33. CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE
CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE
T he grand foyer of their mansion was a hive of activity. The air thrummed with the energy of new beginnings. Sunlight flooded in through the large windows, illuminating the workers as they moved about in a synchronized rhythm of household duties. Amid this organized chaos, Rowan stood calmly, overseeing the staff.
“Ah, Lady Blackwood,” came a rich and cultured voice. Maida, their new cook, emerged from the sea of activity, wearing pristine clothes and a wool apron. “I’ve prepared the evening’s menu for your approval.”
Rowan peered at the stout middle-aged woman. She couldn’t help but feel uneasy at the formal address. She was still adjusting to the weight of responsibility that came with the title.
“Please call me Rowan. We don’t put much stock in formalities here.”
Maida’s eyebrows raised a fraction. “Very well.” She handed Rowan the menu, her gesture slightly more relaxed, hinting at an underlying respect for Rowan’s unconventional approach.
Rowan accepted the parchment and scanned the list. Each dish reflected the cook’s skill and attention to detail. She gave Maida a warm smile. “It all sounds delicious.”
As Rowan handed back the menu, movement in the entryway caught her attention. Workers shuffled past, their arms laden with exquisitely crafted furniture that still carried the scent of varnish and freshly cut wood. Casimir directed the procession with a casual authority that hinted at his many years spent in command .
“Twenty bedrooms,” she said in awe as she watched a team carry a heavy oak armoire up the grand staircase. “I still don’t see why we need so many? It seems like such a waste of space for just the two of us.”
Casimir turned to her, his eyes gleaming with mischief that sparked her curiosity. He straightened from where he was leaning against the balustrade, the subtle flex of his well-defined muscles beneath his tunic distracting her from her line of questioning.
“Every room has a purpose,” he said cryptically. “And who knows? We might find ourselves grateful for the extra space.”
Her eyebrows arched. “Grateful or not, we can’t just fill empty rooms for the sake of avoiding echoes.”
“Aye, but echoes can be quite charming.”
“Perhaps. But I’d rather we fill our home with the sounds of laughter than the whispers of empty halls.”
“Then laughter we shall have, my love.” His words wrapped around her heart like a vow.
A sudden burst of color streaking through the open doorway cut their banter short. Rowan’s spirit swelled at the sight, her lips curling into a smile as she watched Phoenix navigate the flurry of activity.
“Phoenix!”
Hearing his name, her familiar veered toward her, landing gracefully on Rowan’s outstretched arm before hopping up to his favorite spot on her shoulder. The cardinal nuzzled against her cheek in an affectionate greeting.
“Have you brought news?” she whispered so only Phoenix and Casimir could hear.
His presence in her mind was a bright flash of images and sensations that painted a vivid tapestry of information. Rowan absorbed it all and nodded, acknowledging the update.
“Thank you, my feathered friend.” She stroked his vibrant plumage.
Phoenix trilled in response, a melodic sound that resonated in the surrounding space. Casimir, who had been directing the placement of a particularly ornate velvet settee, paused to smile at the interaction.
“My mother’s condition has improved dramatically,” Rowan said, unable to contain the relief and excitement bubbling inside her. “Ruby thinks she’ll be well enough to join us here within a few weeks.”
Casimir glided over to take her hands in his. “I’m so glad to hear that, my darling.”
She beamed up at him. “I couldn’ t be happier.”
The glacial pools of his eyes reflected a future filled with family and contentment—a life she once thought was beyond her grasp.
Their pleasant interlude was discreetly interrupted by the approach of their new butler, Alaric. His lips moved close to Casimir’s ear, the words too quiet for Rowan to catch. Whatever was said brought an impish grin to Casimir’s face, and Rowan’s curiosity flared anew, mingling with a touch of wariness.
Her brows knitted together. “Is everything all right?” She had learned through past experiences that happiness was often short-lived, and she couldn’t shake the feeling that the other shoe was about to drop. Her anxiety was like a living thing, coiled tightly within her chest.
The corner of Casimir’s mouth twitched slightly. “Everything’s perfect.”
“Perfect? Your cryptic smiles always lead to the most interesting outcomes.”
“Everything will be revealed in due time.”
“You know that patience is not one of my strengths,” she reminded him.
“Aye, but I so enjoy it when you’re eager.” He stepped closer, the electric charge of his proximity igniting a fire within her.
“Tease me all you want. But you know that I’ll force it out of you.”
“I would expect nothing less.” His whisper against her ear sent delicious shivers down the back of her neck. Casimir leaned back, revealing a sly grin, a flash of white against the sharp contours of his face. He extended a hand. “Come with me. I’ve got something to show you.”
Rowan placed her hand in his, her pulse quickening with each step toward the grand entrance. The bright sun made her squint, and the scent of violets permeated the air, mingling with Casimir’s intoxicating fragrance. As her vision adjusted, she spotted a procession of horse-drawn carriages lining their driveway.
“What’s all this?” Her gaze swept over the scene, shifting between the elegant carriages and the wild beauty of the surrounding landscape.
“Your surprise.”
Before she could press for more details, a carriage door burst open, and a figure rushed out, appearing as a blur of movement—until Rowan recognized her friend Lyra, her eyes shining with tears of joy.
