Her Dryad Dom (Beastly Falls)

Chapter 7 Aspen

I woke up cradled in Dom's strong arms, his chest rising and falling with each deep breath. His serene face was a sharp contrast to the grumpy, surly demeanor he often displayed. I trailed my fingers over the rough bark of his cheek, marveling at the paradoxical tenderness of this powerful tree spirit.

"Two days left," I murmured, reflecting on our whirlwind of passion and intense emotions. Yes, we'd had a few disagreements, but that seemed inevitable between two dominant personalities.

My thoughts fell upon my backpack in the kitchen. I needed to save this town from corporate greed, but first, I had to find a way to break down the barrier isolating us from the outside world.

Careful not to disturb Dom, I slipped out of bed and tiptoed to my backpack. The floorboards creaked beneath me, but Dom didn't stir. I pulled out my laptop and paperwork, determined to find a solution as quickly as possible. We'd talked a lot over the last few days on what could help, but Dom didn't seem to know more than he'd already revealed.

Once that barrier is down, I could stop my client from seizing these lands. But what would it take to appease the town spirit? I glanced back at the bedroom. Dom appeared to still be a sleep. I felt a pang of guilt for sneaking away. But this was something I had to do. For him, for me, and for the people of Beastly Falls.

"Time is running out," I whispered to myself, opening the laptop and delving into the depths of legal documents and arcane lore stored there. Thankfully anything already downloaded on my laptop was accessible. Plus I had a mess of papers printed out. Sometimes I needed a tactile sensation to help with the thinking process.

I studied the documents spread across the kitchen table and on my laptop, feeling a growing sense of unease. I had what I needed to protect Beastly Falls legally, but there was still the matter of appeasing the town spirit. I glanced over my shoulder at the bedroom. Good, still asleep. Maybe he would stay that way.

I approached the landline connected to the mayor's office. My fingers trembled slightly as I pressed a random button. The phone rang twice before a sleepy, but bubbly female voice answered.

"Dom? How are things with Aspen? Have we got ourselves another human in Beastly Falls?"

It took me a moment to find my voice. "Actually, Mayor, this is Aspen."

"Ah, Aspen! Well, welcome to our little town," the mayor replied, her tone shifting from sleepy to alert, though still maintaining an air of authority. "My name is Sylvia Hassenfrau. Nice to finally meet you... as it were anyway. What can I help you with?"

"Mayor Haasenfrau, I've been trying to figure out how to break down the barrier and communicate with the outside world, so I can save the town lands from being seized. But I don't know what else is needed to appease the town spirit. Can you help me?"

There was a long silence on the other end of the line, and for a moment, I worried that I'd overstepped. Finally, the mayor sighed. "Aspen, we've been trying to solve this puzzle for years, but so far, we haven't had any luck."

My heart sank, but I refused to let myself be discouraged. "But there must be something we can do, right? For the sake of everyone in Beastly Falls, humans and monsters alike."

"Keep searching, Aspen," the mayor advised. "We know it's tied to love, but we just haven't found the key yet."

"Mayor Haasenfrau, please," I implored, clutching the phone tightly in my hand. "I need to know about the curse. What happened? How did it come to be?"

"Please darling, call me Sylvia." Sylvia sighed, and her voice grew somber. "Very well, Aspen. I'll tell you."

I held my breath, waiting for the story to unfold. The silence stretched on, taut as a bowstring, before Sylvia finally spoke again.

"Beastly Falls is an old town," she began, her tone hushed and reverent. "As old as America itself. Monsters have always been drawn here, seeking refuge from the world outside. The town is alive, Aspen. It takes care of its residents, draws people in."

I could almost picture the vibrant, bustling town she described, with monsters and humans living side by side, their lives intertwined.

"Two decades ago, tragedy struck our peaceful haven," she continued. "A monster and a human fell in love, but their families couldn't accept their union. They turned the couple against each other, and both were ultimately lost to us."

My heart clenched painfully at the thought of such senseless loss. A soft growl escaped me, and I felt Dom's presence in the back of my mind, his emotions mirroring mine.

"Angered and saddened by this event, the town raised walls around its borders," Sylvia said, her voice quivering with emotion. "It trapped everyone inside... monsters and humans alike. Since then, the town and its inhabitants have been trapped in limbo," she went on. "The sun rises and sets, but nothing ever changes. There's no communication with the outside world. Zero contact. Families have been separated ever since, some trapped within the town and others stuck outside."

"Dom's family was one of the ones separated by the barrier." I recounted, my voice cracking with emotion.

