Sarafina laughed. “He was really personable and friendly, very motivated in his career path. He was a man my foster mother would have called a provider. He treated me well, and we almost never fought. It’s just that there wasn’t that . . . that . . .” She trailed off, searching for the right word. “That spark.” She snapped her fingers, making fire flare. “You know?”

All three of the women laughed. “Yes, I think we get it,” answered Mira. “That spark you’re talking about is pretty important to a fire witch.”

“Alex was a great guy, but we shouldn’t have been together. It just wasn’t right. He wasn’t—”

“Tall, dark, and mysterious?” Isabelle supplied, grinning. “Brooding and reticent? Complicated and just a little bit dangerous?”

“Hmmm, sounds like someone we all know,” added Claire in a teasing tone of voice.

Sarafina glanced down at the table, letting a small smile cross her lips. “Can we add aggravating, controlling, uncommunicative, stubborn, and indecipherable?”

Claire nodded. “We can.”

“I know what you’re getting at, though.” Sarafina shrugged a shoulder. “Maybe. Or maybe it was because Alex wasn’t a witch. We lacked that thing in common. I didn’t know I was a witch when I was with him, but somewhere deep within I always knew I was different.”

“Honestly, Sarafina,” said Mira. “I can relate because I was in relationships with non-magickals before I found out I was an air witch. It’s just not the same with someone who doesn’t share in magick. I’m not saying that relationships with non-magickals can’t work. There are some in the Coven that do just fine in them, but I think it helps to have that shared base.”

“Well, I guess I’ll find out sooner or later since I’m sort of starting a new life here at the Coven, turning a new page, or whatever. Maybe eventually I’ll be in a relationship with a witch and I’ll have a basis for comparison.”

Isabelle leaned forward and grinned mischievously. “Maybe you’ll be in a relationship with Theo.”

Sarafina relaxed back in her chair with a laugh. “I don’t think Theo’s looking for that. I’m certainly not.”

“I did notice Darren looking you over quite a bit today.” Claire raised an eyebrow over the rim of her glass.

Sarafina felt a blush tinge her cheeks, though it had little to do with Darren’s attention and a lot to do with Theo’s fit of jealousy over it. Was she a bad person if she admitted she’d gotten some pleasure from that?

“Yes, well, he’ll be going back to Boston soon. Anyway, we’ve got more pressing matters to think about right now. Perhaps soon I’ll be headed back to the Duskoff.” Sarafina pushed away from the table and stood. “So, I better get to sleep. Theo’s all about training early in the morning.”