Page 3 of I Am the Night

Cole pushes into my memories, and I shake off the thought of what our family could be if he were here to complete it. I can't think of him right now, I must focus.

Exhaling, I release my magic into the trees and their roots expand as they twist and reshape, growing in new directions, intertwining as they form themselves into a new kind of creation that so far only exists in my sketchbook.

Sweat beads on my lip. Heat pulses in me. I feel Elijah and Derek approach. I sense when they take their brothers' hands, forming a circle, sending me more magic, more power.

The energy within me builds and builds and is expelled in a wave of magic that pulses out of us all and into the ground, the trees, and the air around us. The earth shakes and cracks as the wind rises, whipping my hair into my face.

I grip Sebastian and Liam's hands harder to preserve our connection.

And when the earth and wind settle, when the magic retreats back into me, I open my eyes and gasp.

Before us stands a beautiful new house, an organic and living structure made from the trees themselves, with gently curved walls and a sloped roof twined with vines.

"How did you do that?" a voice behind us asks.

I turn to see Lily looking on in awe.

"I don't know," I say, releasing my death grip on the brothers and stretching my sore fingers. "The trees helped."

Lily smiles, and it lights up her face. "They are so happy. None of us have ever seen anything like this."

She runs a hand through her hot pink hair—the new color of the week— and looks around, stunned. "The others want this too. The entire grove wants to be made into houses," she says. "Except that one," she says, pointing to one off to the side. "He would like to be moved closer to the water. He's thirsty."

I laugh. "I think that can be arranged."

The Night brothers are still silent, staring at the house we just created, then staring at me with stunned expressions.

Liam pulls me against his chest and brushes a lock of hair out of my face. His golden eyes are full of admiration and awe. "You amaze me," he says, and before I can respond he leans in and claims my lips with his. A spark ignites between us, as it always does when we touch, and I lose myself in the softness of his lips and the hardness of his body pressed against mine.

His tongue teases my bottom lip, and I moan in desire as need flares in me.

But before we set the forest on fire, I pull away, panting.

He releases me reluctantly with a wicked grin. "Later, we will finish what we started."

I flush red and sigh again, wishing later was now.

Instead I turn to the home we just helped build and step through the impressive French doors making up the entrance. Not only have the trees formed this structure, but they have furnished it as well. A table, counters, chairs, bed frames, all made from the living trees. It's incredible.

Derek steps next to me and slips an arm around my waist. The Water Druid always has a calming effect on me. And though he's been working just as hard as all of us, he's managed to stay much cleaner. His close-cropped dark hair is still neat and tidy. His button-up shirt and pants dust free. I don't know how he manages it. He glances down at me with his sapphire eyes and smiles. "You've truly surpassed yourself."

My magic is still radiating out of me as I look up to him. "Do you think Lyx'Ara and her people will like it?"

"They will love it," Derek promises.

The Light Dragon lives with her people, and has been foraging the forests helping them make ends meet since the world's expansion. Some have died without proper shelter and food, thus creating the urgent need for a town, for protection, and for sustenance. She asked us for help and we were happy to offer it, though it meant putting nearly all of our legal work on hold.

Derek has handled a few minor cases as needed, but mostly we have been here, all day, every day, working tirelessly to create a new world.

"Sebastian is right, this would be a good time for a break. We should give Lyx a report on our progress and let her know about this," I say, waving a free hand at the house we just helped create. "This will change how we approach the rest of the development."

I look around, frowning. "Come to think of it, I'm surprised she hasn't been here today, yet."

"She has a lot going on," Derek says, pragmatically. "But I know she will be happy to hear what you've accomplished today."

"We," I clarify. "What we've accomplished. I couldn't have done this—any of this—alone."

As we head to the carriage, it begins to rain, and a flash buzzes in my brain, giving me a low grade headache.

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