Love of the Witch

by Deanna Chase

  She’d known the question was coming, and even though she never talked about how she’d discovered her gift, this time she found herself wanting to tell him. She wanted him to know that she’d stayed strong through everything, and even though her life had been crap, it hadn’t broken her. “My first clue was when I was in juvy.”

  Her words hung in the air as she waited for him to say something, anything. But when he just gave a tiny nod of encouragement, she let out a breath, feeling the ache in her chest loosen. “My bunkmate was jumped one night. She was bleeding and needed stitches, but the guard on duty for our section wasn’t a good guy. If she went to him, who knows what would’ve happened to her.”

  Chad sucked in a sharp breath and glanced at her with haunted eyes.

  She turned away, hating the horror and pity she saw there. Luna had accepted her role in the crime that had landed her butt in jail a long time ago. If he was going to be a friend now, he’d have to accept it, too. But it wasn’t up to her to help him through it. “Anyway, I was cleaning a cut over her eye as best I could when my magic just flared to life as if I didn’t have any control over it. Her cut healed enough that it stopped bleeding. I even managed to soothe the bruise on her jaw so that it didn’t ache anymore.”

  “That’s incredible, Ho—I mean Luna,” he said and shot her an apologetic smile. “Sorry. I’m trying to get it right.”

  She returned his smile with a tiny one of her own. “I know. It’s okay.”

  Relief flashed in his blue eyes. “That’s pretty incredible. It sounds like your gift jumped out when you needed it most. What happened after that?”

  Luna wasn’t sure she wanted to travel all the way down memory lane. There were far too many potholes down that path. So she skipped all the drama and said, “There was a re-entry counselor who learned what I could do and advised me to seek out an education as a healer.” Luna snorted. “Can you imagine being in juvy with no family, no friends, no money, no anything to fall back on and trying to figure out not only how you’re going to take care of yourself once you get out, but how to even get into college, let alone pay for it?”

  “No,” he said quietly and steered the truck onto Highway 1 South, toward her temporary apartment. “I can’t imagine how impossible that must’ve seemed.”

  “Exactly. Anyway, college wasn’t happening. I had no idea what I was going to do other than get a job and stay the hell away from my foster mom and her shady boyfriend.”

  “What did you do?” he asked. “How did you end up a massage therapist?”

  “Oh. That. I got as far from Berkeley as I could reasonably go on limited resources. Eventually I found a room to rent with a bunch of college students, and got a job at a coffee shop. I had experience and could work the morning shift. The manager was so desperate she hired me on the spot without even asking for references.” She shrugged. “It was a decent job. My manager’s brother came in every morning on his way to massage therapy school, and eventually I decided that was as good a gig as any and a heck of a lot cheaper than trying to go to college. So as soon as I had the funds, I enrolled. It was while I was there that I met Healer Snow. She was a guest lecturer. One of my instructors told her about my ability, and she sought me out. The rest is history.”

  Chad didn’t say a word. He just reached over and slipped his hand over hers, squeezing lightly. The gesture startled her at first, but then his skin was so warm, so foreign, but also just… right, that she squeezed back, grateful for the human connection she rarely experienced. Sure, she touched people for a living, but no one touched her, and his hand, wrapped around hers, almost brought tears to her eyes. She held them back, and without conscious thought she stroked her thumb over the back of his hand and froze when she sensed more than felt the pain radiating beneath the surface of his skin.

  “Chad?” she asked.

  “Yeah?”

  She squeezed his hand gently. “Is this why you’re in Keating Hollow?”

  He nodded and took a deep breath. “My piano career is over.”

  Chapter Four

  Chad was honestly surprised Luna hadn’t heard about his fall from superstar pianist to has-been musician. She’d been right when she’d mentioned the gossip mill in Keating Hollow. It wasn’t a secret that his career was over or that it was the reason he’d ended up in the small town with the intent to open a music store. If he couldn’t play at an elite level anymore, he could at least teach and provide a venue for other people to explore their musical whims. “It’s not the end of the world. Just an adjustment.”

