Chapter 8—Seamus
THE MORNING OF THE LoveLuck Festival dawns with a shimmer of magic that hangs in the air like dew. I stand at the window of my room at the Moonlit Inn, watching as the town finishes transforming before my eyes. There have been smaller decorations since my rushed arrival two days ago, with shamrocks and green hearts, but now, the town is ready to fully reveal its celebratory mood.
Green and gold banners unfurl from lampposts as if invisible hands are setting them free. Shamrock-shaped lights blink into existence along the eaves of buildings. The cobblestones of Main Street gleam with a subtle golden sheen that wasn’t there yesterday.
I run my fingers through my wild red hair, attempting to tame it into something presentable. Two years away from Evershift Haven, and I’d almost forgotten how the town breathes with magic during festivals. Almost.
A knock at my door interrupts my thoughts.
“Mr. O’Connell?” Etienne St. John’s voice carries through the wood. “There’s a package for you at the front desk.”
I open the door to find the vampire innkeeper looking dapper as always in a tailored suit, though today he’s added a green pocket square and a small shamrock pin. “Thanks, Etienne. I’ll be right down.”
He nods, a knowing smile on his lips. “The festival committee has outdone themselves this year. I suspect you’ll find it particularly meaningful.”
Before I can ask what he means, he glides away down the hallway, leaving me with questions and the faint scent of expensive cologne.
I dress quickly in dark trousers and a forest green shirt with silver Celtic embroidery along the collar—traditional enough to honor my heritage without looking like a leprechaun caricature. The humans have some strange ideas about my kind. Even some of the magical creatures expect a leprechaun to be about three-feet-tall, with a shaggy red beard, emerald top hat, and an obsession with rainbows. Only the pot of gold is somewhat close to reality.
Downstairs, Crystal St. John hands me a small package wrapped in emerald paper and tied with a gold ribbon.
“This arrived for you this morning,” she says, her pale vampire features animated with curiosity. “Secret admirer, perhaps?”
I examine the package. No card, no note. “Perhaps.”
“Will you open it now?” Crystal leans forward over the reception desk, not bothering to hide her interest.
I untie the ribbon and carefully unwrap the paper. Inside lies a small wooden box carved with intricate Celtic knots. When I lift the lid, my breath catches.
Inside, nestled on a bed of green velvet, is a gold pin in the shape of a four-leaf clover. Each leaf is inlaid with a different gemstone—emerald, diamond, ruby, and sapphire. It’s exquisite craftsmanship, the kind that would take even a master goldsmith like myself weeks to create.
“It’s beautiful,” she says.
I lift it carefully, turning it over in my palm. The back bears a tiny inscription: For luck in love .
No signature, but I don’t need one. I recognize Bella’s handwriting anywhere.
“Thank you,” I say to Crystal, tucking the pin into my shirt. “I should get going. The festival waits for no leprechaun.”
Outside, Evershift Haven has transformed completely. The town square pulses with activity as vendors set up booths selling everything from enchanted shamrock cookies to luck-infused jewelry. A group of dryads weaves through the crowd, their leafy hair adorned with golden flowers, leaving trails of clover sprouts in their wake.
The Heart of Haven—the ancient oak tree at the center of the square—has outdone itself this year. Its branches stretch toward the sky, each one draped in shimmering gold and green lights that seem to dance even without a breeze. Tiny fairies flit among the branches, their wings translucent in direct sunlight.
I make my way through the growing crowd, nodding to familiar faces. Two years away hasn’t erased me from the town’s memory, it seems. Some greet me warmly, while others give me measuring looks, no doubt wondering if I’m back to break Bella’s heart again.
If only they knew how much I regret leaving in the first place.
The scent of fresh pastries draws me toward a familiar storefront. The Enchanted Espresso has been decorated for the occasion. Golden shamrocks dance across the windows, and a sign proclaims special LoveLuck drinks available today only.
