Chapter Nine #4
“She told them why she was there. They let her in. They let her in again during Mell’s attack. She saved me then, too.”
“She’s a good friend.”
Rowan pulled in a deep breath. “Pain calls her. The greater the pain, the faster she turns up. She can’t sense the disaster until it happens, but she tried to make sure I would survive it.
She got me medical attention, helped me find a therapy group.
She showed me how to protect the property with a basic ward.
I looked through Grandpa’s books and found one that would work on intent, but I never had a chance to use it until they came the second time.
Then, I got it down. They have come back twice, but I have not let them through the gate. ”
She sighed. “So that’s pretty much been it since you two left.”
“I died, Rowan. My body stopped. I am over two hundred right now.”
“I know. I also just learned Grandpa Vas is a necromancer. He stayed with you, and he brought you back. I had the property help with live energy. You are as alive as I am now.”
Her grandmother smiled. “What do we do now?”
“Well, you two still have accounts in trust. It’s quite a bit of money. Mom and Dad would love to have you visit the islands. You could meet Laurel’s little family. There are a few elves like Dad who are living there now, and some elite omegas, like Regis.”
They walked past Renyet’s door, and Eleanor smiled. “So he’s close.”
“Be quiet, Grandma. I don’t have one active hormone in my body. I gave it all to the garden. The cinnamon tree specifically.”
“What?” The horror was apparent in her tone.
“Yeah. Renyet knows. Being a shaman, he would have to be blind not to notice. He’s attuned to nature, and my nature is missing.”
“You think it can be corrected?”
“Gran, I just got my skin back yesterday. I had to be painted with my own blood. The shell cracked. This is the first moment I have been able to feel sheets in years.”
Eleanor blinked. “Even the cuddly ones?”
“Even those. This is my room.”
“May I see?”
“Sure.”
She opened the room, and the enormous princess bed with swags and panels made Eleanor smile until she looked over to the window seat.
“You sleep in the window.”
“I watch the main gate until I can’t watch, and I sleep.”
“Oh, honey.” She walked over to the desk. “What’s this?”
“The original blueprints are on the wall, and all the changes I have made are on the desk.”
Her grandmother opened the roll and gasped. “You did all this?”
“Um, yes. Part of my natural lust might have reshaped the house as well. Oh, we are going to have a daycare centre between the house and the gate, with an afterschool program for older children who need somewhere to hang out.”
Eleanor grinned. “Little ones? Here?”
“Yes. All over the building. If you are planning on hanging around, you can get a certification to work with children and take on one of the rooms yourself. You just have to adhere to the safety regulations of the certification.”
“Where can I get some books to get started?”
Rowan smiled, held out her hands, and a stack of books appeared. “These are the course materials. Ask Grandpa to help you study. He can take over working with the older kids if you guys want to stick around. I know he has a clean legal history, and he was a doctor, so first aid is there as well.”
Eleanor grinned. “Okay. Now show me my room so I can start a study. Tomorrow we need to take a run to a bookstore so I can get more books on early child development.”
Rowan smiled. Her grandmother had always had a serious lock on life with babies as her special subject. “Do you want me to tell Mell you are willing to babysit if she and Norecayet want a date night?”
Eleanor smiled. “I will tell her myself.”
They walked down two doors, and Eleanor and Vasoric’s names glowed against the glossy black. “Here you are.”
Eleanor made happy sounds and opened the door, a happy shriek spilling out.
Rowan watched her grandmother move from item to item.
Vasoric’s library, her little ladylike desk, the huge bed that was probably going to get a workout when her grandfather got up there.
Her family affection wasn’t something that she ever doubted.
Her parents cuddled constantly, and Eleanor and Vasoric laughed and giggled and danced constantly.
She knew what affection looked like; she just couldn’t picture herself with someone. Not yet.
She said, “I am heading back to the kitchen and getting to work on a timeline for the big thing on Friday. There are going to be a lot of dark elves here. I need to get the gear arranged. Friday will be a long day.”
Eleanor smiled. “May I help?”
“Yes, you may. Two hundred pounds of meat arrives tonight, and I have to make some rubs.”
“I can definitely help. I will just tuck these books away, and we can head downstairs.”
“There are clothes in your wardrobe that you weren’t buried in.”
Her grandmother grinned and went to the wardrobe, pulling out an outfit shockingly similar to hers. They linked arms and headed downstairs. Time to do the pre-prep prep.