Chapter Nineteen
She sat up from the bed, pulling on thermals and leggings, then a slouchy sweater. She flashed me a devious smile as I stood up, naked. “Hey, strange request. Can you shapeshift into wearing light gray sweatpants?”
I focused and appeared in the pants. Her eyes locked on my groin. “I could get used to this.” She giggled at her own joke.
“Do you have a request for a shirt you’d like me to wear?”
She tilted her head. “Nope! Shirtless is fine.”
While she ate some soup, I tended to the fire and warmed up some spiced cider for both of us to share. She asked that I sing her more songs, so I did and then I offered to braid her hair again once she finished her meal.
She snatched a leather journal from the counter and sat on the couch as I went to work braiding. “I’d like to share some things with you from my journal,” she said brightly.
“I’d love that.” I peeked over her shoulder as she unraveled the leather strap that kept it closed.
She mumbled to herself before flipping to a gorgeous buck sketched out across an entire page. She looked over her shoulder at me with kind eyes. “It’s you!”
“You drew that?”
“Yes. I don’t think you’re a monster. I’ve always been enthralled by you.”
I examined the drawing. She was talented. Not only that, but I was flattered she saw me as a majestic buck, not some beast. I leaned in for a kiss before she continued on.
“Ah, here, this!” She smacked a page and took a sip of her cider. “This was a couple nights before I came here. I performed a spell for love to be sent to me after everything that happened with Lance and Jared. It was more of a self-love spell, you know, like being open to better possibilities and raising my standards. Here it all is, detailed out. I can’t help but find it a coincidence that three days later, I stumbled across an ancient deity who showed me better than any man could. You reminded me what kind of woman I am. I knew I was worthy of love and respect, but you really helped it sink in.”
“Does this mean . . . you summoned me?”
She let out an airy giggle. “Kinda. Maybe? I think it’s safe to say the universe has spoken.” She kissed my shocked lips. “It’s like a Yule miracle.” She beamed up at me.
“I am honored, Shea. I could not think of a better way to use my powers than to show someone like you how loveable you are.”
A serene smile smoothed her face. “Thank you. Now it’s time for me to show someone like you how loveable you are. I want to follow you to the Otherworld. I want to be your goddess and the mother to your children.”
“I appreciate your willingness, love, but I need people on Earth to believe in me to retain my strength.”
She turned the page in the journal, smoothing her hand over an entry. “That’s where this comes into play. I’ve recounted our entire love story in these pages. I will ensure someone else sees them. We can visit around town and start rumors. The townsfolk will talk about me and the mysterious man who claimed to be a local, but no one knew of. Then, when we cross the portal on December 21 st , I’ll end up missing and people will wonder. Speculation alone will create folklore. You won’t be forgotten, Dianus.” Her warm chestnut eyes went wide with earnest conviction as she closed her journal. “You’ll never be forgotten.”
“I was right.” I cradled her beautiful face in my hands. “You are a smart little witch.”