  Luna let out a humorless laugh. Her tone turned quiet as she said, “Maybe not the end of the world, but it’s certainly grave enough that anyone in your shoes would be shaken, Chad.”

  Shaken was a good word, he decided. It described his state of being in more ways than one. He’d ruined his hand and his career when he’d lost his cool during that altercation. Chad knew he’d been hot-headed. Hasty. Stupid as hell. But as he glanced over at Luna and saw a glimpse of her seventeen-year-old self as she caught her bottom lip between her teeth, he knew he wouldn’t change a thing. If Leo Mahoney ever stepped into Luna’s or his path again, he’d be more than happy to use the guy’s face as a punching bag… without a single regret.

  “I’m sorry,” Luna said, glancing away. “I’m sure that’s not something you want to talk about.”

  Chad flexed his fingers, trying to stretch through the ache in his hand. “You have nothing to be sorry for. It was difficult right after I realized I’d thrown away my career. But I’ve accepted it. To tell you the truth, I’m kind of glad to be settling down in one place after all these years. Being on the road all the time doesn’t exactly make it easy to form relationships.”

  Luna raised her eyebrows at him. “Are you saying you don’t have a girlfriend or anyone special in your life?”

  He snorted. “Being on the road is lonely. Not only do I not have a girlfriend, the truth is I don’t even really have any friends, unless you count my manager and my agent. Which I do. But I’d really like to know what it’s like to have people in my life that aren’t there just to make money off me. You know?”

  She gave a tiny shake of her head, and he realized what a stupid idea that was, expecting her to relate to the pressures of touring. That life was glamorous right up until the realities sank in. He loved playing the piano, but his life had become a series of broken connections. He was hoping settling in Keating Hollow would change that.

  “My money problems have always had to do with not having enough,” she said with a nervous chuckle. “Call me crazy, but I think it might be nice to try the opposite problem for a while.”

  He gave her a knowing smile. “Yeah. Fair enough.”

  A comfortable silence fell between them for the rest of the ride to her shabby apartment in Eureka. Just as he put the truck into park, Luna turned to him and said, “Hey. You didn’t tell me what happened to your hand. Were you in some kind of accident?”

  He turned and met her brilliant green eyes and knew he should just come out and say it. This was his chance to come clean. She deserved to know. “I was provoked and—”

  Knock, knock, knock.

  The loud rapping came from the driver’s side window, and Chad jumped, startled by the noise. “Holy crows,” he whispered, lowering the window to the young, skinny teenager who’d stepped back from the truck, glancing around like he was panicked someone might see him.

  Luna chuckled. “Holy crows? You sound like an old man.”

  “I feel like it after that major heart attack.” He sucked in a breath and turned to the teen, noting his jeans were frayed and his cheeks had the hollow look of a person who routinely didn’t have enough to eat. “What can I help you with, man?” he asked, keeping his voice friendly. The last thing he wanted to do was scare the kid off.

  “Um.” The teen stared straight into Chad’s eyes, his expression determined. “I was wondering if you needed any help with anything. If I could run a few errands for
some cash. I could wash your truck or clean your apartment.” His gaze flickered away, and he forced out, “Or anything else you might be willing to pay a few bucks for.”

  Unfiltered rage filled Chad’s chest as he realized what the kid was implying. He wanted to yell at him, climb out of the truck, and shake him for even suggesting such a thing, but he knew his anger was misplaced. The kid was obviously living on the streets and just trying to survive. “Sure, kid. You’re in luck, actually. Luna here is moving today, so we could use a hand carrying her stuff to the truck. You up for that?”

  The kid’s dark brown eyes lit up, and he nodded enthusiastically.

  “How much for a couple hours of your time?” Chad asked.

  “Just, um, whatever you can spare.”

  Chad nodded. “All right. How’s twenty an hour sound?”

  The young man’s mouth hung open for just a second. “Yeah. I mean, yes. That sounds good.”

  “Let’s get to work then.” Chad climbed out of the truck and held his hand out. “I’m Chad Garber, and this is Luna Scott.” He waved to her. “And you are?”