Lyra sprinted toward her. “Ro!”
“Lyra,” Rowan cried, her voice breaking with emotion .
They collided in a fierce embrace, arms wrapped tightly around each other, the impact resonating through them both. Tears gathered in Rowan’s eyes, the turmoil of their long separation releasing a flood of relief and joy. They clung to each other, their tears and laughter mingling; a symbol of their unbreakable friendship that had weathered countless trials.
“I was so worried.” Lyra’s words were muffled against Rowan’s shoulder. “I thought I’d never see you again.”
“I thought the same.” Rowan held Lyra at arm’s length, needing to confirm that she wasn’t imagining things. “How is this even possible?”
“Ask him.” Lyra nodded toward Casimir and her entire face lit up.
As Rowan gazed up at Casimir, her heart swelled nearly to bursting with overwhelming love. She cleared her throat, steadying herself. “Thank you,” she managed.
“There’s more yet to come.” He motioned toward the carriages, signaling them to approach.
Time seemed to slow as a small figure approached from the shadows, blinking in the bright sunlight. Emma emerged, her mop of unruly hair just as Rowan remembered, followed by Olive, whose eyes always held a flicker of mischief.
“Emma? Olive?” Rowan gasped, hands flying to her mouth as more and more children stepped out of the carriages. She couldn’t believe her eyes. Every child from the orphanage was here. They were like siblings to her, and she had thought she would never see them again.
“Ro!” they chorused.
A tide of familiar faces instantly swarmed her, each one etching another line of joy upon her heart. They were no longer the gaunt, haunted orphans she remembered. Now they beamed with health and happiness, their cheeks flushed with life.
“Ro! Ro! We’re here,” Emma said, her arms wrapping tightly around Rowan’s waist.
“Emma, you’ve grown so much.” Rowan’s eyes eagerly danced over the girl’s features, finding the traces of the child she’d comforted through countless dark nights.
“Did you miss me?” Olive asked as she jostled for a place by Rowan’s side, her grin infectious.
“Every day.” Rowan laughed, hugging Olive. Her mind flooded with memories of their shared past—a time when hope was a rare commodity, and laughter even scarcer.
While Rowan greeted the remaining children, Emma hovered nearby, her fingers twisting together nervously, until Rowan reached for her, pulling her into another hug .
“I’ve missed you all more than words can say.”
“I missed your stories,” Emma said.
“Then I’ll tell you lots and lots of new ones,” Rowan promised. Here, among these children, she knew that her worth was measured not by magic, feats, or titles, but by the love she gave and received.
Casimir stood back, watching the scene unfold with a tenderness that softened the angular lines of his face. The reunion was a chaotic symphony of laughter and chatter, each child vying for Rowan’s attention, their hands clutching at the fabric of her dress as if to anchor themselves to this precious moment.
“All right, all right, let’s give Rowan some breathing room.” Casimir’s voice cut through the noise, his tone commanding, but warm.
“Settle down, everyone,” Lyra called. She looked at Rowan and Casimir standing side by side and gave them a knowing grin, her cheeks dimpling. “Let’s go explore the grounds, shall we? Give these two lovebirds some space.”
The children giggled, darting glances at the couple before trailing after Lyra, who was already bounding off toward the expansive gardens.
Rowan turned to Casimir, her eyes bright with joy. “How did you . . .?” she began, only to have him place a finger gently against her lips.
“It’s not important.”
“But it is.” She placed her hand gently on his cheek. His skin warmed under her touch. “I can’t thank you enough.” Her voice was thick with emotion as she looked up at him. “I don’t know what I did to deserve you.”
He cupped her hand in his own, pressing it more firmly against his cheek. “I would do anything for you.” His thumb traced tender circles on her wrist. “I saw how much they meant to you and how much it cost you to leave them.”
“Your surprise. It’s everything,” she managed to say, leaning into him, feeling the magnetic pull between them.
He captured her hand and brought it to his lips, his kiss a searing brand that ignited a flame deep within her soul. “It’s only the beginning.”
“How long can they stay?”
“Forever.” His eyes conveyed an unspoken vow. “This house, our home—it’s theirs as well now. A sanctuary for those who’ve known too much of life’s cruelty.”
“Forever,” she echoed. Her arms tightened around his neck, pulling him into an embrace that melded their bodies as one .
Rowan’s heart soared, tears blurring her vision once again. Casimir, with his capacity for both ferocity and gentleness, had orchestrated this miracle. She couldn’t help but think of Cora and the legacy they would now carry on in her honor, and a lump formed in her throat.
“Your heart . . . it knows no bounds.” She wound a hand into his hair, savoring the feel of him—so strong, so eternal.
“Nor does my desire for you.”
Rowan’s breath caught as his eyes locked onto hers, the unspoken depth of their connection sparking between them, charged with the electricity of impending storms and the promise of shelter within each other’s arms.
“You’ve given me more than I ever dared dream,” she whispered.
“Only what you deserve.” His lips curved into a smile, the dark side of his vampire nature softened by the light of his love for her.
In that moment, surrounded by the echoes of past sorrows and the whispers of future joys, darkness and shadows gave way to light, and the mansion became not just a dwelling, but a true home filled with life, love, and the promise of eternity.