Through the window, I catch sight of her. Bella moves behind the counter with practiced ease, green hair pulled back in a messy bun, and a few strands escape to frame her face. She wears a green apron over a white blouse, and there’s a smudge of flour on her cheek that makes my heart twist with affection.
I hesitate at the door, suddenly unsure. After everything that’s happened—the stolen gold, the town’s elaborate scheme to bring us back together, and the night we spent tangled in each other’s arms—where do we stand?
The door swings open before I can decide, and Zephyr nearly collides with me.
“Seamus. Perfect timing. Bella’s been wondering when you’d show up.” The air spirit grins, his translucent form shimmering with excitement. “She’ll never admit it though.”
“Is that right?” I adjust my collar, suddenly self-conscious.
“Go on in. She’s pretending to be too busy to look for you, but she’s checked the door at least twenty times this morning.” With a wink, he floats past me, carrying a tray of some frothy green concoction I assume he’s going to distribute among those gathering in the square.
I take a deep breath and step inside. Bella looks up as the bell above the door chimes, and for a moment, her professional smile falters, replaced by something softer and more genuine. Then she catches herself, and the mask slips back into place.
“Morning, Seamus. What can I get you?” She wipes her hands on her apron, all business.
I approach the counter, acutely aware of the other customers watching our interaction with poorly disguised interest. The town’s matchmaking scheme has apparently made us the main attraction.
“I’ll have whatever you recommend for LoveLuck Day,” I say, touching the pin at my collar. “And thank you for the gift. It’s beautiful.”
Her eyes widen slightly. “I didn’t—”
“The craftsmanship is exquisite,” I say, watching her closely. “Almost as if it was made by someone who knows exactly what a goldsmith would appreciate.”
A blush creeps up her neck. “I have no idea what you’re talking about, but since you’re here, you might as well try our LoveLuck Latte. It’s infused with a mild luck charm and topped with gold-dusted shamrock foam.”
“Sounds perfect.”
As she turns to prepare the drink, I notice she’s wearing earrings I made for her years ago, during our brief months together. They’re tiny gold cauldrons that steam when she’s thinking intensely. Right now, they’re practically billowing.
“Will you be at the festival all day?” I ask, leaning against the counter.
“The café closes at noon so everyone can enjoy the festivities.” She doesn’t look up from the espresso machine. “I’ll be around.”
“Any chance you’d want to enjoy some of those festivities together?”
Now she does look up, her dark eyes meeting mine. “Seamus...”
“Just as friends,” I add quickly, though the words taste false on my tongue. We’ve never been “just” anything. “Or as two people who recently recovered stolen gold together and deserve to celebrate.”
A smile tugs at the corner of her mouth. “I suppose that’s true.”
“So, that’s a yes?”
She hands me the frothy green latte, a work of art topped with shamrock-shaped foam dusted with edible gold. “That’s a ‘meet me at the Heart of Haven at one o’clock and we’ll see.’”
I grin, taking the drink. “I’ll be there.”
“Oh, and, Seamus?” She leans forward slightly, lowering her voice. “The pin wasn’t from me.”
Before I can respond, she turns to the next customer, leaving me puzzled. If not from Bella, then who? And why?
I take my latte to a small table by the window, watching as Evershift Haven continues to transform outside. The LoveLuck Festival is in full swing now, with performers setting up stages, and children running through the square trailing ribbons of green and gold magic.
The latte is delicious—rich espresso mellowed with cream and honey, with notes of vanilla and something else I can’t quite place. As I sip it, a continuous stream of tiny green and gold shamrocks fly out my nose, tickling it slightly, until I finish the last drink.
Sitting there, I notice more details of the festival preparations. A group of leprechauns—distant cousins, most likely, though I don’t recognize them specifically—are setting up what appears to be a traditional gold-finding game. Participants will search for enchanted gold coins hidden throughout the square, with each one redeemable for prizes.
