He sat in the dark corner booth, his hood pulled up, covering his face in shadows. He watched as she entered the pub; recognizing her was immediate.

What was she doing with them? Did she not know what she was? How could she not know?

Then he saw Mrs. D walk up to their table. He strained to tune out the pub chatter, listening in on their conversation.

That's when he heard it.

"You be Nori's granddaughter...you an your aunt...opening that...shop across the way."

His green eyes widened like he had been punched in the gut.

Witches! Her family was witches!

It wasn't possible.

He wracked his brain; She was Nori's granddaughter, Her Aunt- The shop. That meant that her parents had to be-

NO!

He felt a slight panic begin to set in.

She didn't know. Yet, it was only a matter of time before she did.

He had to talk to her. To make sure.

He wouldn't be the one to tell her.

He couldn't. Could he?

A low grumble left his throat involuntarily. He saw her eyes go wide and dart frantically around the pub. He slumped down further into his corner, adjusting his hood. He could see the gold in her eyes brighten, glowing.

'Shit!'

What was he supposed to do about this? About her? Should he leave the village?

No, he couldn't do that.

He watched her intently. She had her eyes closed, and the girl next to her, Selia, had a hand on her arm, whispering to her.

Someone walked in front of him, blocking his view.

"Can I get you another one?" A soft female voice asked.

He glanced up at the barmaid, A small girl with mousy brown hair and icy blue eyes. She gave him a flirtatious smile, transforming her face. Normally he would consider this girl beautiful, and she was; but since the night of the festival, when she appeared to him- No one else would ever compare.

"Ya, sure, whatever," He replied dismissively, leaning so he could once again see her.

The waitress followed his gaze, her cheeks flushed red, and her eyes blazed with anger. He could smell the jealousy on her.

"You like my cousin's girlfriend?" The girl sneered.

Jealousy floated around her, clung to her; like a heavy fog. But it was more than just that. Much more.

He studied her as she stood before him. No longer beautiful. The nasty attitude ruined what beauty she would have.

"I'll take that pint now," he said.

She sucked in a breath and turned, stomping back towards the bar.

He needed to get out of there. He pulled out his wallet, laying the money on the table, and slipped out of his seat and the pub unnoticed, or so he thought.

Deidra returned with his drink a few minutes later, only to find the booth empty. She huffed in frustration, fisting the money he left for his tab. Then, she turned her attention to the booth her cousins occupied.

Fire and determination shot through her, settling in her hardened blue eyes.

Ember sat at the table, staring after the hooded man as he hurried from the pub.

It was him! The one from the festival, the one in the meadow!

She saw Deidra go to the table and grab the money.

Maybe she knew who he was.

Ember chewed on her lip, preparing herself for what she was sure would be an unpleasant exchange.

"Do ya want another round?" Deidra asked stiffly when she reached their table; her voice laced with disdain.

"Hey, Deidra, do you know who that man was? The one you were waiting on, that just left? The one with the hooded cloak?" Ember questioned instead of answering.

Deidra smirked. Her blue eyes were hard and cold as she answered. "He's taken. Meanin he be mine. Thas all you need know."

The girl turned, stalking to the back of the pub, into the kitchen, not waiting to hear Ember's reply.

Selia rolled her eyes and snorted. "She is bein' a wagon, Em. So don listen to her. Tha usually means Deidra is interested in him but not tha they are together."

Ember shrugged, hoping that she appeared unaffected when in reality, her heart was in her throat, and she felt as if all of the air had been sucked from the room.

"I was just wondering," she began, her voice, to her surprise, steady, "I think I ran into him, literally, at the festival." She laughed, but it sounded hollow to her own ears.

"Well, this has been grand, but I need ta bugger off. I have to find Da and help him before he comes back here," Conor said, stretching his lean frame as he stood. "ya coming, Sel?"

"I think I will see if Ma needs some help, but first, I want ta show Ember around the Inn."

"Thas right; I forgot we said we would. D'ya mind if I head out? I really need ta be helpin my Da'?"

Ember shook her head, smiling up at Conor, "No. No, of course, I don't mind. I really should head home myself. My Gran has been giving me lessons in the evenings." Ember turned to Selia. "You could show me the inn tomorrow sometime after you guys come to the shop opening."

"Oh, Aye! That sounds like a plan, then."

"Thanks for the food; tell your Ma it was almost the best thing I have ever eaten."

Ember grabbed her cloak, slipping it around her shoulders. "We will be officially opening the shop at nine am, but if you want to come before it opens, we will be there quite a few hours. Early. You know, to finish setting up last-minute stuff. And the sign reveal and hanging." '

They said their goodbyes, and Ember exited the pub into a light drizzling rain. She pulled the hood of the cloak over her head, protecting her curls from becoming a big frizzy mess.

She glanced towards the shop once she reached the fork in the cobblestone road in the center of the village. The lights still blazed brightly, and she could see her Aunt moving around the shop through the front display window. She smiled at the thought of the shop and all of the work they had put into it since arriving.

She needed to grab her bag before heading home. Perhaps her Aunt wanted to accompany her or needed some last-minute help. The bell jingled as it always did when she entered the shop.

Arwen turned from the workbench, leaning against it, "So, how was your break?"

"I ran into Selia and Conor. They took me to the pub. Did you know that their parents own the place?" Ember took off her coak, hanging it on the rack at the door.

"Mmm, aye. I grew up wi' them."

"So you know their family pretty well, then?" Ember questioned, her front teeth worrying its usual spot on her bottom lip.

"Aye. Why d'ya ask?"

"Well, their cousin Deidra, she hasn't been very friendly at all. When I met all of them at the festival, and then just now at the pub, it's as if she decided she didn't like me as soon as she saw me. And I'm not really sure why."

Arwen sighed, rubbing her forehead before answering her niece, "I'm no surprised. Deidra got that from her Ma'. She was the same way wit yer Ma and me when we were growin up. A spiteful, jealous ol' witch." She winked at Ember when she said the word "witch."

Ember groaned, rolling her eyes at her Aunt, laughing despite herself. She could see that her Aunt wasn't going to elaborate on the subject.

"Well, anyways, I just came to get my bag, but I wanted to see if you needed any help before I headed home or if you wanted to walk with me. I'll help you close up." Ember offered.

"That's okay, sweetheart. You head on home. I have a few things to finish up here. I'll be there before y finish your lesson wi Gran." Arwen shooed her on her way before turning back to resume whatever she had been doing at the workbench.