Page 6 of Magic's Rise

I poke Tris’s side. “Proofread before sending next time.”

“My hands were full.” He slaps away my prodding fingers. “And I trusted Owen to interpret through context.”

“Less trust in the future.” Owen beckons us toward the gaping hole that used to be Ros’s room. “I’d like your opinion on the skylights.”

Alarmed, I hurry over to him. “We don’t need skylights! Why do you keep wanting to make holes in my meditation space?”

He pauses beside a ladder that leads into the blown-out ceiling. “Because our new living space needs more light.”

“That’s what lightbulbs are for!” I scramble up the rungs into the construction site.

Ambros had moved his queen-sized bed into my old room, which Tris had technically been occupying. Tris never slept in there, though, since it only had a twin-size mattress. With Ambros settled, we’d knocked down the walls to his room to make way for the staircase that will lead into the attic.

Or, what used to be the attic. Now, wooden frames mark what will be a larger master suite, with plumbing for a new bathroom. A second bathroom will be added below, in the leftover space from Ros’s room, bringing our house into the modern age.

The rest of the space will be divided into two smaller bedrooms and a sitting area. When I protested that I didn’t need such a large bedroom, the others were quick to remind me of the bed upgrade I would also be receiving. The monster mattress will be custom-built to sleep all five of us comfortably.

The idea terrifies me. It will require a map just to locate the center. And since I can’t read maps, I’ll get lost, and no one will ever find me.

A few workers move around the space, getting ready to install insulation, but Owen leads us to the other side of the attic.

“The bonus room will be here.” Owen gestures to the largest of the walled in spaces, then gestures up at the ceiling, where the wiring for electricity hangs from the rafters. “So I’m thinking about two skylights going here. It won’t even affect your rooftop retreat.”

I study the distance from the stairs to the widow walk and where he points. “Aren’t we already putting in windows? Skylights are just asking for a flood the next time it rains.”

Tris nods. “Besides, they’re harder to block out for movie night.”

“But better for stargazing.” Owen wraps an arm around me and draws me against his side, his lips finding my ear. “Imagine snuggling up on the couch beneath a blanket, all the lights turn off, watching for shooting stars while staying warm inside.”

A shiver goes through me at the image he paints. “Yes, I want that.”

He nuzzles my cheek. “I knew you’d like the idea.”

“Okay, Mr. Romantic.” Tris tugs me from Owen’s embrace. “Now that you’ve gotten your way, we need to get back downstairs for class.”

Owen strides to the table with the construction plans. “Be good little witches and listen to your teachers.”

“Never!” I race for the ladder.

Tris chases after me. “Naughty witches have more fun!”

We slow when we reach the stairs. Falling down them would be no joke. Especially since neither of us has super healing.

“You just got played back there,” Tris teases, walking down ahead of me.

“I know,” I sigh. “But it made him so happy.”

Tris grips the handrail to peer over his shoulder. “How does it feel?”

“To make Owen happy?” I smile dreamily. “It’s fantastic.”

“Well, duh.” Tris rolls his eyes. “I meant, how are you holding up with making all these changes to your grandma’s house?”

My gaze sweeps over what I can see of the downstairs. I have many good memories of coming here to visit. Tangled up with them, though, is what I know now of the type of woman my grandmother really was, and the horrors that had driven my father to stop bringing me here.

She had always welcomed me with hugs and cookies, always had a place for me at her side while she told me stories. But she was also the person who turned Owen away when he was cursed after saving my life. Who held herself above the people of Hartford Cove.

At the same time, she had also taken in Haut when his father was killed. Had she done that out of kindness, though, or so she could use him as a tool?

---