Epilogue
One Month Later
“ W hy are you waking me up?” Lucy groaned, stretching her arms above her head. “And you have to start using the front door!”
“Using the front door means running into Grams, and we don’t have a moment to spare, since we’re going on a little adventure.” Benedict sat on the edge of her bed; Chaos was hissing at him for daring to wake them. “I kept it hot for you.” He handed her a warm cup, ignoring the cat, who tried to nudge him off the bed.
“Coffee?” Lucy asked, sitting up on her pillows. She tried to hide her amusement as Chaos covered him in cat hair before hopping off the bed.
He winked. “Tea, of course!”
She smiled as she tasted the sweetness. “You remembered honey!”
“I’m not sure if honey suits me as a nickname,” he said, kissing her hair.
She wanted to wake up every morning like this; she was impatient for them to move in together. They had been going back and forth between her house and the Manor, but with their schedules, sometimes they didn’t see each other for days. Her family wanted them to move into Hawthorne house, and Gwendoline argued they had all the room in the world – their own floor – in the Manor. Neither wanted to upset the other set of in-laws, and there were no houses for sale in town with the library Lucy wanted or the office space and grounds for archery that Benedict desired, so they had reached a standstill.
“Very funny. I don’t think pumpkin suits me, but we’ll both have to deal with it.”
“Fair enough, but you need to get dressed.” He eyed her cupcake-covered crop top and matching shorts as he pulled back the covers. “As delicious as you look, bed will have to wait. You can bring the tea with you.”
“I’ve got to go to work.”
“No, you don’t. I cleared today with Rosie. It’s payment for you covering for her date with Emerson. Don’t worry we aren’t going far.”
“Let’s stay in bed.” She snuggled a pillow to her chest.
“As much as I love to hear you inviting me into your bed, I want to make use of the good weather today,” Benedict pressed, and Lucy glanced at the sunlight coming in through the balcony. It would be nice to see the sun after so many grey days.
“Can’t you tell me where we’re going?” she asked, slowly easing off the bed. She tried to conceal a small smile as his eyes lingered on her bare legs. She slept in tiny shorts, something she’d got used to with his element keeping her warm the past few weeks. This morning, with only her cool water, goosebumps rose on her skin.
“It’s a surprise.”
“Don’t you think we’ve had enough surprises for one year?” Lucy asked, trying to tempt him as she stripped off her clothes.
He shook his head and averted his gaze. “This is one you’ll enjoy.” Whatever they were doing had to be important.
“That’s all I’m getting?” She tied her robe shut, giving up on her half-hearted seduction.
He zipped his lips, and she hurried off to the bathroom, wondering what it could be. A bookstore? A museum? Some artifacts? The Matherson vault – she had always wanted to see what dark secrets lay within it, what they had kept hidden from the Order. Full of excitement at the possibilities, she showered and tossed her hair up in an ornate butterfly claw clip, settling for some mascara and lip gloss. She didn’t want to leave him alone in her room for too long, as he had a habit of rooting through her things.
When she returned, she found Benedict lying on her bed with his arm tucked behind his head, eyes closed. His long black coat was tossed over the end of her bed, leaving him in a grey jumper that had risen just high enough over his belt to expose the pale skin above it. She didn’t know how seeing such a small fraction of skin could make her flush.
It was exhilarating to know that she felt this way even without the potion. The thought of going back to the old days made her chest tight, but they still bickered now and then. She tiptoed over, wanting to surprise him, but he looked so peaceful that she leaned over him, bringing her lips to his gently.
“What was that for?” Benedict asked, opening his eyes and smiling at her.
“For wanting to surprise me.”
“You don’t know what it is yet.”
“I know, but it’s the thought that counts.” Lucy slipped a pair of straight-leg jeans over her hips. It wasn’t often that she wore them, as she didn’t like feeling constricted, but she wanted to be prepared for anything. “Are jeans okay?”
“Perfect,” he said, patting her butt while she put on a chunky pastel pink cardigan. “You should wear these more often.”
“Okay – if you start wearing colours,” Lucy challenged, sitting on the edge of the bed while she pulled on her boots.
He laughed as he pulled on his black jacket. “Nice try.”
“I think you’d look great in blue –really bring out those eyes,” she teased, leading him by the hand out of her room. She didn’t care if he was seen by her family. There was nothing to hide anymore, and it was so early they probably weren’t awake yet.
“Maybe one day,” he conceded, closing the front door behind them. Lucy had a feeling he meant ‘never’. Then again, here they were, walking hand in hand to his car– something that had once been impossible. Just as he opened the door for her, Chaos hopped into the passenger seat before settling in the back.
“Out,” Benedict ordered, but the two only proceeded to have a staring match that Lucy figured would go on until the sun set.
“Just let her come with us.” Lucy slid into the seat. Benedict rolled his eyes. She figured he was still upset by Chaos’s rejection after their elements had returned to their rightful places. She hoped in time they’d learn to get along.
Rolling down the car window, Lucy snuggled her scarf up under her chin as they drove. The smell of the damp woods and the crisp morning air was worth the chill.
“You’re going to catch a cold.”
“I missed the cold. You burn way too hot,” she said.
“A nickname and a compliment in one morning; you didn’t brew another love potion, did you?” he asked, resting a hand on her thigh as he pulled into a side street that wasn’t far from the temple.
“Is this where you kill me and take my place?” Lucy joked as they walked down a rickety cobbled path covered in overgrown weeds and moss. Hardly anyone lived this far from town or this close to the woods. Those that did lived few and far apart.
