Page 59 of Oleander
Because everything has to be perfect tonight.
It’s our first date, and I want to show Skyler how special he is to me by showing him a part of Faerie he’s never seen. The capital. I’ve been working with Suka for the past three days, planning the outing and getting everything approved by my mother. She’s not thrilled I’m dating a half-human scholarship student, but I think she’s just happy to see me withsomeoneand that I’m testing my control more.
We’ll visit the castle after we take a trip downtown. Human-world skyscrapers are no match for the architectural feats of Auroria’s capital city. I’m hoping Skyler will especially like dinner in the tallest glass skyscraper. I’ve heard the experience is like dining on a cloud.
My mind is distracted, excited by the idea of my first date, and I infuse too much magic into the philodendron I justplanted, cycling through all life cycles in a matter of seconds until the leaves drop and it begins to die.
“Oh! Oh! Sorry, my little darling. I’m so sorry,” I coo at the plant, pulling my magic back and reversing the signs of death until new, gorgeously variegated leaves emerge. “I have my first date tonight.” I whisper my excitement to the plant, feeling elation vibrate back to me. Ever since I opened myself up to my magic, I’ve been able to communicate more deeply with the plants, sensing their emotions and offering my support in addition to my care.
The rich smell of coffee and hazelnut wafts into my nostrils, and I spin around, caught off guard to find Skyler standing there, leaning against the back of the couch, sipping his coffee andwatching me.
“G-good morning. Um. How long have you been standing there?”
“Long enough for my morning wood to come back with a vengeance.”
I glance down, and sure enough, Skyler’s boxers are tented with an erection. He takes another sip of his coffee, purposefully making a slurping noise. I tear my gaze from his bulging underwear and see his eyes sparkling with amusement.
“Like what you see?” he asks, teasing me unfairly.
“Aren’t I the one who should be asking you that question?” I counter with a little smirk, raising a single brow and flicking my gaze back to his straining erection.
“Touché, prince. Touché. You hungry?” he asks, accepting me for who I am and not making fun of me for talking to the plants.
“Are you cooking?”
Skyler’s gaze scans my face, likely analyzing the dark circles under my eyes.
“If you’re cool with scrambled eggs and toast.”
“That sounds wonderful.” I give Skyler a peck on the cheek and head to my room to shower. I’m in a great mood this morning, even though my body is tired. The excitement has been building, and now the day is finally here.
I’ve never been on a date before, let alone planned one for someone who means so much to me. Skyler deserves the best, and I plan to give it to him, starting with the Aurorian Sky Gardens. Suka dropped us off out front, with the harbor behind us.
It’s a gorgeous day in Blossom City, perfect for an afternoon in the gardens. The capital of Auroria was built on the river Sol, allowing plant life and city life to merge, resulting in an interesting amalgam of greenery, earth, concrete, and glass.
“Whoa,” Skyler says in awe, peering up at the floating mounds of earth. From below, you can see the roots twisting and twinning as they loop in and out of the soil.
“This was one of my favorite places to visit,” I say with a fond smile, remembering one of the places that brought me the most joy in my childhood. “Before.”
I don’t have to specify what I mean; Skyler just knows and wraps a comforting arm around me, tugging me close.
“It’s amazing. The whole city is.” He spins us in a slow circle, taking in our surroundings. I try to see it from his perspective since I was born here.
Vegetation is woven throughout every structure in Blossom City, resulting in a beautifully green city that’s full of spiraling glass and sharply angled metal structures that can only be created with magic.
“Let’s see it from the top now. It’s even more impressive.”
We take the elevator up to the top of the neighboring skyscraper and walk across a clear glass bridge to reach the first sky garden.
Flowers of every shape, size, and color greet us. Dirt pathways, dotted with small benches and water fountains, weave their way throughout the garden, allowing visitors to casually stroll through the beautiful array of botanicals.
“This is incredible,” Skyler says in awe, his eyes wide and peering around, taking everything in. “I’ve never seen anything like it.”
“It’s one of a kind, that’s for sure,” I say seriously, my gaze on Skyler andnotthe gardens.
His eyes dart to mine and his lip curls up into a half smile, picking up on the hidden meaning.
“Shall we?” I ask, holding a palm out and waiting for Skyler to weave his fingers through mine. It feels incredible to simply hold his hand and be skin-to-skin, especially in public. I’m not afraid of my magic anymore, and I’m not afraid to go out into the world and be around other Fae.