Near the Heart of Haven, a dance floor materializes as dryads weave branches into an intricate pattern on the ground. Music will play there later—traditional Irish jigs mixed with modern beats, creating a fusion that somehow works perfectly.
I stroll through the crowd, nodding at familiar faces. I rest my hands casually in my pockets, brushing my fingers against the small velvet pouch I’ve been carrying all day. The weight is reassuring.
I spot Bella near one o’clock, across the square. Her green hair is twisted into an elaborate braid with clovers woven throughout. She’s wearing a flowing dress in Kelly green, and even from here, I can see she’s trying very hard to act normally. Her shoulders are too straight, her smile too fixed as she chats with a group of townspeople.
Half the people at this festival conspired to push us back together. The other half probably wish they’d thought of it first.
“Looking mighty pleased with yourself, leprechaun,” says Grizelda, appearing beside me with a glass of something that smokes slightly. Her purple hair moves of its own accord, curling and uncurling like tentacles. “Planning something dramatic?”
“Me? Dramatic?” I place a hand over my heart in mock offense. “I am the picture of subtlety.”
Grizelda snorts, her purple eyes flashing with amusement. “About as subtle as those fireworks.” She points upward where enchanted fireworks explode in shapes of hearts, shamrocks, and coffee cups.
“Those weren’t my idea,” I say, though I appreciate the sentiment.
“No, those were mine.” She winks and drifts away into the crowd.
I continue my circuit of the festival, stopping occasionally to sample food or admire crafts. All the while, I keep Bella in my peripheral vision. She’s moving from group to group, never staying in one place too long. Avoiding me, most likely.
Not this time.
The clock tower chimes one, and Mayor Ambrosius Spellbinder steps onto the central platform. His long silver beard is decorated with tiny glowing shamrocks for the occasion, and his robes shimmer with constellations that actually move.
“Welcome, citizens of Evershift Haven, to our annual LoveLuck Festival.” His voice booms across the square without the need for amplification by using a simple spell that makes him sound like he’s standing right next to each person. “As tradition dictates, we gather to celebrate the bonds of friendship, community, and love that make our town special.”
The crowd cheers, raising glasses and mugs.
“Before we continue with our scheduled festivities, I believe someone has an announcement to make.” The mayor’s eyes twinkle as he looks directly at me. “Seamus O’Connell, would you care to join me?”
Several heads turn in my direction. I straighten my shoulders and make my way through the parting crowd. Out of the corner of my eye, I see Bella freeze, her eyes wide.
I climb the steps to the platform and shake the mayor’s hand. The crowd falls silent as I scan the sea of faces until I find Bella, still near the Heart of Haven. She looks like she’s contemplating making a run for it. “I know most of you have been meddling in my love life, so let’s just get this over with.”
There’s a moment of suspicious silence, then guilty laughter ripples through the crowd. Several people exchange glances or suddenly find their shoes fascinating.
“Two years ago, I made the biggest mistake of my life. I left Evershift Haven—and more importantly, I left Bella Brewster.” My voice carries clearly across the square. “I had my reasons, and they seemed important at the time. Family obligations. Traditions. Expectations.”
I pause, letting my gaze sweep across the crowd again.
“I was wrong. Nothing is more important than love. Nothing is more important than the family we choose.” I look directly at Bella now. Her face is unreadable, but she hasn’t run away yet, which I count as a win. “I want to make something clear to everyone here. I’m staying in Evershift Haven. Whether you take me back or not, Bella, this is my home now.”
The crowd erupts. Someone whistles sharply. Confetti rains down from nowhere, sparkling in the lantern light. From somewhere near the back, a deep voice that can only belong to Atlas, Grizelda’s mountain troll husband, bellows, “Finally.”
I glance at the mayor, who’s beaming like he personally arranged this entire scenario. Which, for all I know, he might have.
