Chapter 11
Chapter Eleven
“Why must we go on this double date?” Nyte asked as they neared the entrance of the establishment, The Bubbly Cauldron Brewery. Its brick facade was lit by wall mounted electric lights that fought back the late evening darkness.
“Because I want you to meet Maggie and her husband.” Ember touched his arm, drawing him to a halt. She stepped in front of him, smiling as she fixed the collar of his overcoat and straightened the lacing of the ruffled black shirt beneath.
Nyte gazed down at Ember. She wore a black top that was sheer above her breasts and along the sleeves, a long, layered purple skirt, a black belt adorned with a diamond crescent moon, and high heeled black boots.
Her silver and black hair rested in soft curls around her shoulders and back.
Black makeup framed her eyes, sweeping out in dramatic wings, and the violet, gray, and white shades of her eyeshadow made the color of her irises stand out beautifully.
But it was her dark violet lips that he couldn’t look away from.
It had become increasingly difficult for Nyte to resist the urge to kiss her as of late, and this certainly wasn’t making it any easier. She was so close, and her scent, more intoxicating than any aphrodisiac, filled his senses.
What would a taste hurt?
Nyte leaned forward, beckoned by those lips…
Ember patted his chest as she met his gaze, snapping him out of it. “Everything will be fine.”
Drawing in a deep breath, he swung his eyes toward the brewery. “I still think this is a poor choice of meeting place. Humans are trouble enough, even without imbibing spirits.”
Not for the first time, his thoughts returned to the men who’d invaded her shop two days ago.
Anger crackled through his being at the memory.
He could not deny that he’d been far more protective of her since that evening, keeping himself both visible and very near to her, eyeing every person who so much as looked her way.
“Lots of people meet in places like this.” Flattening her hands on his chest, Ember leaned close, tipped her head back, and grinned. “I also plan to be one of those humans imbibing spirits. How much trouble do you think I can cause?”
He stared into her eyes. That grin, along with the sparkle in her gaze, did things to Nyte. They warmed parts of him that had never felt heat, made everything inside him feel oddly light and tingly. “A very great deal, witch.”
“Then it’s a good thing I have you to watch over me. Now, come on. They’re already waiting inside.” She slipped her hand into his and led him toward the entrance.
Whenever Ember took his hand like that, he seemed to lose the will to resist. It just felt so natural.
Damn it, why am I letting any of this happen?
But his feet moved, carrying him forward alongside her, and he made no effort to withdraw.
Long ago, he’d sometimes walked the night in human guise, yet he’d always done so as an uninvolved observer, rarely interacting with the mortals around him.
Escorting Ember to and from the boutique for the last two days had been similar.
He’d spoken to no one but her, and he’d largely watched his surroundings to protect her.
This was very different.
There would be questions, conversation, food and drink, unfamiliar social norms… It sounded exhausting. Far more trouble than it was worth.
No, that’s wrong. It’s not more trouble than it’s worth.
Because he perfectly recalled the moment when Ember had first approached him about this double date. She’d been a little hesitant, and she had made it clear that he could deny her request, that he didn’t owe her anything. The way her face had lit up when he’d tentatively agreed…
It was like every star in the night sky had come together into one impossibly radiant celestial visage.
The joy and excitement this brought Ember made it worth all the trouble. Nyte knew that should’ve alarmed him, should’ve made him question his state of mind, but again…
This simply felt right.
The moment they opened the doors of the establishment, music, voices, and the sounds of cutlery and dinnerware being used flowed over them.
The same brick from outside the building formed the walls within, though it was broken by tall, recessed sections that were painted and decorated with large murals, the most prominent being a large black cauldron.
A strange purple light shone on the mural, making the green liquid inside and the bubbles and steam rising from it glow preternaturally.
“Ember!” a woman called, immediately drawing Nyte’s attention.
Maggie.
The woman smiled wide and waved.
Nyte recognized her from the pictures he’d seen. Her skin was pale, starkly white against her black makeup. She wore a form fitting black dress and silver cross necklace with a ruby at its center, and her long red hair hung loose around her shoulders.
The man who stood up from beside her was also familiar from a couple of the pictures.
Levi. He too was clothed in black, from his zip-up jacket down to his jeans with tears at their knees and black boots.
His beard and moustache were full but neatly trimmed, and some of his long, black hair was pulled back and tied at the back of his head. His mouth curved into a kind smile.
