Chapter Twenty
Sage
Once the spare tires arrive, Asher takes over driving. Kayden sulks for about five minutes, then naps with his boots on the dash.
The road stretches on, winding through forests and small towns, until we reach Harbor's Edge late in the afternoon.
Only… the town is packed.
Music spills into the streets. Bright stalls line the sidewalks. Crowds move in waves like some kind of technicolor tide. Traffic's a mess, with most of it rerouted thanks to streets blocked off for the chaos ahead.
"Northwind Fringe," I read off a banner strung between two lampposts. "Great. Just great."
Kayden leans forward, grinning like this is the best twist of the day. "Look, there's a guy with dreadlocks playing bongos and an old lady with face paint blowing bubbles. This has you written all over it—artsy, chaotic, a little unhinged. Total nymph vibe."
I shoot him a glare. "You got me all figured out, huh?"
"Not all," he replies, with a slow rise of his brow that's entirely too suggestive.
I glance at Asher. "Can I smack your brother? Real hard?"
"You have my full permission," he says without missing a beat. "Though I should warn you—it never helps."
Kayden smirks. "Go ahead, sunshine. But you should know that I bite back."
His eyes darken, and for a split second, his fangs drop. Just enough to flash the edge of danger.
Something stirs in my gut. Not fear. The other thing.
I look away, out the window, pretending I didn't feel that shift inside me. The streets are alive with music, laughter, bursts of confetti. It looks fun. Beautiful, even. But we're not here for that. We're here to get the damn crystal.
After circling for what feels like forever, Asher finally finds a parking spot. We get out, weave through the crowd, and make it to the little magic shop wedged between a coffee place and a tarot booth.
Only to find it closed. Early. Of course.
"Fuck," I mutter, unable to hold back. "It's like someone out there really doesn't want me to get this thing."
Kayden doesn't miss a beat. "Say the word, and I'll break in. Won't leave a footprint."
"No." I shake my head, jaw tight.
"Oh, so pickpocketing and light residential robbery are fine, but this is where you draw the line?" he teases, one brow arched.
The irritation hits fast, and not because he's wrong. He's right. Which only makes it worse.
"Even if we were to break in," Asher says, stepping up to the barred window, "there's no guarantee we'd find the right crystal.
From the looks of it…" He nods at the cluttered chaos beyond the glass—piles of beads, old books, dusty jars of something, tangled necklaces, and way too many unlabeled rocks.
"It's not exactly an organized operation. "
I exhale through my nose and lean back against the building, the sounds of drums and laughter drifting through the air.
This trip was supposed to be simple. Find the crystal. Get out.
Not anymore.
"So… we're staying?" I ask, already knowing the answer.
Asher nods. "It's the best option. The sign says they open again at ten tomorrow. We'll need to find somewhere to stay in the meantime."
I glance at the crowds flooding the narrow streets. "Yeah, good luck with that."
Kayden scoffs behind me. "Honestly, what ancient gods or half-baked demons gave you two eternal life? The entire town is throwing a party, and you're both sulking like funeral guests."
Before I can roll my eyes, he grabs me by the waist and spins me toward him in one smooth, unexpected motion.
"Come on, sunshine," he says, his voice low, playful. "Loosen up. Unless you really want your whole life to be nothing but kidnapping vampires and running from scary satyrs."
His body moves in sync with the distant music, guiding mine to follow without effort. It's ridiculous. It's impulsive. And it works.
I huff. Then laugh.
"I thought you hated all this hippie-dippy stuff," I tease as we sway, the rhythm of drums and flutes echoing down the alleyways.
He pulls me closer, mouth brushing the shell of my ear. "If it means watching you finally relax and smile, I'll suffer through the incense and flower crowns."
The words land deeper than I want them to.
I swallow the warmth they bring and reply with dry deflection. "Well, since you're sacrificing so much, I guess I can't say no. Asher?"
He gives a soft, rare smile. His eyes haven't left us. "Since we're here anyway…"
"Oh, calm down, brother," Kayden calls over with a grin. "Didn't expect you to get this enthusiastic. Keep it in your pants."
He twirls me with a dramatic flourish straight into Asher's waiting arms.
Asher catches me with ease, hands firm at my waist. I meet his gaze, breath caught somewhere between surprise and something more.
"Let's show our girl how to have a good time," Kayden says from behind.
And for a while, they do.
We lose ourselves in the color and noise of Harbor's Edge. We taste spiced street food and roasted chestnuts, watch fire dancers twist flame into the sky, wander past painted stalls filled with beads and feathers and colorful crystals.
I laugh. More than once.
We dance because the moment pulls us into it. Kayden spins and dips me like we're in some chaotic dream. Asher moves more subtly, more grounded, but when he leads, it's with an authority that makes my stomach flutter.
It's just for tonight, I tell myself.
Just tonight.