Chapter Eight
“What the hell?” This wasn’t the treehouse.
It was a simple stone cottage. There was a huge picture window in the front that showed a sun-drenched meadow covered with wild flowers and surrounded by forest. The wall to the left of the window had built in bookcases, made from honey-colored wood, surrounding a nice sized fireplace.
There was a comfy looking denim blue sectional and an overstuffed chair next to it that faced the fireplace.
There was a coffee table stained with the same honey as the bookcases that held an ornate vase full of fresh flowers.
Beside the open living space was a simple kitchen with stove, fridge, a butcherblock island, and a farmhouse sink with another large window above it, looking into a backyard and the forest beyond.
Right in front of the front door was a set of stairs leading up to the second floor.
The walls were painted a lovely warm beige color that allowed the beauty of the landscape outside to take center stage.
“This is your new cottage. The treehouse is just for temporary guests,” Roz answered Bréagha.
She came to stand next to her new friend, as she looked at her new home.
“If there’s something you want changed just let me know and I can fix it for you.
Your bedroom is up the stairs and to the right.
I already put your stuff in there and put your quilt on your bed. ”
Bréagha walked up the stairs and turned left first. There was a bathroom on one side of the corridor with a clawfoot tub, sink, and toilet.
On the other side was a small bedroom painted lilac purple with a window seat under a large picture window and a daybed with a nightstand against the wall.
She turned around, went to the other end of the house and walked right into a larger room.
This room was painted deep blue. It also had a large picture window with a built-in window seat and surrounded by built-in bookcases.
To the left of the door was the entrance to an ensuite bathroom with a garden tub.
A four-poster bed sat against the far wall that looked like it was carved from a tree.
Each of the posts was intricately carved with vines, flowers, and small animals.
The posts ended with tree branches that arched over the bed to form the canopy.
There were black and white pictures on the walls of faraway places on Earth; Paris’ Eiffel Tower, Stonehenge, Venice’s canals, Cliffs of Moher, all the pictures she had on her walls on Earth.
Next to each side of her bed were the doors from Phoenix Rising, the bar her and Aiden had worked so hard for, and which Aiden had spent months hand carving.
“I asked Roz to take me back to get them once we knew you were going to make it this morning. I thought you would like a little piece of home.” Aiden had come up behind Bréagha and watched as she walked into her new room, trying to gauge her mood.
“That other room isn’t big enough for you,” Bréagha noted as if absentmindedly, the first words she had said since Rozengwyn told her this was her new home, but Aiden knew what she was thinking.
“I have a room with Killian and the rest of the team since I’m going to be a part of it now,” explained Aiden.
He watched her walk over to the bed which was covered with her old quilt.
Roz had placed her small trunk on top of the quilt to let Bréagha decide what to do with it.
He watched her open the lid and pull out the picture of a woman holding a baby.
She walked over to the bedside table and placed the picture next to the vase of fresh flowers that Roz had put there.
Bréagha sat on the edge of the bed and looked over at the one person who had been there as long as she could remember.
There wasn’t a day they hadn’t spent together, not a moment she couldn’t yell his name and have him hear her.
Everything that had happened the past two days finally hit her, and tears threatened to fall.
“I guess I should’ve known this would change as well.
No more late-night zombie or Dr. Who marathons.
No more impromptu ice cream sundae feasts or karaoke nights.
No more Phoenix Rising or Sundays volunteering at the animal shelter.
” Aiden walked over and sat next to Bréagha, placing an arm around her shoulders and pulling her against him.
“We can still do those things. Maybe? I haven’t seen a single TV since we stepped foot into this place, but I did hear that Colin does a movie night with the Sentinels once a week, so they must have something.
Who knows if they even know what karaoke is.
But I’m sure there’s ice cream and if not, Rozengwyn or Stephen can go get some.
She could also probably snag a puppy or two for you to cuddle if needed.
” He kissed the top of her head. “Killian’s house is literally on the other side of the forest back there.
You can probably go out on that balcony, yell for me, and I can hear you.