  The boy hesitated as his gaze flickered back and forth between Luna and Chad. After taking a deep breath and shaking Chad’s hand, he said, “Levi.”

  “It’s nice to meet you, Levi,” Chad said.

  Luna moved forward, her expression curiously neutral as she took a turn to shake the young man’s hand. “I’m going to grab some breakfast sandwiches before we start. Do you prefer bacon or sausage?”

  His eyes widened before filling with longing. But instead of answering her question, he said, “You don’t have to do that. I’m fine.”

  The hungry look on his face betrayed his words, and Luna said, “Well, I’ll get you something anyway in case you change your mind. Moving furniture is appetite-inducing work.”

  She kept her tone light, but Chad could see that her heart was breaking for the kid. As far as he knew, Luna had never been homeless, but her situation had been precarious enough that it had always been a possibility. Her foster mother was a real piece of work.

  “Here.” Luna handed Chad a single door key. “It’s apartment 12. Upstairs. I’ll be right back.”

  As she started walking across the parking lot toward a fast food restaurant, Levi called out, “Bacon.”

  “Got it,” she said without even turning around.

  “Well, looks like it’s time to get started, Levi,” Chad said, jerking his head toward the stairs that led to Luna’s apartment. “Ready to show me what you’ve got?”

  The kid gave him a shaky smile and nodded.

  “Good deal. Let’s see what we’ve got to move.” Chad led the way and totally forgot that before Levi interrupted him, he was about to spill his guts to Luna.

  Chapter Five

  That all-encompassing fear that Luna had lived with for the majority of her adolescence came slamming back into her the moment she’d realized that Levi was just a hungry, scared kid, trying to earn a bit of money without having to sell himself. She couldn’t imagine what his life must be like, but it was obvious he needed food. He had that malnourished look that made him appear to be disappearing right before your eyes.

  All she wanted to do was wrap her arms around him and tell him he was safe now. But he wasn’t, and no amount of her wishing he was would change his reality. Not today anyway. But she could feed him. Granted, fast food wasn’t the best option, but it was close and fit her own modest budget.

  After purchasing enough food for five, Luna jogged back to her apartment and found Chad and Levi packing up her dishes. She set the bags on the counter and said, “You don’t have to do that. I’ll tackle that while you guys start loading the truck.”

  Chad and Levi both shook their heads. Chad glanced at him and chuckled. “Looks like this isn’t Levi’s first moving rodeo.”

  Levi’s face was dark and brooding before he turned his back to them and concentrated on packing her plates. Luna knew that look. It was the same one she’d worn when something pushed all her buttons. She had no doubt that Levi had moved more times than he could count. And she wondered if his parents had finally lost the housing battle and that’s why he was on the streets or if he’d been forced out for some reason. Whatever the cause for his situation, she wasn’t really in a position to help, but her heart ached to, and her head screamed that she couldn’t just walk away from this kid once her stuff was loaded in the truck. But she knew better than anyone that no matter how much she wanted to help, there was a better-than-decent chance the kid wouldn’t accept what little she had to offer. He’d likely be too suspicious. She had been. It had taken Chad months to break down her barriers and get her to trust him. One day of food and a promise of forty bucks was likely to be the best they could do for him.

  “Okay, why won’t you let me pack my own kitchen?” Luna asked, confused.

  Chad chuckled. “You might want to take care of the bedroom.”

  Luna frowned, knowing all she had were some clothes and some toiletries. Nothing big. But then she stepped into the bedroom and groaned. She’d completely forgotten she’d hung up most of her unmentionables three days earlier. She’d actually been staying in the house in Keating Hollow, using an air mattress for sleeping because she hadn’t wanted to make the drive. Now Chad and Levi knew she wore a lot of matching black lace undergarments. The skimpy kind, because they made her feel bold and powerful when she otherwise just felt exhausted.

  With her head held high, Luna returned to the other room and started removing the food from the bags. “Eat first. Load later.”

  Levi’s gaze landed on the paper-wrapped breakfast sandwiches and hash browns she’d set on a paper plate. He was frozen, his eyes fixated on the meal.

