I smile, soft but certain. "Yeah. That's the plan."
Donna squeals and claps her hands like a kid at a birthday party. "Oh, hell yes. Wehaveto celebrate!"
"That's really not nec—"
"Too late," she cuts in. "New townie, new chaos crew member? That calls for drinks, snacks, and bad decisions. You're being celebrated whether you like it or not."
"I have to work," I say, though I can't help the grin spreading across my face.
She waves that off like it's a minor technicality. "Not a problem." Then she turns to Winston, who's leaning on the bar in that calm, watchful way he always does.
"Winston, can we host a get-together after closing?"
He shrugs. "Sure can."
"See?" she says brightly, already grabbing her purple coat. "Told you. Now I'm off to gather the crew."
She whirls out the door in a trail of lavender and glitter, disappearing into the night like some manic fairy godmother.
"Well," I say, blinking after her. "That was… something."
Asher's smile is small but real. "She's right, though. We don't get a lot of new people. And we get even fewer reasons to celebrate."
I feel something tighten in my chest—a warning pulse of vulnerability. It's dangerous how good this feels.
"I'll run a few errands," Asher says, leaning in to brush a kiss to my cheek. "Be good."
I watch Asher disappear into the quiet street, then turn back and get to work. The rhythm of bartending takes over—pouring drinks, sliding witty comments across the counter, dodging the occasional spilled shot glass. It's easy and familiar by now.
By the time the bar closes, the whole crew has trickled in like clockwork.
Kayden arrives first, claiming the center stool as his throne, radiating his usual blend of smug mischief and simmering threat. Astrid and Donna come in next, loud and glowing, claiming a corner table. Asher returns with Tomas in tow, his energy calm and quiet, but eyes always watchful. Eira shows up last, ethereal and unbothered as ever.
Winston and Jace close the bar for the night and serve everyone their usuals. The mood shifts easily into somethingwarm and loose. Laughter bubbles, and someone turns the music up a notch.
They ask about the crystal on my neck, and I recount the ritual. Maeve's circle, the herbs, the way the stone changed color with my blood.
"She's not joining us?" I ask, turning to Eira.
"I invited her," Eira says, sipping her elderflower tonic. "However, she's deep into some data from her research team. She was still on a conference call when I left."
"A pity," Tomas says in that low, deliberate voice of his, the kind that cuts through noise without raising volume. "Meeting a druid would've been a rare privilege."
"Her loss," Donna declares, holding up her bottle of cider. "Let's toast instead—to our girl Sage, who finally joined the chaos. Welcome to the fold!"
"Welcome to the fold!" everyone echoes, glasses clinking.
For a moment, I just sit there, full of strange gratitude and awkward pride, warm under the attention but trying not to show how much it means.
Then Astrid bashes the moment in the most valkyrie way possible. "So, you three banging now, or what?"
I choke on my drink.
Kayden snorts, clearly enjoying this. "And here I thought I was the crude one."
Astrid shrugs, unbothered. "Better to ask than eavesdrop."
"Yes, we are, in fact, banging," Kayden says far too casually. "She's always in the middle. No banging between me and Asher—brothers, after all."
