Page 25 of The Witch’s Shifter (Season of the Witch #3)
Aurora
ALDEN AND ROWAN HELP brING all the bags into the two rooms we’ve rented at the Golden Lantern.
Alden has been working so hard these past few weeks, trying to get everything done at the inn for Mrs. Bluewren, and I have to say, the work he did looks beautiful.
The new trim, repaired banisters, and fresh window frames make the inn feel renewed and full of life.
Mrs. Bluewren chats with my mother—it seems they know each other distantly, from many years past—while Rowan and Alden descend the stairs into the big open foyer.
“Thank you both,” Selene says. “You’re already living up to everything Aurora has told me about you.”
The men meet my eyes, and Rowan quirks a brow questioningly.
“All good things,” Selene clarifies. Then her pale pink lips quirk up on one side. “Mostly.”
“Stop that,” I tell her, shooting her a playful look. Fletcher is still asleep in my arms, and I’m trying to keep my voice down, but the activity all around us doesn’t seem to disturb him in the least. He’s still fast asleep, tiny fingers curled tight, his skin pink as a summer dawn.
“We’ll head back to the cottage,” Alden says, “let you catch up.”
“All right. We’ll be back for dinner tonight, I think?” I glance at Selene, and she nods once, her wavy silver hair bobbing with the movement.
“Absolutely.”
“Pleasure again to meet you,” Rowan says, and Selene allows him to press a kiss to her knuckles. Then his lips graze my cheek respectfully, his fingers just barely brushing over my belly before he steps aside.
Alden kisses me on the cheek as well and offers Selene a small smile, and then they both depart the Golden Lantern, and the door closes with a click behind them, leaving me standing with Selene, Harrison, and Wyland while Mama continues her chat with Mrs. Bluewren.
“How about some tea?” Selene asks, holding Harrison against her chest with one arm and stroking his silky hair with the other.
“You two go sit down,” Wyland tells us. “I’ll chat with the innkeeper and bring tea up shortly.”
He doesn’t have to tell us twice. We retreat to Selene and Wyland’s room, which has two big windows overlooking the pumpkin patch.
Seeing it now, overflowing with ripe round pumpkins just waiting to be picked, I recall the vine whisper elixir Alden and Rowan helped me with and am so grateful Auntie’s spellbook gave me what I needed to save the patch.
How sad it would be to look out the window and see withered brown vines instead of abundance.
“Here you go, Harrison,” Selene says as she sets his paws down on the bed.
He stretches and yawns, then curls up to nap.
With a smile, Selene goes to one of the windows and pushes it open wide, inviting the autumn air in.
She lets out a low whistle, and I perk up where I’m sitting in a rocking chair beside the hearth, where a fire crackles softly.
Selene remains at the window, the breeze making her pale hair dance around her cheeks. Then she reaches out an arm, and there’s a rustling of feathers as a large snowy owl lands upon her forearm, talons wrapping carefully so as not to mar her skin.
“Gwynn,” I say, heart swelling with affection. “I had a feeling you were around here somewhere.”
“She’s been looking forward to the trip,” Selene says as she turns from the window, bringing her spirit companion into the room.
“It’s good to get out and stretch your wings.
” She draws a finger down Gwynn’s feathered head, and the owl lets out a rumble in response.
There’s a hat stand near the door, and Selene carries Gwynn to it and lifts her arm so that the owl may alight onto a peg.
Selene turns and makes her way across the room, and her dark blue dress swishes softly as she settles into a chair at the tiny tea table. “So.” One of her silver brows arches in the corner. “I think you’ve got a lot to tell me.”
I rock softly, tracing one fingertip over Fletcher’s silky baby skin. “Where do you want me to start?”
“From the very beginning. Seems there’s a bit you left out.”
I look up into her dark blue eyes, note the smirk on her mouth, and feel my lips stretching into a smile.
“There wasn’t enough parchment in all of Faunwood for me to tell you everything that’s happened. It’ll take a while,” I warn.
“Good thing we have all the time in the world. Now go on. And don’t leave a single thing out.”