‘Fae magic is like a well; when you use it, it feels like your pushing it out. It is a ritual with the Moirai; inside their temple, there’s this bronze cauldron. If the fae wishes to be immortal—they push out their magic; if they give all their magic into the pot, they’re truly immortal, but they won’t have any powers. So, most fae settle to live a longer lifespan rather than give up all their powers. They aren’t truly immortal like vampires. They just age slower.’

Bethan nodded. ‘What happens to the power in the cauldron?’

‘I believe it is used for the Moirai’s prophecies.’

‘I never knew any of this.’

‘Krete’s education system must be severely lacking, especially if a university graduate doesn’t even know basic fae studies.’

Bethan scoffed. ‘You’re such a big prick.’

‘Would you like to see my big prick?’

She rolled her eyes, laughing. A blush crawled onto her cheeks.

Bethan thought back to how they slept in the same bed, how they held hands, how he would kiss her lips and her forehead.

How she wanted him.

‘Kell,’ she breathed. He stopped in his tracks, his eyes fixated on her. ‘The night where I found out about Tharin, and we were in bed, you said that—

‘I wanted to bed you.’

‘Does that still stand?’

‘I want nothing more.’

His lips widened to a grin. ‘If we do this, I want us to be together. Truly together. I want to be able to kiss you every day. Be the reason you smile. I want to be the one that makes you laugh. I want it all.’

She pushed up on her tiptoes and placed a kiss on his cheeks. ‘You already make me smile; you brought me back to life. I hadn’t felt anything but grief until I met you.’

He laughed, tilting his head; she watched his Adam’s apple bob. Pure joy.

The main street had gotten busier, and people had to push past them. They had to start walking again. Reality set back in, and the hopelessness of it all returned.

‘We won’t work,’ she said sadly. ‘After we find the grimoire, you’re going back home.’

‘Don’t worry about that yet. We work now. And that’s all that matters. I have a plan for us.’

She leant her head against his arm as they walked into their street.

‘What are you going to do after we find it?’ he asked.

‘I’m going to take Tharin’s job.’

‘I hope you do.’ Kellan cackled. ‘My faeness might be rubbing off on you.’

‘I’m feeling vengeful.’

‘You’re a very dangerous witch then.’ He smirked.

They were outside of Miro’s Meats. They both stared up at their apartments above. A yellow light shined through her apartment window, and Bethan could see the shadowy figures of at least two of her roommates from her vantage point below.