*Mila*
With Eros locked up and all of us being back in the rogue zone at Soren’s inn, I felt a lot more comfortable. Soren put back in the guest room right next to his. He’d been pretty busy when we got back, checking in with Thomas and the rest of his warriors.
Soren seed really relaxed too and I liked seeing him at peace.
Although, I wasn’t sure how long the peace would last. Eros was just the first one to approach us about the artifact and the rumors Soren spread. We both knew he wouldn’t be the last to co for us.
The work Soren was doing with Thomas and his warriors was important and I didn’t want to get in the way.
They’d need to be ready when the others ca after .
Until then, I found I didn’t have much to do and I couldn’t stay cooped up in the inn all day.
I let myself into the large inn down the street from Soren’s.
“Madam Scarlett?” I called, walking into her big, open lobby.
“Miss Mila,” Scarlett said. She smiled coyly when she saw and held out a silk, gloved hand.
“I was wondering if you could answer a few questions for ?” I asked, smiling innocently.
“My dear, you know that I don’t answer questions for free. Do you have any money?” she asked, licking her cherry-red lips.
“I don’t but I have sothing else to offer,” I said. I held out a lotion bottle.
Scarlette arched an eyebrow and cocked her head to the side.
“What is it?” she asked a curious gleam in her eyes.
“This is a special lotion. Magical, actually. It will slow down aging.”
Madam Scarlett’s eyes widened and she grinned. “My my, you do know the way to my heart.” She snatched the bottle from .
It was the first spell I’d used from the spellbook that my mother left . After the teor shower, Soren started teaching the language that the book was written in. I studied it every day and read about the plants and spells in it.
Strangely, I picked up the language really quickly and wondered if that was because of my witch heritage. The language was a part of my family legacy.
I’d learned the spell for the potion from the book.
“This is the most thoughtful gift for a woman in my profession,” she said. “I like it so much, I will give you 10 questions.”
“I think you’ll really enjoy it. I tested it myself and it is quite effective,” I said, rubbing my own soft, smooth cheek.
The book had spells and potions in it. The lotion had been in the potions section. So of them, when I read them, I felt like I’d learned them before. Reading them was an easy way to refresh my mory on sothing I learned a long ti ago.
It made it easy for to pick up so of the new things.
I’d been able to use so of the spells without even thinking about it, once I was reminded of them. They were probably spells that my mother had taught when I was a child. They were buried in my mory and as the Blackfire poison faded, I could feel my witch power getting stronger. Spells and magic felt more natural.
“So, what can I do for you?” Scarlett asked. She led into what seed like a living room and sat down on a fancy, satin couch.
Scarlett draped her arm along the back of the couch and motioned for to sit beside her.
“I’m trying to think of a gift for Soren,” I said, plopping down on the couch.
“A gift? What did Soren do to be so deserving of a gift?” she asked, giving a mischievous look.
My cheeks ward. “Well... he’s done a lot for lately.”
“I’m sure he has,” she said suggestively.
“So you have any ideas?” I pressed.
“A scarf,” she said quickly.
“A scarf? I’ve never seen Soren wear one.”.
“That’s why I suggested it,” Scarlett laughed and brushed my arm with her silky fingers. “He used to have a scarf and he wore it everywhere. It was sothing he cared for greatly. After a journey he went on, he ca back without it and for two months he was in a foul mood.”
“Because he lost his scarf?” I asked, creasing my brow.
“Perhaps. None of us knew what happened,” she said, shaking her head. “Thomas once casually asked where the scarf was and the look Soren gave him told Thomas never to ask again. It led us to believe the scarf was the source of his bad mood.”
“I don’t know anything about buying scarves,” I said.
“You shouldn’t buy it, you should make it. When we are done here, I will have one of my girls take you into town to get yarn, needles, and she’ll teach you to knit,” she assured.
***
“Well, Mila, everything is going very well. After one last dose, you should be all set,” Dr. Lee told as he packed up his dical kit.
It was my last checkup with him.
“Thank you so much, Lee,” I said grinning.
“No need to thank . I’m only making sure you are recovering. Soren is the one who got the Howlingred flower for you,” Lee said disinterestedly.
I chewed my lower lip as I thought about what Lee said.
I’d read about the Howlingred plant in the spellbook and I knew that Soren had to feed the plant lots of blood in order to get the flower for the antidote. He’d probably risked his life to give it enough blood because it wasn’t the flower’s blooming season.
That made feel even more grateful toward him and I’d been working hard to finish his scarf. It had co out much better than I expected.
