Chapter 39
GAELAN
The book resides in Westery, its chosen place of safety; I learned yesterday that all I need to do is close my eyes and think of my book, and I will see it in my mind’s eye. Though I can summon the book to me at any time. It’s attached to me as I am to it.
We also discovered that Gaelan can’t see the book as I can, and we assume that means no one else can see it either.
To me, it’s stunning, a solid gold piece with intricate patterns that swirl into one, like vines.
Some symbols resemble ancient relics, something I’ve seen on the walls of old buildings.
Still, to Gaelan, they look like a tattered notebook.
He said he feels power emanate from it, alluring him to take it and run.
I play around with a few spells. Each time I used a new one, the spell lifts off the pages. The words appear in the air before me shortly before imprinting on my skin, leaving me covered in more gold markings.
The burning on my skin lessens with each spell. In fact, I almost enjoy the painful pleasure of it. Each mark is not only tattooed on my skin, but they are also branded into my memory, which means I don’t need the book for that spell after I’ve learned it.
I still have some learning to do—the water and fire powers are easy to control, but earth and air are a little harder.
Gaelan picked my gown for the dance. Gold, white, and backless, the gown hugs all my curves and dips low at the front.
I’m also wearing a traditional sash that represents the dream realm; it’s blue and silver with the same dragon that’s on the carvings of Gaelan’s bed frame.
My hair is up on my head with a few loose curls around my face.
I’ve never in my life been to a ball, so this is going to be new, and I’m excited to see what it’s like.
“You look stunning.”
My eyes flick up, and I smile, seeing Gaelan in the mirror's reflection, standing by the door.
He is dressed in black pants and a dark blue tunic with silver trim.
His sash is in place; it matches mine. He also wears a small silver crown, solid with blue gems on each of the six points that circle it.
His family crest on the front of it, again the dragon, wrapped in vines.
He looks like a prince from a twisted fairytale.
Turning, I can’t help the need that curls in my stomach. Gaelan's blue eyes are glowing so intensely that he looks so handsome.
“Thank you,” I whisper. I’ve not told him yet that I love him; I’ve been waiting for the right time. I see the love he has for me reflected in his eyes every day, burning brightly. When I tell him, I want it to be perfect.
He comes over to me, places a soft kiss on my lips, and I lean up on my tiptoes, deepening it, molding my lips to his.
Gaelan still hasn’t touched me since the daemon attack.
My body is ready to remove those memories from my mind.
The want I have for this man takes my breath away.
Every look he gives me, every little touch he offers during our days, drives me crazy with my need.
I know Gaelan knows how he makes me feel, the little smirk he gives me every time my breath catches, or a whispered moan leaves my mouth, tells me he is enjoying the teasing.
My desire for him is so fucking strong
Our lips part breathlessly; he leans his forehead on mine and smacks my ass. “Later, my Rose, first we dance.”
Gaelan spins me around, making me giggle. He then leads me out of the bedroom, down the hallway, toward the ballroom, which is in the basement of the castle.
The staff and villagers have been preparing for the ball since it was announced.
The food, music, and decorations were all provided by them.
Gaelan gave everyone the night off so they could all attend.
He told me that his parties work much better as a self-serve kind of event; he hates the thought of anyone missing out, so do I.
When the double dark blue doors open, my breath is taken away at the beauty of the room.
The walls are the same dark blue as the castle, and the ceiling is covered in tiny fairy lights, making it look like the sky topside at night, just like my bedroom.
In the center is a large crystal chandelier adorned with diamonds and swirls of silver.
The walls have torches on them to bath the tables under each one in some light, to the left is a large long table set up with so much food that no one is going to be hungry tonight, along the right side of the wall is a band playing rock music, I recognize one of the songs being Give from Sleep Token, they play it so beautifully that I start to wonder if it’s actually the band, but I’m pretty sure Gaelan has no idea who they are.
There is also a DJ booth that appears to be ready to take over once the band stops playing.
The dance floor is dark with smoke rolling over it. I can’t believe they did all of this in just a few days.
