Page 141 of The Book Reader
I have shimmered us to Westery. Each time I’ve come back here, I have also been claiming the land back as my own little by little by building some small houses and shops. My magic can build huts that look like the ones that were here before. Sandy in color with lush green covering the roofs and the paths around it, I’ve built something special for Gaelan, and I wanted to show him.
“Okay, you can open them now.” I burst out laughing when he peeks one eye open, he grins and slowly opens them both fully, he winks at me before looking at the small hut that is sat before us, it’s built out of small sandy bricks, the roof has green grass and flowers on top of it, there is one window and a small wooden door in the middle, I’ve not finished with the back yard yet.
Gaelan steps forward with a light, astonished laugh. “How did you remember?”
“Honestly? I didn’t, my powers did.” I step closer to him. “Ever since I got the book back, this place has felt like home. Ispoke to Lexus, and we both wanted to rebuild it, make it ours again. I cast a spell, and this started to take shape. I just knew it was ours.” I take pride in having accomplished all of this.
I walk to stand in the part that would be the front garden. “There is only the garden left to do.” I grin excitedly.
“Show me, my Rose,” he says. Pure bewilderment colors his voice; he has no idea that I am doing all of this because of him. His trust, his guidance, his love… He has seen me use some of my powers, but not all of them. I close my eyes and whisper the rebuilding spell that is over my left thigh.
The air picks up around us, making me slowly open my eyes. The sand in front of the hut shifts, swirling around like a tiny hurricane.A section of grass begins to grow, and a little path starts to appear down the middle. Flowers with almost transparent petals and gold trim, resembling glitter, start to sprout from the ground, making the scene look breathtaking.
“Rose,” Gaelan whispers in awe. He steps into the garden and then bends to pick one of the flowers.
“Do you know what this is?” he asks, walking closer to me. I shake my head at him, then take the flower from his fingers. “You created this flower; this is one of the first spells you ever showed me. This is a resurrection flower.”
“I made this?” I ask him as my eyes lift to his. I lift the flower to get a better look at it. The petals appear to be made from glass, yet they are surprisingly soft and smell sweet and spicy.
“You told me that if anything ever happened to you, you would need this flower.” his eyes turn sad when he takes it from my hand again. “That life, when you died, I returned to our home to pick one, but they had all gone with you, not a single one left.”
His admission makes me frown. “I don’t understand, why?”
“Your powers are connected to you, my Rose. When you are gone, so are they.” He tells me, turning to look at the hut again. I step closer to him.
“Not this time, Gaelan.” I look up at him and smile. “Shall we go inside?” I reach for his hand, and we both walk into the hut. It’s small, with just one living room featuring a sofa and a fireplace. “It was very empty and not very comfortable, so I’ve added some modern touches to it.”
I laugh a little and step back, watching as he moves around, taking it all in. The bedroom is at the back of the hut, with a huge bed that takes up almost the whole room. The kitchen is tiny, so I only added a stove and a little table for us to eat at. The bathroom is outside—a bath and shower under the stars.
Gaelan turns to me with a grin. “It’s a lot more comfortable than when we first lived here. It’s perfect.” He comes over to me and takes my hand and kisses the back of it. “Do you not want to live on Illis with me anymore?” I can hear the nervousness in his voice.
“Gaelan, I want nothing more than to live with you, I just—” my voice trails off when I let go of his hand and move over to the one window and look out over what I have built. “I feel so connected to this place; I don’t know why.” I smile over at him. “The book won’t move from here, and until I know why, I want to always be able to come here.”
He walks over to me and pulls me into his arms, holding me tight. “This is where it all started, my Rose. Your first life was here; your powers were born here, so I understand.” he leans down and kisses the top of my head. I look up at him.
“Thank you,” I smile.
“For what, my Rose?” he questions.
“For always understanding me—for loving me,” I say, going up on my tiptoes and kissing his lips softly. “I also loved the idea of us having a little getaway, like a romantic hut for us to come to.”
“What happens at a romantic hut, my Rose?” He wiggles his eyebrows at me before picking me up and spinning me around, making me giggle.
“I cook for you, then lots of naked time,” I say with a laugh.
“You’re going to cook for me?” he questions as he lowers me to the ground again. I laugh.
“We can’t eat grilled cheese all the time, Gaelan.” I laugh at the look on his face and then turn and run to the other side of the hut when he makes a move to grab me. He growls.
“You said you loved my grilled cheeses,” he plays at being offended, making me laugh harder.
“I do,” I say, dodging his hands again and running out the front door and along the path. I keep running, but am stopped when I hit a hard chest. I look up and smile, seeing Gaelan looking down at me. He picks me up and throws me onto his shoulder, marching back into the hut and kicking the door closed behind him.
“I have something else I love to eat more,” he says, throwing me onto the sofa and looking down at me, his eyes run over my body, making me shake with need. His eyes glow as he shimmers my clothes from my body. The cool air hits my skin, making my nipples hard. Gaelan licks his lips before kneeling in front of me.
“We need to make plans, my Rose, but first I want to taste you.” he grabs my ankles and pulls me closer to him, his eyes close as he inhales deeply. “Fuck, Ari—my Rose—I can smell how much you want me.”
Any other person saying those words to me would have me dying with embarrassment. Still, Gaelan saying them makes me feel so sexy, so wanted. I lift my head and watch as he just stares.