  Without making a big deal out of it, she casually handed him the plate. “There’s a soda there for you, too,” she said, taking her own plate and sitting on the secondhand sofa. A moment later, Chad joined her. Neither looked back at Levi as they dug into the sandwiches.

  Luna wasn’t even hungry yet, but she choked the sandwich down, wanting to make damn sure that Levi didn’t feel uncomfortable eating the meal she’d purchased for him. “There’s more in the bag, Levi,” she said. “Eat your fill. I know when I was your age, I was ravenous all the time.” It was the truth. There was never enough to go around at her foster family’s home.

  “This is fine,” he said.

  Luna didn’t push it. Whatever they had left after moving, she’d insist he take it. It might not be fresh, but it’d still be edible.

  “Okay. Ready to get to work?” Chad said, rising from the sofa.

  “Yep. I’ll take care of the bedroom,” Luna said, already over her embarrassment about her hanging underwear. Chad was a grown man. Surely he’d seen his share of woman’s lingerie before. “Shouldn’t take but just a few minutes, then I’ll be out to help with the kitchen.”

  It took Luna less than ten minutes to pack up her clothes and toiletries and to strip the bed. Once she was done, she joined the guys in the kitchen. “The bedroom is ready. If you two want to haul the bed to the truck, I’ll finish up the dishes.”

  Levi carefully tucked a newspaper-wrapped mug in one of the boxes. “Most of the cabinets are already empty.”

  “Thanks.” She smiled at him.

  He rewarded her with a shy smile of his own, and Luna thought her heart was going to break right in two. The kid was sweet, not yet too hardened by whatever he was going through in his young life.

  “Let’s go, kid,” Chad said. “I’ll show you the wonders of my air magic.”

  “You’re a witch?” he asked, his face lighting with interest.

  “Sure. So is Luna, only her talents lie in earth magic.”

  “So cool.” He glanced back and forth between them before dipping his head and adding, “I wish I knew what kind of witch I am.”

  Luna met Chad’s gaze with her eyebrows raised in question. How could he not know? The elements were pretty straight forward. Chad shrugged one s
houlder, indicating he was at a loss, too. “What do your parents think?” Luna asked tentatively.

  It was Levi’s turn to shrug. “I don’t know. My mom is gone, and my dad isn’t magical. He never wanted to hear anything about it. It’s not his thing.”

  Gone. Did that mean his mother had passed? Just like Luna’s adoptive mother. She felt her chest tighten and wanted to ask him a million questions, but she kept them to herself. Instead she said, “But you’re pretty sure you’re a witch? What makes you think so?”

  Levi surprised her by letting out a bark of laughter. But he clamped his mouth shut and stared at his feet as he said, “I get premonitions. They always come true.”

  Luna sucked in a breath.

  His head snapped up. “What? You think I’m a freak, too? I thought witches would be more accepting of unusual abilities.”

  There was panic in his eyes now, and Luna rushed to reassure him. “No, no. Nothing like that. In fact, you’re not a freak at all.” She wanted to reach out and squeeze his hand, reassure him through her touch, but she could see he was ready to bolt. He was glancing between the leftover bag of food and the door. If he hadn’t needed the money Chad had promised him, he probably would’ve grabbed the bag and fled. “Not a freak,” she reiterated. “Special. Witches who are seers are called spirit witches, and they are rare.”

  His eyes went wide, and his face flushed. “I’m probably not…” He cleared his throat. “That’s probably unlikely that I… I don’t think I’m a spirit witch.”

  Luna hadn’t witnessed his gift, so it wasn’t as if she could refute his denial. Instead she said, “Time will tell. Are you ready to help Chad maneuver the furniture downstairs?”

  “Sure.”

  The pair disappeared into the bedroom while Luna finished up the kitchen.

  A couple hours later, most of Luna’s meager possessions were packed into the bed of the truck with the rest shoved into the cab. Luna handed Levi the two leftover sandwiches while Chad pressed fifty dollars into his hand.