As I descend the steps, I watch Bella. She stands frozen in place, her expression cycling through shock, embarrassment, and something else I can’t quite identify. Before she can decide what to do, the crowd around her shifts. Throk, Ronan, Vandria, and Grizelda, along with two women I don’t recognize but assume might be the human sisters I’ve heard about, form a circle around her, effectively cutting off any escape routes.
Throk crosses his massive green arms over his chest. Even from here, I can hear his rumbling voice. “He’s a fool, but he’s your fool.”
Ronan, towering over everyone with his lycan form, shakes his shaggy head. “It’s been painful watching you two be idiots.”
Vandria, vampire daughter of the innkeepers, smirks and tosses her flowing blue-black hair. “Just put us out of our misery already.”
Grizelda, who has somehow teleported from my side to Bella’s, places a green hand on Bella’s shoulder. “You’re in love with him. Fix it.”
Bella throws her hands up in exasperation. “You people are the worst.”
The crowd roars their agreement, laughing and cheering.
I stand at the bottom of the platform steps, waiting. The velvet pouch in my pocket seems heavier now. I’ve said my piece. The next move is hers.
For a moment, she looks around at the expectant faces surrounding her. Then her expression hardens. She pushes through the crowd, marching straight toward me with purpose in every step.
My heart hammers. I’ve faced down angry trolls and haggled with dragon merchants, but nothing has ever terrified me as much as this woman walking toward me right now. She stops directly in front of me, her deep brown eyes blazing. “You think you can just make a public declaration and everything will be fixed?”
“No,” I say honestly. “I think it’s going to take a lot more than that. I’m just letting you know I’m not going anywhere this time.”
“You left me,” she says, her voice low enough that only I can hear. “You disappeared without a word.”
“I know, and I’ll spend the rest of my life making it up to you, if you’ll let me.”
“The rest of your life is a very long time for a leprechaun.”
I reach for her hand, relieved when she doesn’t pull away. “Not long enough to love you properly, but I’ll do my best.”
Something in her expression softens. The crowd around us has gone quiet, with everyone straining to hear what we’re saying.
“You’re impossible,” she whispers.
“Impossibly in love with you,” I say.
Bella rolls her eyes, but she’s smiling. “That was terrible.”
“I’ve got better material. Stick around and find out.”
She studies my face for a long moment, and I hold my breath. Then, with a decisiveness that takes me by surprise, she grabs the front of my shirt, pulls me toward her, and kisses me. The world narrows to just the two of us. Her lips are soft against mine, tasting faintly of cinnamon and coffee. I wrap my arms around her waist, drawing her closer and pouring two years of longing into this one perfect moment.
The festival explodes into cheers around us. Enchanted fireworks burst in the sky, easily visible in the day thanks to magic that paints the sky with cascading colors. Someone—probably Grizelda—releases a cloud of magical floating shamrocks that drift around us like emerald snowflakes.
When we finally break apart, both breathless, I grin. “Does this mean you’re keeping me?”
Bella’s cheeks are flushed. She glances around at the celebrating crowd, then back to me with a resigned sigh. “Apparently, the whole town already decided that for me.”
“They’re very wise,” I say, tucking a strand of green hair behind her ear. “And persistent.”
“Meddlesome is the word I’d use.” She tries to sound annoyed, but her smile gives her away.
I reach into my pocket and pull out the velvet pouch. “I have something for you.”
Bella eyes it suspiciously. “If that’s a ring, I will hex you right here in front of everyone. We are not moving that fast.”
I laugh and shake my head. “Not a ring. Not yet, anyway.” I open the pouch and tip its contents into my palm. A delicate gold chain spills out, supporting a small crystal pendant. Inside the crystal, a tiny coffee bean floats, surrounded by what looks like golden dust.
“What is it?” she asks, leaning closer to examine it.
“A promise,” I say, holding it up. “The coffee bean is from the first cup you ever made me. The gold dust is from my personal reserve—the part of my treasure that’s tied directly to my magic and life force.”
