It was nothing more than a faint gold glimmer tucked low in the dirt, half-shielded from the snow by a juniper tree. If I hadn't been hunting coins for the last month, I doubt I would have seen it.

I tromped over to the bush, pulled my glove out of my pocket and yanked it free. A long span of gold-veined wood, cardinal fletchings, and...a heart-shaped arrowhead. Heart shaped arrowhead? Better not be some smartass kid trying to hunt strays. I carefully balled my gloves around the sharp point, tucked it into the inside pocket of my coat. I have some research to do, I thought, and hurried on with my errands.

It was dark when I returned to my apartment. Cold. Dang furnace hadn't kicked on while I'd been out. I coaxed the furnace on, ducked into my room to pile on the layers. I pulled the arrow out of my jacket and nearly dropped it when I felt the pulsing warmth beneath my frozen fingers. Magick -- potent too. I sat on my bed, carefully turning it over and over. Set it down, pulled up firefox on my computer and got to searching. It didn't take long to confirm my suspicions. Cupid's arrows are said to spark love when they strike someone's heart. Who would I use it on? Romance had been dead for me for several years. Bad breakup and shady engagement, several toxic relationships-- no one in my family would appreciate my meddling in their love lives, either. I shook my head and decided to shower and put some life back into my limbs before I did anything else.

It was sharper than anticipated, more weapon than blessing. I closed my eyes, let out a hard breath. If this worked, my life would be easier. If it failed, the consequences would shatter what confidence I had left. My hands shook, but I spoke clearly (philautia!) before driving the arrowhead into my own heart.