I went to my desk and picked up the scarf. It was light and smooth but the yarn would keep Soren warm in cooler temperatures, too. I put the scarf in a gift box.
Tonight, I wanted to give the scarf to Soren. It was definitely ti.
Just thinking about it made my stomach flutter giddily.
Knock. Knock.
“Co in,” I called automatically.
Soren poked his head into my room. He stepped in with a bouquet of flowers in hand. They were wildflowers and absolutely gorgeous.
“I brought you these,” he said. He put the vase and the flowers on a table in my room.
“They’re gorgeous,” I gasped. I stuck my nose in the flowers and inhaled.
“I thought they could brighten up your room a little bit,” Soren said, smiling kindly.
“Thank you.”
“Co on, I have sothing to show you,” he said, nodding toward the door.
I nodded, grabbing the gift bag and I followed Soren downstairs. He led out into the inn courtyard. There was a place for patio dining but that wasn’t what Soren wanted to show .
In one of the corners of the courtyard, nestled between a tree and garden flowers, there was a swing.
I stopped dead and gasped, my arms going limp at my sides. It was the sa swing from the childhood mory dream Soren had seen with . The swing my parents had given .
“Soren...”
“You said you didn’t want the childhood cabin back in Hathaway territory or your packland. I did want you to enjoy sothing that reminds you of your childhood. What do you think?” he asked, motioning to the swing.
I stared at the swing and shook my head. There was nothing I could say... It was so special and perfect.
Soren frowned at . “You don’t like it?”
“No!” I shook my head. “I an... Yes, I like it. I love it!”
I went over to the swing and pushed it. It swung back and forth, exactly like my mory.
Taking a deep breath, I went back to Soren and I hugged him.
“Thank you.”
Soren smirked and hugged back. For a mont, I didn’t want to leave his embrace.
“As if I didn’t need any more reasons to give you a gift,” I said. I put the gift bag in his hands. “Please accept this as a small token of my appreciation... for everything.”
Soren creased his brow and pulled the scarf from the bag. He ran it through his fingers and a tender look entered his eyes.
Smirking, Soren wrapped the scarf around his neck.
“How do I look?” he asked, posing for .
I giggled. “Great!”
“Mila, this is a lovely gift. Thank you very much,” he said. He held a hand out to .
“Do we have sowhere else to go?” I asked.
“Take my hand and find out,” he teased.
I grabbed his hand and Soren led back inside the inn. We went to the formal dining room and it was empty. There was one table in the center of the dining room that was set for two with fresh wildflowers and candles in the center.
“I thought we could enjoy a relaxing dinner for two after everything we’ve been through recently,” he explained, holding my chair out for .
“You’re right, we deserve a nice, quiet al,” I agreed.
“Are your feet itching?” Soren asked as he sat across from .
There was a cart next to our table with covered trays. Soren pulled the covers off to reveal the yummy, steaming food inside. He served us both.
“My feet? Why do you care about my feet?” I asked furrowing my brow.
“You’re not thinking of running again, are you?” he clarified.
I giggled and shook my head. “Not right now. I’m pretty content with the peace we have right now.”
“Good.”
Soren smiled at and I got the feeling that he was more relieved than sarcastic. I wouldn’t expect him to co out and say that, though.
“How are things going with Thomas and your warriors?” I asked, making conversation.
“Very well. They’ve all been working hard. If anyone cos after us or the artifact, we’ll be ready,” he assured.
When we finished dinner, Soren showed that he had two slices of 14-layer chocolate mousse cake.
“Oh my Goddess,” I gasped as he set my slice in front of .
“This will be the most delicious cake you’ve ever had. Enjoy it,” Soren said, winking at .
“This almost looks too good to eat,” I said, carving a bite out with my fork.
Soren arched an eyebrow at .
“Almost.”
He chuckled and nodded.
Soren walked back to my room when we were done with dessert. I was stuffed after the cake and I felt like I was wobbling up the stairs.
“Thank you Soren for a good night and the present,” I said when we got to my door.
Soren slipped his arms around my waist.
“Thank you for my gift,” he said, indicating his scarf. He hugged closer and pressed a kiss to my lips.
Soren had never given a goodnight kiss before. I was too startled to respond and then Soren pulled away.
I didn’t want to spoil the mont with questions so I smiled at Soren and quickly slipped into my room, shutting the door.
Flopping down on my bed, I couldn’t stop grinning as I stared at the ceiling. A good night kiss was more than just business and I felt so happy at Soren’s display of affection.
Sighing, I closed my eyes trying to sleep. Tomorrow I’d have another enjoyable day in the rogue zone.
#
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