Skyler wanted to forget her annoying encounter with Noah, the smug warlock from the Obsidian Circle. She told herself he was just a minor inconvenience, like a thorn in her path or a storm cloud passing overhead. But no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't shake the memory of his mocking voice, the way his smirk tugged at the corner of his mouth as if he held all the secrets of the Vale. He was insufferable, she decided. Nothing more.
As she packed her spell supplies the next evening, her fingers brushed over the moonstone dust and lavender she had collected, and her thoughts drifted again to their exchange. There was something maddening about him, not just his arrogance but the way he seemed to see through her. She hated it. And yet, she found herself wondering if he would be there again.
The moon hung low in the sky as Skyler stepped into Moonstone Vale, its silver light filtering through the canopy in soft streaks. The forest hummed with energy, the kind of magic that made her heart beat a little faster. It was quiet, save for the gentle rustling of leaves and the faint trickle of water from the nearby pond. For a moment, Skyler let herself breathe, the weight of the Jasper Coven's expectations falling away. Here, in this untamed place, she could simply exist.
Setting her bag beside the pond, she knelt down to inspect the moonflowers growing along the bank. Their delicate petals glowed faintly, almost as if they were alive. She hummed softly as she picked a few, placing them carefully in her pouch. This was why she loved the Vale,!the connection to nature, the simplicity of it all.
But her peace didn't last long.
"Back so soon?" a familiar voice drawled from the shadows. "Or did you miss me?"
Skyler's shoulders stiffened. She didn't need to turn around to know who it was. Slowly, she stood, brushing dirt from her hands, and turned to face Noah. He was leaning casually against a tree, arms crossed, that infuriating smirk firmly in place. He looked entirely at ease, like he belonged here more than she did.
"Don't you have anything better to do?" she asked, crossing her arms over her chest.
He chuckled, pushing off the tree and strolling toward her with an easy confidence. "Not really. This is the most entertaining thing I've come across in weeks."
Skyler rolled her eyes. "Glad to be of service," she said dryly, turning back to her work. "Now, if you don't mind, I have actual magic to do."
"Actual magic?" Noah repeated, his tone dripping with mock curiosity. He crouched a few feet away, watching her like a predator sizing up its prey. "Let me guess. A protection spell? Or maybe you're trying to make those moonflowers bloom faster?"
She ignored him, carefully grinding lavender and sage in her mortar. The rhythmic motion helped calm her irritation, though she could still feel his gaze on her.
"Come on, Skyler," he said, his voice low and teasing. "Don't be so serious. I'm just trying to make conversation."
"And I'm just trying to finish this spell without distractions," she shot back, not looking up. "So if you could stop talking, that would be great."
He laughed, a rich, low sound that made her grip on the pestle tighten. "You're fun when you're angry."
Skyler let out a sharp breath, setting her tools down and finally turning to face him. "What do you want, Noah? Do you enjoy annoying people, or is this just a special talent of yours?"
He grinned, his silver eyes glinting in the moonlight. "A bit of both, honestly."
"Great," she muttered, shaking her head. "Well, congratulations. You've officially succeeded."
Noah stepped closer, his smirk softening into something more thoughtful. "You know, for someone so focused on balance and harmony, you have a lot of fire."
Skyler raised an eyebrow. "Is that supposed to be a compliment?"
"Take it however you want," he said with a shrug. "I just think it's interesting."
She narrowed her eyes at him, unsure whether to feel flattered or annoyed. "You don't know anything about me."
"Maybe not," he admitted, his tone suddenly serious. "But I know you keep coming back here. Why?"
Skyler hesitated, caught off guard by the question. "Why do you care?"
"Call it curiosity," he said, his gaze steady. "You're not like the other Jasper witches. They don't stray from the rules. But you... you're different."
Skyler frowned, unsure how to respond. She didn't owe him an explanation, and yet there was something disarming about the way he said it, like he wasn't just teasing her this time. "The Vale is neutral ground," she said finally. "I come here because it's peaceful."
Noah tilted his head, studying her. "Is that the only reason?"
Her jaw tightened. "Yes."
He didn't look convinced, but he didn't press the issue. Instead, he stepped back, giving her space. "Fair enough. But you should know, peace doesn't last long in a place like this."
Skyler's eyes narrowed. "Is that a threat?"
"No," he said simply, his smirk returning. "Just an observation."
She watched him for a moment, trying to decide if he was being honest or just trying to get under her skin again. Either way, she wasn't going to let him win. "Well, thanks for the advice," she said, turning back to her spell. "Now, if you don't mind, I'd like to finish this in peace."
Noah didn't respond right away, and for a brief moment, Skyler thought he might actually leave. But then he said, "You're welcome, by the way."
"For what?" she asked, glancing over her shoulder.
"For keeping things interesting," he said with a grin. And then, just as quickly as he had appeared, he turned and disappeared into the shadows, leaving Skyler alone with her thoughts.
She let out a long breath, the tension in her shoulders finally easing. But as she returned to her spellwork, she couldn't shake the feeling that this wasn't the last she'd see of him. And despite her best efforts to focus on the task at hand, her mind kept drifting back to the warlock with the silver hair and the infuriating smirk.
As she finished her spell and packed up her supplies, a single thought lingered in her mind, a thought she hated herself for having: What was it about Noah that made her feel so... alive?
The wind whispered through the trees as she made her way back to Jasper territory, the cool night air brushing against her skin. She told herself it didn't matter, that he didn't matter. But deep down, she knew the truth.
Noah wasn't just a nuisance. He was a distraction. A dangerous one.