Poppy readjusted the shawl over her shoulders as she stepped out into the chilly night. The trick-or-treaters stopped ringing her doorbell hours ago. Wind picked up in the trees as she started down the forest path, deeply breathing in the night. It helped soothe her nerves, helped calm her jumpy stomach.
She’d dreamed about this night since she was a little girl. The moment where she would meet her mate, the man who loved her above all others. The man she’d bind herself to.
But so much was wrong. In those girlhood dreams, she’d never imagined Drake. Never imagined how much he’d come to mean to her. How much she’d want him. Breathe.
She couldn’t think of Drake now. It wasn’t right. She was going to meet someone else, and she had to push aside her broken heart. If only things were different. If only she had a choice…
Then what? Her mind taunted. Would she choose Drake? Would she take his offer and stay with him? Her heart whispered, yes.
Why was she tormenting herself? She couldn’t have Drake. He was normal and good. Wonderful. Perfect. But he wasn’t the man from the prophecy.
He didn’t have magic.
On all Hallows Eve of your twenty-eighth year, when the moon peaks in the forest near, search here for your mate will be, not far from the edge of the sea.
Born of magic and marked by the moon, your union will be made soon. He whispers on the wind and the fates obey, for they listen to what he has to say.
‘Til the next full moon is all the time you have together to forge your union or lose it forever. If hearts aren’t joined by the bright circle’s light, then surrender your love to the dark of night.
The prophecy replayed in her mind, torturing her. She didn’t know what it all meant, but born of magic was clear enough. She couldn’t even teach Drake the most basic uses for herbs.
He was a normal man. Blissfully, wonderfully, normal. The kind that appreciated the beauty around him, that worked hard, and was kind to others. When given the opportunity, he hadn’t set out to build his fortune, to conquer the world. He’d stayed, tending the land and stepping into the community with an assurance he’d been born with.
He knew where he belonged. Others searched their whole lives for that knowledge. Drake never questioned it.
She swallowed hard, slowing her steps. Once the path emptied into the clearing ahead, she’d see Cloch Chroí, the Heart Stone. She’d been there more times than she could count, could walk this path blindfolded.
She’d come here as a child, trying to imagine this moment, but none of those rosy girlhood dreams compared to what she was going through now. Grief weaved through her heart, mixing with a curiosity she couldn’t tame.
Who would be there? Would he be waiting for her? Was he expecting to meet her here?
She frowned. She’d never thought of that before. What if he was just passing through, catching a tourist location before moving on? Granted, it was the middle of the night, but it was also Halloween. It wasn’t unheard of for people to trespass, seeking a moment of terror.
She’d known about him since she was a child, but he could be completely oblivious about what would happen. The end of the prophecy struck her.
Til the next full moon is all the time you have together to forge your union or lose it forever. If hearts aren’t joined by the bright circle’s light, then surrender your love to the dark of night.
If he didn’t recognize her, if he didn’t know about the prophecy, he could reject her. He could want no part of this. She could lose him.
Just like she’d lost Drake.
No!
She couldn’t lose them both. That would mean that she’d pushed Drake away for nothing. And she couldn’t let that happened. Years of waiting couldn’t have been for nothing.
Pushing from the tree, she marched into the clearing, her eyes searching the stones before latching on to a figure leaning against the middle stone.
The Heart Stone.
Her heart sped up. This was happening. This was real. He was exactly where the prophecy said he’d be.
She weaved through the damp, tall grass in the field toward the circle. Toward her mate.
She hesitated outside, waiting, watching. It was bright. The moon wasn’t full, but there wasn’t a cloud in the sky. Soft blue rays caressed dark hair, bouncing off broad shoulders to a tapered waist. He was tall, and from only seeing his back, handsome too.
He drew her to him. As much as she resented that, she couldn’t deny it. Who was he?
“Hi.” She squeezed her eyes closed, wanting to disappear in a hole. Hi? Really? That was the best thing she could come up with? “Do I know you?”
His body stiffened at her voice, then relaxed as he turned.
She gasped. “Drake?”
He nodded slowly, his dark brown eyes connecting with hers.
Her shoulders fell as the moment deflated. “What are you doing here?”
“What do you think I’m doing?”
“I have no clue what you think you’re doing. All I know is that you aren’t supposed to be here.”
His chin notched up as he folded his arms across his body. “This is exactly where I’m supposed to me.”
“No. This is where I’m supposed to be. Where I’m supposed to meet my mate.” She looked around the clearing. “Have you seen him?”
He nodded once.
“Well, where is he?” Her hands rested on her hips.
“In front of you.”
“In front of…” Her eyes slid over him again. “No. No, Drake. I already told you today. You’re not him.”
A muscle ticked in his cheek, but he held his ground. “I’m him. I’m here. Look around us, Poppy. Do you see someone else?”
She stomped her foot. “This is crazy! Why are you doing this?”
He stalked her until they were toe to toe. “Because I love you. Because even though you rejected me, I still want you. Because even though you say I’m not him, I’m willing to fight to be him.”
He stood tall and broad, not touching her, but using his body, his nearness to affect her. It worked. She shivered; her hands itched to touch him. But she couldn’t. He shouldn’t be here.
“Drake, you need to go. Now,” she said, looking everywhere but him.
He notched her chin up with one finger, forcing her to look at him. “I’m not leaving.”
“I can’t meet him if you’re here.”
“No one else is coming.”
She pushed away in frustration and kicked the grass. “That’s because you’re here. You changed things. You messed this up. Maybe he came but saw you and decided to leave. Did you think of that?”
His jaw clenched. “No one’s been here.”
“How do you know?”
“Because I’ve been here all afternoon.”
Her mouth dropped open, whatever she was going to say died away. He’d been here for hours? Why? What was he trying to accomplish?
Her mate hadn’t come. She sunk to one of the fallen stones on the ground. This wasn’t how it was supposed to happen. He should be here. They should be happy.
What did you expect? She hadn’t planned on love right away, but she’d planned on being happy at least.
She glanced at the moon. Six days. She only had six days to find her mate and accept him. Could he accept her that quickly?
It was hopeless. “You don’t know what you’ve done,” she whispered.
He crouched in front of her. “Yes I do. I’m him, Poppy. I know it.” She shook her head, but he stopped her. “I am.”
She finally looked at him, truly looked. He believed that, and she wished he was right. But he wasn’t. No magic flowed through his veins, the Fates didn’t obey him, and he hadn’t been marked by the moon. Whatever that meant.
“Let’s go.” She couldn’t stay here. Not even for another second. The empty woods only reminded her of her loss.
He helped her up. “We can stay, if you want.”
Brushing off her pants she said, “T
here’s no point. He should have been here by now.”
“Poppy—”
She held up a hand. “No. Don’t say it.”
He took her hand in his. She didn’t even try to pull it away. It would only hurt him, and after it all, she still couldn’t bear to do that.
Him showing up was the worst thing that could’ve happened to her. It’d been hard enough that afternoon, but to see him here, to have her heart’s desire within reaching distance, mocking her, it shredded her. “I want to go home.”
“All right. Can I walk with you?”
She nodded, but didn’t say anything. There wasn’t anything else to say.
When he left her at her front door, after forcing a promise from her that they’d talk in the morning, she went inside and sunk to the floor.
And cried.
Nothing would ever be right again.