Page 77 of Until the Stars Fall

“No, you were right. I did.” I squeezed Beck’s hand. “At the time.”

“But I’m your boss, and I shouldn’t have crossed that boundary. Especially because I suspected you were a witch with suppressed magic.”

A cold paralysis sank into my chest. Beck’s eyebrows shot up. “A—a what?” I stammered, my face heating up. “I don’t know what you’re—”

Evander laughed. “It takes one to know one, Gemma.” He snapped his fingers, and his dark hair turned flaming white. Another snap, electric blue. A third snap, and it was back to normal. “I’m really sorry I cornered you and scared you.”

I breathed out slowly, all my limbs easing into relieved jelly. I put a quivering hand over half my face, peering at him with one eye. “I’m sorry I threw you across your office and broke all the windows. I absolutely didn’t mean to. I thought for sure you’d have the police waiting to arrest me.”

Evander laughed. “No, not at all. I wasn’t hurt, and we’re abandoning this building anyway. But hold on.” He leaned closer to the screen. “Did you say a minute ago that you did want to kiss me? Because I won’t be coming to Gaia until next year, but—”

“I did. Past tense.” I smiled at Beck’s caress on my hand. “But I met the love of my life on my sister’s ship.”

Evander’s eyebrows went up, and he smiled. “That’s great. I’m very happy for you both.” He ran a hand through his hair and swallowed hard. “Well, I won’t keep you. Will you let me know when you’re ready to take on some remote work? Now that I know you’re a witch, I can diversify your workload. I wish I’d known sooner. I really could’ve used your help on my Argonaut project.”

“I don’t think I have the clearance for that. Isn’t that top secret?”

“Only because magic’s involved.” Evander smiled. “But yeah, I truly value your work with us, Gemma, and your job is waiting for you. And hey, if you know of any artificiers willing to do some contract work, especially if they have a degree in astro-engineering, I could use them.”

Beck nodded a maybe face, and I smiled. “Thanks, Evander. I just might know where to find one.”

By the time Beck and I made it back out of the ship, the party in the forest had largely broken up and moved off towards a house in the distance that I hadn’t seen before. Tents lit with white string lights sheltered crowds of people from the falling dark, but Beck pulled me in the opposite direction, towards the line of trees along the clearing.

Birds sang here and squirrels raced up trees. I ran my fingers down the fresh bark of the nearest tree and closed my eyes against the soft breeze on my face. It was almost perfect.

Beck’s arms encircled my waist, and I leaned back against his chest, settling my arms over his.

“Isn’t it beautiful?”

“Yes, you are,” he murmured in my ear. I turned around to wrap my arms around his neck, and he kissed me with his whole heart.

“You went into the spirit world for me,” he said, pushing a curl away from my face.

“I’d go anywhere for you,” I said. “I love you.” My heart surged at the smile he gave me back.

“I love you, too. Does that mean what I think it means? You’re not gonna get your magic taken away?”

I smiled. The clouds obscuring my future had cleared like the smoke trail of an extinguished candle, but he was fun to tease.

“That depends.” I tipped my face up to his. “Are you still looking for a smart, beautiful, dark-haired witch to settle down with?”

“Nah,” he said, his face close to mine. “I’m not looking. I already found her.”

“Yeah, you have.” I smiled. “And I’m never letting you go.”

He leaned down and kissed me, pulling me up into his arms, my legs around his waist. His lips were warm, sweet, and reverent, filled with longing and belonging. Now this planet was perfect.

“Beck and Gemma, huh?” Noah walked with Zola toward us, their arms around each other.

Beck set me down and cleared his throat, grinning at his best friend. “Dr. Abadie.”

Noah raised an eyebrow in a failed expression of formality and gestured between us with his free hand. “So a funny thing happened on the way to Gaia, huh? What exactly are your intentions towards my little sister, Dr. Breaux?”

Beck laughed, pressing his forehead against mine and cupping my face. “I’m gonna marry her, if she’ll have me.”

I pecked his lips. “She will.”

“And I’ll spend the rest of my life making her happy. Does that work for you, Dr. Abadie?”

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