“Gaelan, it’s so beautiful,” my voice full of wonder.
He grins at me, then takes my hand and leads me over to the dance floor. “They always do such an amazing job, plus we have not had a ball here in a very long time, they were excited.”
He bows, then tugs me softly to his body.
I place one hand on his shoulder, the other in his hand.
He leads me around the dance floor effortlessly; it is only us dancing, and everyone else seems to have stopped what they are doing to watch us both.
I gaze into Gaelan’s eyes, hypnotized by his intense stare, unable to look away.
So much has happened over the last couple of weeks that I feel like this place is home. Everyone here has been incredibly welcoming, and I'm thrilled for us both; it warms my heart.
“What are you thinking, Arianna?” Gaelan inquires, and he crushes me tighter to his body.
“How happy I am, how I don’t want to leave here,” I reply
Something crosses his face. “You don’t have to leave my Rose; this is your home as much as it is mine.”
Smiling softly, I look around as we dance. I really don’t want to go. I know that, being away for the last couple of weeks, Mekhi is going to kill me, and Lucy will be so worried. My phone doesn’t work down here, so I’ve not been able to message them.
“Are you asking me to move in?” I say cheekily.
“Yes, I am,” he voices so seriously, leaving no room for questioning. “I’ve spent far too long without Arianna; I don’t want to live another day without you in them.”
“Yes,” I blurt out,
“What?” He says, shocked at how fast I answered.
I laugh, move to hug him. “Yes, Gaelan, I will move in with you,” excitement thick in my voice.
He picks me up, swings me around, and kisses my lips. Clapping erupts around us, followed by cheers. Gaelan lowers me to the ground, his eyes filled with joy. “You have just made me one of the happiest men in all the universes.” Contentment in his voice.
“Excuse me, my lady,” a shy voice interrupts us.
I turn and see a young man holding a blue flower out to me. He bows, “May I have this dance?” His hands shake with nerves, making me smile brightly at him to try to ease his fear.
I take the flower, bring it to my nose to smell, and it smells like lavender but a little sweeter.
Gaelan pats the young man on the back. “Keep your hands above the waist, no kissing,” Gaelan jokes. The young man’s cheeks turn pink, and he nods his head. “Of course, my lord,” he says in a low voice.
Gaelan kisses the back of my hand, then passes it to the young man. “My Rose, this is Dixon, he is the chef's oldest son.”
I bow and incline my head with a smile. “Nice to meet you, Dixon.”
He takes my hand as the music changes to a faster song; we start to dance. “My lady, did you enjoy the bread last night? I made it for you. I remember you used to love it so much,” he beams at me.
“It was perfect, thank you. Tell me what you remember of me from before?” I question.
He looks a little taken aback but smiles.
“Kindness and beauty, the dream realm was so alive with you here, his lordship smiled all the time.” He gets a faraway look in his eyes, as if he is remembering something awful.
“When you were gone. We all felt it. The darkness kept creeping in with no one to fight it away,” his eyes downcast with his sorrow.
Knowing what I know now about my past, seeing what the evil in the underworld can do, I hate that I wasn’t able to survive before. That I couldn’t have been the light they needed. This time is different.
The marking on my left hip tingles with an untamed need to protect these people and the realm at all costs.
All of Gaelan’s people are so happy living here, I can see why. Not only does Gaelan run his realm with a level of fierce care, but he also loves his people so much, something I have a feeling he gets from his father.
Everyone here loves to do whatever they can to help. The gifts Gaelan and I have received from everybody show how much they love him and us.
This is a daemon realm, meant to be full of people so evil, but all I see here is love and family. They are nothing like the daemon I’ve witnessed topside; maybe the ones up there don’t have a leader to look after them.
As the night goes on, I dance with what feels like everyone.
The band stopped playing a little while ago; now the DJ is in full swing, the music is pumping, and the amount of black I have consumed means I should be a wobbly mess, but I feel just a little tipsy.
Gaelan comes over and joins me on the dance floor, our bodies grinding together, hands everywhere, holding and touching every place we can.