“Damn it, you discovered my diabolical plan!” Benedict squeezed her hand. The trees had blocked out any trace of sunlight, so it was rather creepy with only the sound of rustling leaves and waking birds surrounding them.
“I can rule out the wolves, since they live in the opposite direction.”
“You won’t be able to guess, and you don’t need to look so frightened,” he said. “Trust me.”
Lucy glanced around, spotting an old torch on a tree that looked like it had been cleaned up recently. Benedict rested his hand on the bark, and their path was lit by torches attached to more trees, highlighting the way ahead and revealing a house.
Her jaw dropped.
“Welcome to the original Matherson Manor,” he announced, chuckling at her reaction.
“How did I never know this place existed? How long have you been working on this?” It was far smaller than the current Manor, but it had the same Victorian architecture and looked like it needed some repairs. From the scaffolding on the far side of the wraparound porch, such work was already underway.
“I’ve been working on it since it was left to me – a little passion project.” Benedict opened the front door with an old key while she admired the stained-glass window in the door, and they were welcomed by a host of lit candles laid out on the wooden floorboards.
“Come through here,” he said, guiding her past a staircase. Lucy nearly tripped over a piece of uneven floorboard. There was a workstation in the centre of a high-ceilinged room lined with new shelves and a large circular window that looked out to the back of the house. Some shelves lay on the floor by an old fireplace.
“What’s this?” she asked, astonished by the work he’d done. The smell of freshly cut wood and varnish smelled like the library. All it needed was the musty smell of books to complete it.
“I figured you’d want a home library; the books in your room are piled so high on the floor and shelves that I’m surprised you haven’t drowned in them.”
Lucy blushed, feeling her packrat-self exposed. “I could’ve converted one of the rooms at home, but I like my books close. However, this library is so beautiful I could part with them so they can sit on such pretty shelves.” The fact that he had done this for her melted her heart. She had done so much to push him away, but he had never been anything but certain.
“There’s something else I want to show you.” He took her hand and led her through a long hallway to the kitchen.
“I don’t think I could love anything more than a library,” she argued, stopping in the middle of the kitchen by the cobweb-covered sink.
“This didn’t require any effort on my part.” He stood by an old stove and pressed on a daisy-engraved tile beside it. With a puff of dust, the stove retreated into the tiled wall and exposed a stone stairwell beneath.
“I do love a hidden staircase,” she said gleefully. She wondered what other secrets their new home held. “Unless it’s a dungeon.”
“I promise there’s nothing to fear.” Benedict picked up one of the candles and led the way.
“I’m not afraid,” she promised. “I trust you.” She meant it, though if someone had told her just eight weeks ago that she’d not only trust Benedict but enough to let him lead her down a secret staircase in a derelict home, she would’ve questioned her sanity.
At the bottom of the stairs, the silver cobwebs were highlighted by emerging torches, exposing a circular door at the end of a short corridor. An M sat at its centre, and she gripped Benedict’s arm, stopping him in his tracks.
“Is – is that what I think it is?” she stammered.
He smiled, clearly pleased. “I knew you’d like it.”
“Are you sure you want to do this? This is sacred to your family, even if we’re bound!” As much as she wanted to see what the dark steel vault contained, it was as intimate a gesture as seeing one naked, if not more so. He was willing to show her his past, his ancestors’ history.
He kissed the back of her hand. “I trust you.”
He placed his free hand on the M, and the steel vines twisted around the letter started to unravel themselves. With a loud clunk and a cough-inducing scattering of dust, the vault opened.
Lucy hurried inside, a squeal escaping her. She probably should’ve waited for permission in case of traps, but excitement got the better of her. Benedict chuckled as she left him behind, exploring the vast shelves of varying artefacts and leather-bound texts. He said nothing to hurry her, merely answering whatever questions she had without hesitation. From the farthest shelf, she pulled out a book. She could barely read the incantations within; the excitement of learning all the Matherson vault contained nearly caused her to drop the book.
“There’s so much to learn and explore. Have you read all of these? How far do they go back? Does Gwendoline know you’re showing me this? This is as exciting as the library!” Her thoughts came out in a flurry before she turned around and threw herself at him.
“I’m going to need a bigger budget for books if this is the reward every time.” Benedict laughed as she buried her face in his chest, wrapping his arms around her waist. “And yes. Gwendoline knows you’re down here, and she’ll help you if you have any questions. I want you to make yourself at home.”
It was the first time she’d felt at home anywhere other than at Hawthorne House – and it had nothing to do with the house, but the infuriating man in her arms.
“You want me to move in?” She rested her hands on the back of his neck and stared into eyes. She needed to know, to feel this moment was real.
“I want us to move in.” His soft lips brushed hers, silencing her cry of excitement. “Once I fix it up a bit more.”
“I’ve got a few spells that might be able to speed things up.” She beamed, desperate to make the house their home. “Can we get started today?”
“I thought you wanted to spend the day in bed?” he asked slyly, tightening his hold around her. His devilish grin nearly stopped her heart.
“I think you should show me the bedrooms next.” She peppered him with teasing kisses.
A loud clatter as a few dusty relics were knocked off the shelves ruined the moment. Lucy cringed as her grey cat popped her head out from behind an old book.
“How did she even get in here? That cat is going to destroy the place,” Benedict grumbled, shaking his head. Lucy would have sworn Chaos winked at him.
She grinned, picking up her purring pet. “Don’t be such a grouch. What’s life without a little Chaos?”