Chapter 38
ARIANNA
Slowly, my eyes flutter open. I suck in a breath and sit up quickly before looking around the room. I don’t know how I got back here, and the last thing I remember is touching my spell book because it was going to bring me home.
I can’t help the smile that crosses my lips at the thought.
This is my home. And I found the book.
I’m in Gaelan’s bed, my mind now knowing just how much love we both have for each other.
I wouldn’t pick anywhere else but here as home.
Rex is lying next to me on the bed. He looks up before pouncing on me, licking my face, and covering me in his wet slobber.
He growls playfully as I tickle him. I burst out laughing when his excitement makes his whole body shake.
I climb off the bed, and my reflection in the mirror above the fireplace catches my eye; I’m dressed only in my underwear.
My whole body is now covered in scroll markings like the ones in my dream.
I run my fingers over a few of them; they are smooth, as if they were part of my skin.
Different from my dream, these ones feel more a part of me, like they have always been on my skin and I’ve just not been able to see them until now.
There is only one small patch that is clear of any spells—a space over my heart.
I lift my hand and place it there. Feeling like whatever is missing is the most important.
Gaelan left his shirt and sweatpants on the sofa; I reach for them and get dressed quickly.
I need to find him—to see if he is okay and to see if he knows what happened to me.
I know Gaelan is going to be worried about me, and I’m surprised that he wasn’t in the bed next to me. Once I’m dressed, I practically sprint down the hall looking for him.
I arrive at the main entrance to find the door wide open, bathing the entryway in brilliant sunlight. There is nobody to be seen. Odd.
I make my way out into the front courtyard, noticing there is a group of people talking in low, hushed tones.
Clearly, they’re worried about something.
A young man with bright green hair seems to be leading the conversation.
Tod, I recall him being one of the stable boys. He pales when he sees my approach.
“Is everything okay?” I question.
“My lady. There was an attack in town, his lord has gone to defend it.”
Worry takes off in my stomach, filling it with butterflies that have razor-sharp wings. My hands fist with determination, this fighting ends now.
“Thank you,” I call out as I push past the other daemons surrounding Tod. Gurt is nowhere to be seen as I grow closer to the lake’s edge.
“Walk over it.” A voice in my head whispers, making me smile. The singular voice brings peace; it’s no longer the overwhelming group voices.
The magic of the book rises, making my skin heat up as prickles run over my body.
Walk on water?
Looking down into the stream, I laugh a little in disbelief. If I fall in, I’m going to die.
“Trust.” The voice calls again.
Sucking in a shaky breath, I reluctantly step onto the surface of the lake.
My feet sink in just a little as the water pools around my toes.
I pause, waiting to see if anything happens, but nothing does.
This isn’t any deadly water, waiting to take me to the afterlife.
Feeling a surge of bravery, I run fast over the water, hearing it splashing under my feet with each step I take.
When my feet touch the shore on the other side, I want to fist pump the air, but I don’t have time for that.
Seeing people gathered, I can hear swords clashing together, and from what I can see.
Daemons are fighting all over the village.
My eyes scan the fighters, looking for Gaelan; I see him up ahead, fighting three daemons.
All with different colored eyes, all look like they want to kill him and everyone in the village.
I watch as a dagger comes flying through the air, aiming for Gaelan’s head. I scream.
“No!” My hands flies out, a flash of gold follows, freezing the dagger and every single weapon being held by the attackers.
Gaelan’s dagger slices into one of the daemons’ necks. The man drops to the floor with a thud and bursts into dust. Gaelan turns to look at me. Relief of me being awake washes over his face before he rushes to my side, and curiosity laces his voice. “ What are you doing here?”
“Someone said there was fighting. What is going on?” Concerned, I cast my eyes over the daemons who have all turned to me with power-hungry eyes.
I worry about what these daemons seem to be doing and why they are here in the first place.
One of them sniffs the air and then locks eyes with me.
“Mmmm, there she be, the sweetest smell,” he glowers.
He steps closer as he pulls another weapon from his pants.
The voice in my head whispers, “He dies.”
Stepping around Gaelan, I tilt my head to the side. “You need to leave.”
He laughs and makes a run for me.
