Chapter 18
Chapter Eighteen
When we get out of the boat, I’m still grinning like a loon. I secure the boat before Owen can and laugh at his growl.
“You need to eat a proper lunch,” Owen insists. “Let’s have a picnic.” As soon as the words leave his mouth, a picnic blanket appears on the grass and then one by one, plates, glasses, a basket of food, and a bottle of what appears to be freshly squeezed lemonade appear.
You can say a lot about the host magic, but it’s incredibly handy. I have a feeling it’s going to make me lazy.
I secretly smile and we settle on the grass. I’ve never had a picnic before. Owen loads up a plate for me. I blush and mumble my thanks.
As I nibble at the beetroot and feta cheese salad, the sun filters through the trees.
It’s warm on my skin but not burning. I guess if I can control the weather and the sun isn’t real, I can probably also sit outside all day and never burn.
I tilt my head up and smile as a welcome breeze flutters across my face.
“Back home, I bet it’s freezing,” Owen rumbles. I nod and stab at the salad to get another forkful. “I like that your favourite season is spring. The weather here is lovely.”
“Huh. I didn’t even realise I loved spring so much.
Everything I do seems instinctive. I guess I need to think about the weather more if people are going to stay.
Maybe it needs to mirror the outside world.
Perhaps something I can try later? When I’ve got more of a grip on the magic.
Not that I’m going to go crazy with the rain or anything.
” I do a full-body shiver and stuff the salad in my mouth.
“You don’t have to do that. Like the fae lands, the different courts have the same weather all year round.”
“That’s a good point.”
“I think what you are doing so far is impressive. I’ve never seen anything like it before.” I drop my eyes and poke at the salad. He thinks my magic is impressive. My heart sings.
Owen’s mobile rings and I wave away his look of worry with a smile and a nod. “It’s fine,” I mouth. “Answer the phone.” Smoothly he gets to his feet and prowls away.
I turn away to give him some privacy.
After a few minutes, he returns but doesn’t sit down. A sad yet determined look takes over his handsome face. “That was Forrest. She needs my help.”
Oh.
He looks worried, torn between helping me and his duty. I can’t have that. Lives are probably at stake. So, like I did when I drove off in the hire car, I again decide to convince him I’m happy to be alone. This isn’t his fight, and it’s unfair of me to manipulate his time.
“Look at where we are; nothing is going to happen. I will be perfectly fine. Do you need to go now? Where would you like me to send you?” I don’t want to do the entire Exorcist opening the portal malarkey that I did to get him here.
But I somehow think if it’s my idea, using my magic without being forced by the realm, it should be easier…
I should be able to do it, easy-peasy. It will be a piece of cake.
I hope I will be able to send him to where he needs to go. Gosh, I instantly feel sick.
“Yes, please, if you don’t mind. Back to where I originally came through will be fine. Flash, I’m sorry I have to leave you. I know you’re dealing with a load of—”
“It’s fine,” I interrupt as I snap open a portal behind him.
Wow, I did it. “I understand. I didn’t expect you to be here long anyway.
You have a very important job to do. Thank you so much for helping me.
I appreciate it.” I drop my eyes from him as my stupid heart hurts.
I’m being ridiculous. I fix my gaze on the picnic blanket and thread a tassel between my fingers. “Please be careful.”
“I’ll be back. I shouldn’t be long,” he says gruffly.
My magic pings with his lie.
“Sure.” My lips pull up to show the fakest smile he’s probably ever seen. I don’t need magic to tell me I’m also lying out of my ass.
Everything inside me screams, “Don’t go!
Please don’t leave me!” But I have my pride, and those words would never leave my lips.
I cannot be that selfish. My problems are minuscule compared to others.
Creatures need him, and Owen does not owe me anything.
He has already done so much. He doesn’t need to do anything more or be involved with any more of my shit.
“Make sure you eat. You’ve got to aim to eat at least double what you normally do.”
I roll my eyes. “Yes, Dad.” I wave my hand towards the portal. “Go. Be careful and I’ll see you soon.” Owen nods and steps into the portal, then with a final look back at me, he is gone.
Everybody leaves. I am, after all, a throwaway person.
A sad sounding whine comes from my throat and I slam my hand across my mouth to absorb the sound.
It’s okay. I’m okay. I am just being a bit daft.
I force a forkful of salad into my mouth.
It tastes like ash on my tongue, but I finish every bite.
Once I finish the desert, I roll my shoulders, and with a wave of my hand, everything is gone.
As I crawl up from the ground, I look at my hands.
I don’t think I need the hand gestures. The entire waving my hands about is kind of weird.
If I’m ever in a situation where I do not want to show my intent, I need to stop doing the weird wave.
Otherwise, I might as well get a fake wand and glitter.
I turn to walk back to the hotel, and cold encompasses my limbs. The sensation is eerily odd. The magic tingles a warning and then my entire existence folds around me. Sunlight, starlight, the magic explodes, and everything that I am is violently ripped away.
Oh no!