“Maggie!” Ember released Nyte’s hand and rushed to meet her friend, practically bursting with excitement.
Nyte followed her path, though he did not match her pace, watching as the women took each other in a tight embrace, both of them bouncing on their feet and beaming as they did so.
In his experience, mortals and immortals alike were largely duplicitous, selfish creatures.
They lied and plotted, they cheated, stole, and manipulated.
They hid their motives behind false smiles.
They all wanted something, and their dealings with other beings were conducted only to fulfill those wants.
Starling had been the exception. She’d never once asked for anything of Nyte, had never betrayed him, even if this latest stunt had initially felt like a betrayal. And though it should’ve been much too soon to tell, he knew Ember was the same. She was kind, loyal, considerate, and genuine.
As much as Nyte seemed unreal to her, she seemed impossible to him.
This open joy, this blatant, honest display of affection and caring, he wanted to believe it couldn’t be anything other than performative.
And yet that wasn’t the case. Ember and Maggie truly were this excited to see one another.
The only thing either hoped to gain was the joy of the other’s company.
Maggie drew back from Ember, her grin still wide. “I missed you so much.”
Levi chuckled. “You two talk pretty much every day, my love.”
“I know, but it’s not the same as spending time in person.” The red-haired woman stepped back and looked at Nyte. “And this is the guy friend you told me about?”
Ember moved to Nyte’s side, slipping her arms around one of his. “He is. Maggie, Levi, this is Nyte.”
Nyte could hear the smile in her voice, could hear the pride. And she’d introduced him from his side, holding him like they were in this together, like he wasn’t a possession or a prize but an equal.
Maggie’s smile softened. “It’s wonderful to meet you.”
Levi stepped forward and held out his hand. “Good to meet you, Nyte.”
Before his recent consumption of modern human entertainment, this moment would’ve confused Nyte.
He’d seen humans shake hands before his isolation, but never like this.
A handshake was the sealing of a deal, a gesture to solidify an oath, something deeply meaningful and symbolic.
He still wasn’t sure how it had become a common greeting.
But then there was a great deal about the world that he remained unsure about.
He clasped Levi’s hand, mindful of his own strength. “A pleasure to meet you both.”
“Come,” Maggie said, gesturing to the enclosed table next to them. “Come sit.”
Everyone sat, with Nyte beside Ember and Maggie and Levi across from them.
A waitress promptly arrived to hand out menus. “Hello! Welcome to The Bubbly Cauldron. Can I get you some drinks? We’ve got a list of everything on tap in your menus, along with all our wines and cocktails.”
Both Ember and Maggie ordered cocktails—whatever those were—and Levi requested a water.
“And you?” the waitress asked Nyte.
“Water for me as well, thank you.”
When she left, Maggie folded her arms atop the table and grinned, looking between Nyte and Ember. “Okay, I’ve been saving all my questions for tonight. Tell me. How did you two meet?”
Ember chuckled, though there was a nervous quality to it. “Well, I guess it was…um…”
“She wished upon a star and summoned me,” Nyte said.
With a quiet, startled squeak, she dropped her hand to his thigh in warning as her eyes widened.
Maggie laughed. “So what, did you just fall out of the sky or something?”
He smirked, patting Ember’s hand. “Oh, there was no falling involved.”
“He just appeared in the right place at the right time,” Ember hurried to say as she looked back at Maggie.
“You know she’s not going to quit without the details, Ember,” Levi said with a grin.
Maggie nodded. “Time, place, what you were both doing.”
Ember withdrew her hand and fidgeted in her seat. “Um, we were…”
“In her room,” Nyte said. “She summoned me there.”
“Oh.” Maggie’s eyes rounded, and she blinked slowly. “Ohhhh. Good for you, girl.”
Levi chuckled.
Nyte could feel the warmth emanating from his witch as clearly as he could see it pinkening her cheeks.
Maggie tilted her head. “Was this after your date with Trent?”
“I met Nyte that night. He…kept me company.” Cringing, Ember looked down and flipped open the menu.
“Well, whatever happened, it sounds like you both hit it off well enough,” Levi said.
Grinning, Nyte brushed a finger along Ember’s arm, enjoying the shiver that coursed through her. The way she reacted to his touch was entrancing. “We’ve had some fun.”