Sylvia sighed wistfully. "Yes, dear. It was a sad day for many of the townsfolk. We all felt the pain of losing loved ones and being trapped away from them."

"Does the town believe that if enough couples form and prove their love is real, the barrier will finally come down?" I questioned, hope laced in my words.

"Many of us had hoped so," Sylvia admitted, her voice heavy with sorrow. "We've had a few humans arrive lately, but so far, nothing has changed. The curse remains unbroken, and we're all still trapped here."

"Thank you, Mayor Haas—"

She cleared her throat, and I corrected myself.

"Mayor Sylvia," I said, determined to find a solution. "I won't give up on Dom or this town. There must be a way to break this curse."

"Good luck, Aspen," Sylvia replied warmly before hanging up.

I stared at the phone, my mind racing as I considered my options. Suddenly, Dom appeared from the bedroom, his leafy hair mussed and irritation etched across his handsome face.

"What are you doing out of bed?" he scolded, crossing his arms over his broad chest. "You should be resting. You're still healing from the crash."

"Resting won't save this town," I retorted, my eyes blazing with defiance. "And we're running out of time. I need to find a way to break the curse and bring the barrier down. For you, for your family, and for everyone who's been affected by it."

Dom clenched his fists, the vines around his wrists tightening. "Aspen, I appreciate what you're trying to do, but you can't help anyone if you don't take care of yourself first."

"Fine, I'll rest," I said, my voice heavy with determination. "But first, I want to look at the moon."

Dom let out a grumbling sigh, his annoyance evident in the rustle of leaves sprouting from his limbs. But despite his irritation, he scooped me up into his arms with surprising tenderness, carrying me toward the balcony connected to the bedroom.

"Stubborn woman," he muttered under his breath, yet there was a hint of affection in his gruff tone.

As we stepped onto the balcony, the cool night air caressed my face, and the sight of the full moon's silvery glow cast an ethereal light over the forest protecting Beastly Falls. Dom held me close, his strong, bark-covered arms wrapped protectively around me.

"Here," he offered, growing an extra branch for me to sit on, its sturdy form jutting out from the railing. But I declined, shaking my head gently.

"Thank you, but I'd rather stay here in your arms," I murmured, appreciating the warmth and security they provided.

I took Dom's hand, feeling the rough texture of his bark as I pressed my lips to his cheek, planting a soft, tender kiss there. His grumbles subsided, and he leaned into my touch, the tension in his body ebbing ever so slightly. Turning my gaze back to the moon, I took a deep breath, the crisp night air filling my lungs.

"To the spirit of Beastly Falls," I called out, my voice ringing clear and true in the darkness. "I, Aspen Larkspur, claim Dominik as my mate."

"Wait, what?" Dom interjected, his shock momentarily breaking through his grumpy exterior.

"Shh," I silenced him, my heart pounding in my chest as conviction fueled my words. My love for this complicated, beautiful monster had grown stronger than I could have ever imagined, and I knew without a doubt that he was the one I wanted by my side for all eternity.

"I'm in love with you, Dom," I declared, my voice shaking slightly as I looked into his eyes. "I want to spend forever with you, despite your bossy and grumpy nature." His face softened, but a hint of concern still lingered.

"Forever is a long time, Aspen," he warned, but I could see the vulnerability hiding beneath his stern exterior.

"I know," I agreed, taking a deep breath. "But there's something I need to do in my old life before I can stay here in Beastly Falls forever."

"Tell me," he growled, his grip tightening around me.

"Please, spirit of Beastly Falls," I pleaded, raising my voice so it carried on the wind. "Lift the barrier momentarily so I can save this town. I may not know all the townspeople and townsmonsters yet, but I understand why you want to protect them. Let me protect them too by saving their land."

Dom's face twisted into a scowl, and he muttered something under his breath that I couldn't quite catch. Before I could react, he scooped me up and carried me back into the bedroom, clearly unhappy with my request.

"You shouldn't be out of bed and exerting yourself," he chastised as he gently deposited me onto the bed.

"Dom, trust me," I implored, reaching out to touch his arm. "I need to do this, not just for us, but for everyone trapped here."

He frowned, considering my words before finally nodding reluctantly. I cuddled in closer, hoping I'd figure out the solution tomorrow.

Just as I was about to drift off to sleep, the landline phone suddenly rang, breaking the tension in the room. I glanced over at Dom, seeing him bristle at the unexpected sound.

"What now?" he grumbled, getting up to answer it. I sat up and watched him, my heart pounding with anticipation. This could be the answer we were waiting for, or it could be another obstacle in our path.