the chair in the corner. Now, he'd have to wait in his too-tight jeans. Well, since he had time, he went to the middle of the shop and stared at the painting. It truly was an awful picture. His hands went to the corner of the frame.

The bell at the entrance rang behind him.

He jerked back.

"Shop's closed," he said at the dark figure. Lust clouded his vision, and the store was nothing but shadows where the moonlight hadn't hit it. Slight creaks from Vicki's movements upstairs were all that took up the space between the silence.

"Ten years and this is where you've been?"

His brother stepped into the light. Evan strode forward, trying to hide his horror and surprise behind a bored façade he hoped his brother would recognize.

"Your tracking skills are improving, Al, I thought you would have given up by now."

Evan walked toward the door, hoping he'd follow, but Al stayed in the store, even as he opened the door.

"You found me, let's get out of here." Before you see her, he thought. Al was the good son. He always followed orders, he always remembered the oaths and codes, he never ran away, and he had the freedom to leave the circle whenever he wanted. He should've been the next in line to lead the territory, but he was younger, and that meant his leash was nonexistent and Evan's was short.

Both of them knew they envied the other.

Which was why Evan knew he couldn't risk Al meeting Vicki.

"Quit dragging this out, Al, you can give me a good lashing once we get to my apartment."

"It may surprise you, Evander, but I'm not here for you. I'm here on business."

Evan's eyebrow raised.

"You buy knick-knacks now?"

His brother shook his head.

"All this time and you still care about no one but yourself. There's a witch in this town, brother, we're here to find it."

Evan's heart stopped.

"'We'?"

"Timothy is checking the caves along the coast."

Thank the gods. Timothy was the closest thing he had to a friend, at least it was him and not his father. Still, he needed his brother to get out of the shop, now.

"If you're looking for witches, I think I may know of a few places," he said.

His brother weighed it for a moment before nodding and following him out the door. The bell rang once more, signaling the end of Evan's night with Vicki and gods knew what else.