The cottage is single leveled with a small porch space leading up to the front door. It’s all crafted from a wood that seems to match the trunks of the gray-brown trees that surround the back of it. Despite that, it looks well-crafted and cared for.
I take a new look around the clearing and take in the secluded space. It actually is quite cozy here. And you can still hear the laughter and cheers echoing from the direction of the worn dirt path that I assume leads to the nearby village he mentioned.
“Are you coming or what?” Bastian calls, annoyance clear on his face.
I was so lost in my own mind that I didn’t even notice he had already started up the handful of stairs and is currently holding the front door open.
I scurry up the steps as he walks through the door, slipping into the cottage on Bastian’s heels before the door can slam shut in my face. As soon as I’m inside I take a look around the space. It’s a modest home. Towards the back, there’s a small kitchen space for cooking connected to an equally small dining space with a slightly rickety looking table only big enough for two. We’re currently standing in the sitting room, which is only slightly larger than the kitchen area. There’s a large, stone hearth which occupies most of the wall and serves as the focal point of the room. A sofa positioned in front of the hearth with a large armchair off to the right side of the sofa. There’s a door off the sitting room that I assume leads to the bedroom or a bathing room.
I look back at Bastian to see him watching me inspect every inch of his space. “So, this is where you live? It’s cozy. Definitely not what I was expecting.”
He raises an eyebrow, but a smile still tugs at his lips. “Some of the time.” He turns and faces the hearth and with another flourish of his hand and a word whispered under his breath, a fire roars to life.
I stare at it with wide eyes and mouth gaping. I’ve never seen any display of magic before and though this was an incredibly rudimentary showing, I’m still amazed. Especially on the heels of the magically appearing cottage. He makes it all look so effortless. Hells, maybe itiseffortless. Out of the corner of my eye I can see Bastian watching me. I turn to meet his gaze and see the amusement at my awe sparkling in his eyes.
“What else can you do?” I can’t help the tone of amazement that slips into my voice.
“A great many things. Now, come.” He stalks off towards the door and into the bedroom with me scrambling to follow closely behind.
I can sense by the tone of his voice that this conversation is over. I’m beginning to find he’s frustratingly good at that, abruptly shutting down conversations. I have a feeling by the end of our short-lived acquaintance he’ll have me wanting to rip out my hair.
I stop short in the doorway when I see the room. Or more accurately, when I notice the lone bed in the middle of the room.
Oh no.I really should have known that there’d only be one bed, but my brain is still so scrambled after everything that’s happened tonight that it didn’t even cross my mind.How could it still be the same night? I feel like so much has happened in less than twelve hours.
“I, uh, I can sleep on the sofa,” I stutter out.
“Don’t be ridiculous. You’ll be sleeping in here andIwill be sleeping on the sofa,” he says in a voice that brooks no room for argument, but I’m also invading his space. So, I will argue.
“Bastian, this is your home. You’re already doing more than you need to help me. Than anyone herewoulddo for me. I couldn’t kick you out of your own bed. Plus, you’re so large!” He smirks at my observation, the only thing that breaks his stony expression.Oh, good. Great going Olivia, calling the handsome Fae male large.“I just mean, can you even comfortably fit on the sofa to sleep?” I ask.
“I will make do.” His answer does little to assuage my guilt.
I start to turn back towards the sitting room. “Please, let me take the?—”
“Liv, for fuck’s sake. Stop arguing with me and take the bed!” His voice rises in agitation, but he’s not quite yelling. “I’ll be fine on the sofa.”
Startled by his outburst, all I can do is blink at him a few times before I remember to respond. “Okay, than—” I stop myself from what I was about to say: thank you.Gods, rule number two, Liv! Especially if we’ve already said fuck it to rule one. Never thank the Fae. Get it together!“That’s very kind of you.” I correct with a small smile.
He rolls his eyes and turns towards where the dresser is positioned against the wall, but not before I catch the twitch at the corner of his lips that tells me he’s biting back a smile. He rummages around before pulling out a long sleeved, white cotton shirt. “This is the best I can offer in terms of nightclothes.”
I eye the shirt before taking it from his outstretched hand. “Oh, this will do fine.” He gives a curt nod before returning to the dresser and pulling a spare blanket from another drawer.
“Are you hungry?” he asks, standing at the doorway back into the sitting room.
I shake my head. “No, I’m fine.”
That earns me another brisk nod from him. “Bathing chamber is through that door there,” he says, gesturing to a door opposite the end of the bed that I’ve only just noticed. “I’ll be out in the sitting room if you need anything.” He walks back out into the sitting room and reaches back to close the door behind him but hesitates before fully closing it. He looks at me, and I can see a muscle jump in his jaw. “Goodnight, Liv.” He closes the door and is gone before I can respond.
“Goodnight,” I whisper into the silent room, even though I know he can’t hear me.
I head into the bathing room with my borrowed shirt to take care of my needs before bed. I stop in the door as I look around the room and find myself stunned for what must be the hundredth time tonight. For one, it’ssomuch nicer than the one in my cottage. And second? There are all sorts of pipes and contraptions coming out from the walls with various knobs. I walk over to what must be the washbasin, inspecting the pipe that protrudes from the wall above it. There are two knobs on either side, one with a ring of blue, the other ringed with red. I test out turning the red knob first and water gushes from the pipe into the basin.
“What the fuck?” I’ve never seen an invention like this back home. Where does this water come from?
Snapping out of my fascination I reach to cup some water in my hands to splash my face, but a searing pain causes me to flinch back. “Fuck!” I shake my hands out and inspect the water. Is this not normal water? Is it dangerous for humans? Poisonous or acidic maybe?
A firm knock rattles the bedroom door. “Liv? Are you okay?”
