Jon was busy at work, chatting with Luca. The office bustled around them, but Jon’s excitement cut through the noise. “Audrey is the girl of my wildest dreams,” Jon said, grinning ear to ear. “She told me she was going to kidnap me or something like that. Isn’t that wild? We’ve been everywhere—where do you think she’ll take me?” He chuckled, the anticipation bubbling in his voice.

Luca gave him a skeptical look, arms crossed. “Jon, as fun as that sounds, she can’t kidnap you this year. Your schedule’s packed. You’ve got three charity events coming up, and you’re doing interviews almost every other day. Plus, Theo’s got orders to stick to you like glue.”

Jon leaned closer, shaking his head eagerly. “No, you don’t get it. I want to be kidnapped by her.” His eyes gleamed with a sense of mischief, as though he were already imagining himself being whisked away to some romantic hideaway.

Luca arched a brow, unimpressed. “Jon, she just words things weirdly. It’s probably not what you think.” He gave a wary sigh, realizing this might not be something Jon was ready to drop anytime soon. Just to ease his mind—and maybe get some answers—Luca decided he needed to have a conversation with Audrey.

Later that night, when he caught her alone after dinner, Luca approached cautiously. “Jon’s convinced you’re planning to kidnap him,” Luca said, his voice low. He wasn’t sure how serious this whole thing was but figured it wouldn’t hurt to ask. “And… take him somewhere?”

Audrey didn’t miss a beat. She tilted her head as if he’d asked her whether it was raining outside. “Yes. I’m taking him home.”

Luca frowned, confusion written across his face. “But you can’t go home for another year, right?”

“Yes,” Audrey confirmed, a spark of satisfaction flickering in her eyes. “In a year, Jon will come with me. He’ll meet my family.” She smiled—something more than just happiness stirring beneath her expression. In her mind, it was a simple truth. Whether he liked it or not, Jon was hers.

Luca scratched the back of his head, glancing down at his phone to check Jon’s packed schedule. “I need to plan next year’s calendar. How long will this… ‘home visit’ take?”

Audrey gave a sly smile, her gaze unwavering. “A long time.” Her words were calm but carried an undercurrent of certainty that left Luca feeling vaguely unsettled.

“I can only give you two weeks,” he mumbled, trying to maintain some kind of control over the situation.

Audrey rolled her eyes and gave a dramatic wave in front of his face as though she were dismissing him entirely. “Jon will be mine for as long as I want. He’s staying by my side.” Her mischievous laughter echoed through the hall as she turned and left, leaving Luca standing there, bewildered.

Luca spent the following days obsessing over Audrey’s cryptic words. Something about them left him deeply uneasy, almost jealous, though he couldn’t explain why. He found himself spiraling into paranoia, wondering if she had some strange influence over Jon—or maybe even over him. Desperate for answers, Luca sought out an assortment of unconventional healers and mystics, determined to make sure they weren’t under some kind of love spell.

The treatments grew stranger by the day. One healer burned pungent incense and blew the smoke directly into his face, chanting in a language Luca couldn’t recognize. Another swatted at him lightly with a bundle of dried leaves, muttering about “dark energy” and ancient spirits. A third healer carefully rolled a raw egg over Luca’s entire body, mumbling that it would absorb any curse cast upon him. Luca felt ridiculous.

The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

The next healer was even worse. She placed steaming cups along his back, leaving him with a constellation of angry red circles. But the final straw came when a mystic smeared him with fresh chicken blood as part of a complicated ritual involving a live bird. Disgusted and humiliated, Luca left, vowing never to go back. He decided that whatever magic Audrey might possess, it wasn’t worth enduring any more bizarre rituals.

Meanwhile, Jon and Audrey set off for Venice—a city Audrey had only dreamed about visiting. The moment they arrived, Audrey felt as if she had stepped into a new world. The canals shimmered under the warm Italian sun, and the gentle scent of saltwater lingered in the air.

They boarded a sleek, black gondola just before sunset, with soft music drifting from a nearby accordion player. As they floated down the narrow waterways, Audrey felt the hum of life all around her: the faint laughter of strangers, the distant clink of wine glasses, and the rhythmic splash of the gondolier’s oar dipping into the water.

Jon had arranged a small picnic on the boat—cheese, olives, fresh fruit, and a bottle of ruby-red wine. Audrey picked up the wine bottle, tilting it curiously in the fading light. “What is this?” she asked, her eyes wide with curiosity.

Jon grinned. “Only the finest,” he teased.

Audrey poured herself a glass and took a sip. Her eyes lit up, and she gave a delighted gasp. “This is incredible!” she exclaimed, taking another sip with the enthusiasm of someone tasting magic for the first time.

Jon laughed, enjoying her excitement. They floated beneath a stone bridge, the warm colors of twilight casting a romantic glow over everything. As the gondola glided gently across the water, Jon reached for Audrey’s hands. She felt a jolt at the contact—something warm and thrilling blooming inside her.

Without warning, Jon leaned in and kissed her. The kiss was soft and slow, like a delicate breeze brushing across her skin. Audrey’s mind went blank, her heart racing wildly in her chest. Among fairies, kisses weren’t mere gestures. They were commitments—promises. In her

world, a kiss wasn’t something given lightly. It was a step toward forever.

But right now, none of that mattered. In this perfect moment, she decided, This will be a secret I have to keep.

Jon kissed her again, and the world seemed to melt away, leaving just the two of them beneath the Venetian sky. His lips moved gently against hers, savoring every second. When they finally pulled apart, Audrey sat back, dazed and breathless. Her cheeks flushed a soft pink, and her heart beat so loudly she was sure Jon could hear it.

Later, they wandered through the narrow streets hand-in-hand, finding a tiny café tucked away in a quiet corner. Jon ordered two scoops of gelato—one for each of them. Audrey took her first spoonful and nearly swooned.

“I’m in love,” she whispered, her voice filled with wonder.

Jon chuckled, knowing full well that she was talking about the gelato, but the words still made his heart flutter. “If only I could get you to say that again,” he teased, winking at her.

Audrey giggled, savoring another bite. “Jon, I want to bring some of this gelato home, but it won’t last the trip. Can you promise to get me some before the end of the year?”

Jon’s expression darkened slightly at the reminder of her departure. “You’re really leaving after a year?” he asked quietly, unable to hide the disappointment in his voice.

Jon stared at her, his heart sinking. He had hoped—somehow—that she would change her mind, that he could convince her to stay. “This life we have together—playing tennis, visiting art galleries, watching movies… Do you enjoy it?” he asked, his voice gentle.

Audrey smiled softly. “Yes, I do.”

“Then don’t leave,” Jon whispered, almost pleading.

Audrey’s heart swelled with emotion. She knew he didn’t understand yet, but she would never truly leave him behind. “Oh, Jon,” she said, her voice full of affection. “I’m not leaving anything behind. I’m taking everything with me. And that includes you.”

Jon’s heart soared at her words. “I’d love that,” he whispered, meaning every word.

As they walked back to their hotel, Jon slipped his arm around Audrey’s, holding her close as if it were the most natural thing in the world. Audrey cherished those moments, feeling their bond deepen with every step they took together.

And each time they embraced, Jon would whisper, “Our hearts need to stay close, so they can sync up.”

“And what happens when I leave?” Audrey asked playfully, though she already knew the answer.

“When you leave,” Jon whispered with a smile, “you get a kiss.”

And each kiss grew softer, sweeter, until it was clear—Jon’s heart belonged to Audrey. And she intended to keep it that way forever.