Page 29 of A Legacy of the Light

A small cloud of butterflies stirs in my stomach at the thought of seeing him this morning. I bet he’s already been awake for a while. He seems the type. Whereas I need a good hour, three cups of coffee, and a hot shower before I can form an even remotely polite sentence.

With that consideration, I put my now empty coffee cup in the sink and go to the bedroom to get ready for the day, first peering down the hall to make sure my makeshift door block has held. It has.

The black leather pants and fresh white shirt I select are tailored with a more feminine shape compared to yesterday. I lay the clothes on the bed with white underwear and thick socks before slipping into the bathroom to get ready.

After my shower, I stand with a large fluffy towel wrapped around my body, my wet hair falling in curtains as I brush my teeth. The mirror is foggy so I swipe my hand across it and my reflection makes me pause.

I wipe more of the condensation from the glass and move closer. The bags under my eyes don’t seem as harsh—probably down to the deep and restful sleep I got last night—but that’s not what raises my heart rate.

So faint it’s almost imperceptible, a white ring pulses on the outer edge of my irises. It seems to swirl like a river of white ice. As I blink a few times, to check I’m seeing what I think I am, the ring disappears. As if it was never there.

Bracing my hands on the sink, I move closer to the mirror, waiting for it to appear again. The splat of toothpaste on my hand resting on the counter pulls me back to the moment.

I shake my head and finish up, rubbing a towel through the drying ends of my hair. I take time braiding it back, and don’t spend too long analyzing why I want to look presentable. Telling myself it’s because I don’t have a hairdryer or styling tools, not because of who I’m about to have breakfast with. It’s definitely not that.

Once I’m dressed, I check how I look before heading out to Tavish’s room. The leather pants—which I’m surprised to find incredibly comfortable—and the white shirt, fit me much better than the clothes I wore yesterday. They pull me in at the waist and cling to my long legs. I leave the shirt untucked since doing so will show off more of my figure than I’m comfortable with.

Well, this is as good as it’s going to get, I tell myself before leaving.

My fisted hand pauses before I knock, double-checking I counted the doors right. Two doors to the right, Tavish said. Slipping my braid over my shoulder, I softly rap on the heavy wood and blow out a breath.

Tavish doesn’t answer straight away. When he pulls the door open, I’m stood with my hands clasped behind my back, rocking back and forth on my heels looking up at the high stone ceiling.

“Something interesting up there?” he asks, following my gaze.

“Not really, but these hallways are pretty empty. I was just waiting for you to answer.” I look at him and have to stop from staring too long. He’s dressed the same as yesterday, the black outfit fitting his body like a second skin, only today he’s barefoot and his hair has a I’ve-just-got-out-of-bed vibe. The combination is unravelling.

“Well, as I said yesterday, we don’t require anything fancy. Do you want to come in?” he steps back and gestures for me to enter his rooms. I swallow as I nod, and move past him, feeling his gaze track my movements.

“You look well today,” he comments.

“Thanks. I think Reyne guessed my size right for the shirt,” I reply awkwardly.

Tavish’s rooms are similar to the ones I’m staying in but much larger. His space has a more masculine edge. The furniture is dark and imposing and the kitchen worktop is a deep wood rather than light marble.

He has the same floor-to-ceiling windows with the stunning view of the lake. A long wooden table sits in front of them with a bench either side. Atop it sits breakfast for two, with similar food to what Reyne brought for me the day before.

Tavish sits at the head of the table on a chair made of the same wood, leaving the bench for me. He offers me a tentative smile and fills up his plate with meat and eggs.

I slide ungracefully onto the bench, then fill my plate with fruit and pancakes and pour myself a glass of apple juice.

“How did you sleep?” he asks, trying to keep the smile off his face.

“Surprisingly well, actually. It’s so quiet here. I’m used to the noise of the city.”

Tavish nods his agreement, putting a forkful of food into his mouth and I can’t help but watch the graceful way he moves.

“I’m glad. I like coming home after spending time in the mortal realm. It reminds me how lucky I am to live here.”

“Have you spent a lot of time away from home?” I ask.

“Yes, I’ve been going into your world on and off for sixty years, trying to find a way to repair the barrier. Sometimes it would seal while I was on the other side, and I would be trapped there for a while until it opened again.”

“What did you do when that happened? Where did you stay?”

“The first time was only for a few days, and I made my way just fine. After that I always made sure I had a backup, just in case. I have a house in Scotland now, close to the barrier between the realms, so I’m never without a roof over my head.” He pauses to refill his coffee cup, offering the cafetière to me. I nod and hold my cup out for him to fill up.

“Thank you. I’ve never been to Scotland but I always planned to go. My Granny was from Edinburgh. We always talked about visiting but we never got the chance.” I glance down at my plate and try to dislodge the tightness from my throat. I could go to Edinburgh without her, but it just won’t be the same.