Her eyes widen. “Seamus, you shouldn’t—”
“I wanted to,” I interrupt gently. “It’s enchanted. As long as you wear it, you’ll always be able to find me, no matter where I am, and I’ll always be able to find you. No more disappearing.” I lower my voice to avoid revealing all my secrets to those around me. “You’ll also share in my lifespan.”
Bella touches the pendant with one finger, and it glows briefly in response. “It’s beautiful.”
“May I?” I hold up the necklace.
She nods and turns, lifting her braid. I fasten the chain around her neck, letting my fingers linger on her skin for a moment. When she turns back to face me, the pendant rests just above her heart.
“Thank you,” she says softly.
I take her hand and bring it to my lips. “Thank you for giving me a second chance.”
Around us, the festival continues in full swing. Music swells, people dance, and the day air fills with laughter and magic. For the first time in two years, I feel completely at home.
“Dance with me?” I ask, nodding toward the stage, where couples are swaying to a slow melody.
Bella smiles and squeezes my hand. “Lead the way, leprechaun.”
As we’re moving toward the dance floor, I ask, “You really didn’t send the pin?”
She flushes and looks away. “Well...”
Hecate suddenly appears at our feet, grinning up at me with her doggy tongue out. “I found that box two years ago. You didn’t deserve it then, but you do now. I dug it out of the attic where I hid it to save it from the purge and I arranged to have it delivered to the inn.”
I grin at Bella, who flushes. “So, it was you.”
She shrugs. “Yeah. I guess I was embarrassed to admit it. I hadn’t seen it in a long time, so I figured I must have thrown it out when I was eradicating all traces of you from my life. I’d intended to give it to you as a thank you for the jewelry you’d made me, but then...” Her eyes cloud for a minute.
“Then I was gone, and it was too late.”
“Not too late. Just postponed. You can thank me later, with a nice filet mignon, cut into tiny pieces,” says Hecate before turning and trotting away, skillfully dodging between dancers’ feet.
“She’s a pip,” I say.
Bella snorts. “That’s one word for her. Another might be unemployed. Lucky for her, it’s just too hard to sever a contract with a familiar.” With a grin, she squeezes my hand. “Are we going to dance, or what?”
I laugh. “Since the town would frown on us publicly ‘ or what ’ing, we’d better dance.” I sweep her into my arms, and it’s just like old times, but better, because this time, we’re going to make it work.
THE NEXT MORNING, SUNLIGHT streams through the windows of Moonwake Café. Bella moves behind the counter, preparing for the day’s customers. I sit on a stool, watching her work, still marveling at the fact that I’m here, and we’re together.
Hecate materializes on the counter in front of me, her fluffy tail swishing back and forth. She fixes me with a judgmental stare, then turns to survey the café.
“Finally,” she says with a canine sigh. “Now, can we get back to running a business?”
I laugh and reach out to scratch behind her ears, but she dodges my hand with supernatural speed.
“I don’t think we’ve reached the ear-scratching stage of our relationship yet, leprechaun.” She sniffs.
“Give it time,” I say. “I’m very persistent.”
“So I’ve noticed.” Her tone is dry, but there’s a hint of approval in her eyes.
Bella comes over with two mugs of coffee. She sets one in front of me, then leans across the counter. I take the opportunity to steal a quick kiss before she can pull away.
She swats at my arm, but she’s smiling. “Behave yourself. We have a café to open.”
“Yes, ma’am.” I raise my mug in a toast. “To new beginnings.”
Bella clinks her mug against mine. “To coming home.”
Hecate makes a gagging noise and vanishes, only to reappear near the pastry case, where she eyes a marzipan croissant with obvious intent.
I take a sip of my coffee—perfect, as always—and watch as Bella moves around her café, straightening things that don’t need straightening. The morning light catches on her necklace, making the pendant glow.
Home. After all this time, I’m finally home.