” Bréagha perked up at that, jumping off the bed and walking to the door she just noticed on the back wall.
She looked out the window and saw the balcony that stretched the entire length of the house.
There was a table and chairs out there, as well as several planters of flowers.
She walked out and stood looking at the forest.
“It’s too dark now but I think you can even see the house from here during the day.” As they stood watching, a flicker of light shone through the trees. “See? That’s probably one of the guys’ bedrooms or something,” assured Aiden as he wrapped his arm around her shoulder again.
“Guys? Can one of you holler out the window so Bréagha knows we’re within shouting distance?” Aiden called out through his Sentinel team bond. Seconds later they saw a shadow move against the window and then Cathal yelled.
“Bréagha!! Can you hear me?” She grinned, eyes tearing up again.
“Yes!” She turned to Aiden and wrapped her arms around his waist. “Just keep your window open!” He grinned and nodded.
The two friends stood silently together listening to the sounds of the night around them.
It wasn’t much different than Earth, there were crickets and frogs off in the distance.
The only difference was the lack of traffic noise, no sirens or car horns.
Just the sounds of nature. They watched the Lumenfae light up the world around them in a dazzling swirl of colors as they moved silently through the Garden.
When Bréagha yawned, Aiden stepped back.
“I better let you rest. I’m sure they’ll be testing you tomorrow to see about this phoenix thing.”
“Can I see your tiger again?” Bréagha asked, and Aiden couldn’t deny his friend this simple request, especially since he too would like to see him again.
“Makani be seen,” whispered Aiden. They both turned when they heard something on the roof behind them.
There, crouched at the edge was the transparent form of Aiden’s tiger, Makani.
He jumped down and padded over to Bréagha.
She lifted her hand, and he pushed his head against it, purring deep in his throat.
As soon as she touched him, he turned fully corporeal.
He chuffed at her then pushed his head into her stomach.
She laughed and wrapped her arms around his neck.
“Should’ve known it would be a tiger. You’ve always been obsessed with them,” said Bréagha, and Aiden’s head shot up. He walked back into her room and stood looking at her trunk, as well as the doors he had spent so much time carving for them. He looked closer and started laughing.
Makani and Bréagha had followed Aiden into the bedroom. They stood watching him as he walked over to the doors and ran his fingers across the carvings, like they’d done every night when they closed the bar.
“I don’t think my animal is the only one that shouldn’t be a surprise.
Your phoenix has always been with us as was Makani.
” Bréagha and the tiger came to stand beside Aiden and stood looking at the doors.
There, right in the front on one panel was a phoenix, not just any phoenix either, the exact one on her back.
In the background amongst the flowers and trees was a small waterfall and pond.
Next to that, laying on a low branch from a tree, sat Makani.
As she looked closer, Bréagha also picked out a leopard and a lion sunning themselves amongst the flowers.
She also spotted a few bears, a couple wolves, and flying in the sky above it all, were two dragons.
She turned and looked at Aiden, wide-eyed. “What does this mean?”
He put his arm across her shoulders. “I think it means we’ve found where we’re meant to be.” The sense of home settled around them both as they stood looking at what should be impossible but explained so much.
“Anyone want some ice cream? I thought it might feel good on your throat,” Roz stated as she flew up next to the friends.
“What are we looking at? Hey, is that Bréagha’s phoenix?
” She flew up closer and gasped. “And Makani? Killian!!!” They all heard a crash and then pounding feet as the Sentinel responded to the note of urgency in the Magic Keeper’s voice.
Instead of just Killian bursting into the room, like the shadows had found them, was also Liam and Cathal.
They all tried to come into the room at the same time, and all ended up stumbling before falling through.
Bréagha covered her mouth and giggled while Aiden watched amused, and Roz put a hand to her forehead and shook her head.
“Oh, mighty warriors, how far you’ve fallen,” sighed Roz as the three Sentinels worked to untangle their limbs and climb back to their feet. They all then stood, feet shoulder-width apart with their arms crossed, scowling at the three in front of them like the last couple minutes hadn’t happened.