I only let him take a step before I lift my hand. A symbol on my left rib tingles, and then I feel the power inside me growing. The heat lights my veins like before. I fist my hand, making the daemon freeze in place.
I then turn to the others who look like they want to take me next, I’m ready to take on any one of them if it means that this place will remain safe.
Gaelan moves to stand next to me, followed by Leah and some of the other guards.
I can feel power building in my body. My other hand forms a fist. I look up at the daemons gathered, and their eyes fill with horror before they start to back up slowly.
“Tell whoever sent you, and anyone who thinks to come to this place: the Book Reader is alive. This land is under my protection now.” I shout, making sure they hear me clearly. I wave my hand fast in the air, and a wave of gold light shoots toward them. They shriek and scatter, running off.
These powers are so new to me that part of me worries I was braver than I should have been. If anyone does come back, I hope my threat holds true.
Thunderous applause breaks out around me, pulling me out of my thoughts. People rush over, thanking me. I smile and make small talk with them, all the while my eyes are locked with Gaelan’s. But he’s doing the same, speaking to others, but unable to look away.
He grins, making me smile, and one of the villagers claps her hands with a cry.
“A Dance! In the name of our lord and lady—in the name of the Book Reader! She has returned!” Everyone cheers.
I can’t help but laugh at how happy they seem to be.
When the crowd moves away, I am finally able to walk over to Gaelan.
I look up into his eyes as he lifts his hand to run his fingers over the markings on my face and neck.
“These are new,” he says, making me a little self-conscious about them.
“Do you like them?” I whisper, ducking my head slightly.
He places his finger under my chin to lift my head, so I am looking him in the eyes again. “No”, he grips my face in his hands, leans in close. “I love them, I’ve never seen you covered with markings before.” He kisses my lips softly.
I frown. “Never?”
“No, the amber glowing eyes—they remain the same in all of your lifetimes, but never the markings.” He speaks.
“Can you read what they say?”
He shakes his head, lifting my arm. “It looks like symbols of some kind and terrible handwriting.”
“It’s spells, Gaelan. I’ve not had a chance to look at them fully, but they cover my whole body.”
He takes my hands and leads me over to the lake port. The feel of his skin against mine makes my heart explode with the feeling of home—of safety, and so much love, I wonder what I ever did without him.
Gurt waits by the boat, looking angry as we get closer. He stands up and points to me with a hiss. “What did you do to my lake?”
“I didn’t do anything,” I defend myself, shocked at how angry he is. Gurt glares at me like he wants to fight me. Gaelan lets go of my hand and steps a little in front of me.
“Gurt, calm the fuck down. I don’t want to fire you for talking to Ari like this, but I will.” He commands.
Gurt scoffs. “She walked over the lake, like some kind of god. It didn’t even hurt her. I was suppressed. My powers drained, and I couldn’t fucking move until now,” Gaelan tenses, his eyes flicker to Gurt’s still outstretched finger, his eyes hard with anger.
Gurt backs down a little, lowering his finger. He still looks like he wants to hurt me.
Gaelan glances down at me, “Rose?”
I bite my lower lip. “One of the stable boys told me there was fighting. I couldn’t get across cause the boat was gone, so I walked across the lake.”
“And it didn’t hurt you?”
“No, I actually felt really safe.” I laugh lightly, but my reaction causes Gurt to growl. I sheepishly clamp my mouth shut.
Gaelan raises an eyebrow at Gurt, daring him to threaten me again, but he shrinks back, mumbling something under his breath as he turns and climbs into the boat.
Gaelan runs his fingers through his hair. “Rose, that is some powerful magic. How are you doing this?”
“I don’t know, it just… happened. Like freezing those weapons—I was scared and didn’t know what to do—” I pace away from him and look over the calm water of the lake, the way the ripples skate across the surface is almost soothing.
“—I felt this heat, like my body was on fire, but in a good way. Then his burst of power.” Gaelan watches me intently.
“At the lake, the voice. Told me to walk over it—my guide.”
Gaelan pulls me close and kisses the top of my head. “Let’s go home, we have a lot to talk about.”
Gaelan closes the door softly behind him. He turns, grips my face, and kisses my lips so tenderly it takes my breath away. I can feel how scared he is with each sweep of his lips over mine, the way his tongue dips into my mouth, tasting me, loving me.