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She takes one hesitantly, popping it into her mouth and chewing slowly. A smile begins to form on her lips, and a wave of relief washes over me.
“See?” I tease, a playful grin tugging at my own lips. “Happiness.”
Her laugh is infectious and sounds like music to my ears. I tug her into my lap, placing a kiss against her temple.
39
Scarlet
Thewarmthofthehell flame tickles my skin, shining through the windows. The blankets are wrapped around my legs, twisted in knots between Sebastian and my body as I curl against his side.
He’s almost always up before me... I glance up at him, watching as his bare chest rises and falls softly, his breath gentle. He looks so peaceful in his sleep. I trace the contours of his face, committing him to memory. Everything from the way his hair lays, his long eyelashes, the tattoos on his skin, to his full lips... He’s perfect, masculine in every way but beautiful. He’s masculine in every way, yet beautiful.
I shake off Sebastian’s robe and untangle myself from the warm sheets. The wooden floor is cold against my feet as I slide out of bed, inspecting the selection of clothes he sets out for me. His mother’s, from the looks of them.
Anything is better than the seaweed-smelling shirt I had on yesterday. I put them on with ease as if they were made for me. The boots fit snugly against my feet, more comfortable than the ones Smee gave me on the ship. Leather pants hug my curves. The top cascades lovely around my body, form-fitted but thin enough to not overheat, despite it being long-sleeved.
The suffocating silence inside the house is only broken by Sebastian’s shallow breathing and the creaking of the floor beneath my feet. My lungs desperately crave fresh air, a respite from the oppressive stillness that fills every corner of this place.
I ease open the front door and step out onto an expansive porch. It’s easy to see why his mother loved this place. It’s breathtaking, with the light bouncing off the boundary and shimmering over the land.
As I step out into the clearing, I spot a fenced garden behind the skull house. It’s overgrown, but still thriving despite no one being here to take care of it in so long. My stomach growls at the sight. Is that where he got the berries?
Swinging open the garden’s gate, composed of large sections of twigs that have all been bound together, I enter the lush rows of vibrant blooms. It’s a mix of crystals and flowers and herbs, and I tread carefully to avoid stepping on any of them.
The entire length of the fence is surrounded by the flowers we passed in the woods, the one Sebastian makes his cologne from, but within it, is a whole collection of colors. Some blooms are the size of my fist or as tiny as a pinprick. Breathing in deep, a heavenly aroma takes my senses by storm, calming and exciting me at the same time.
I find the berries Sebastian brought in last night, picking a couple and eating them out of the palm of my hand as I explore. Plants to me are almost as awe-striking as dragons. Maybe it’s because so many species of them were created when the species died out and their magic infused into the realm. Except in Neverland, I haven’t seen a single skeleton of one, leading me to believe this place is still flourishing because of the destroyed magic well.
It’s uncharted territory that’s constantly evolving.
I’ve studied how to identify most of the plant species we know about, but some are unlike anything we had in the courtyards of the Solarian castle. As I walk through the rows of plants, a glint of silver catches my eye, and I kneel to inspect a small plant nestled between the tree limb pickets. Its leaves shimmer with an iridescent sheen, and I gasp.
“No way,” I whisper as if the other plants can hear me. It’s Leviflora, a rare plant that only grows on pixie graves. No wonder this little garden is thriving. It’s been cared for by the pixies...
“Scarlet!”
I lurch upright as Sebastian’s voice shatters the tranquility. He bursts through the front door of the house, still shoving on his pants. “Have you gone mad? You can’t just disappear like that.” His eyes connect with me over the plants.
“Come look at this!” I ignore his worry, diverting my attention back to the silver leaves. “Look what I found.”
Sebastian’s in the garden, hovering behind me in seconds. “Great, a plant,” he grumbles, clearly unimpressed. “You do realize my uncle could be here at any moment, right? You can’t just wander off without saying something.”
I roll my eyes. “I never left the barrier, and it’s not just a plant.”
I glare at him over my shoulder before turning back to the delicate petals. Carefully plucking a leaf, I hold it out to Sebastian. “Here, eat this.”
“That sounds like a fast way to die. I think I’ll pass on that.” He crosses his arms, eyeing the leaf warily. I shrug and pop the leaf into my mouth.
His eyes flare wide as he gasps in shock. “Don’t—Gods, woman! You can’t just eat things! You’re as bad a Nelvin.” He grips my jaw before I can push him away, trying to fish the leaf out of my mouth like a toddler who’s tried to swallow a stone. “One of these days, my heart is going to fucking stop and it’ll be your fault.”
Managing to slap away his hands, I chew. “Considering the fact I’m the only reason your heart is still beating, I’ll take my chances. It’s Leviflora, and completely safe, so if you’d stop trying to choke me, It'd be greatly appreciated,” I snap, chewing the leaf more. The last is almost sour, yet sweet on my tongue.
“You’re insufferable.” He tosses his hands up.
“And you’re boring, yet I don’t bring it to your attention every second of every day, do I?” A hiccup escapes my lips.
Sebastian closes the distance between us in one step, concern etching his features. “What? What is it?”
