“Are those…is that a…pegasus?”
Deacon chuckled. “No, and yes. Those are pegasi, winged horses. Pegasus is one specific winged horse, who I’m told lives somewhere in the Old Lands. According to legend, anyway.”
“Deacon, what is going on here?” I gestured around us, to all the creatures you wouldn’t find in human text books. “What just happened?”
“Legend says somewhere in Central Park is a secret passageway to the Old Lands. The story goes that someone was lost inside and bust their way out here, and that that is the reason the humans have never built here—”
“Wait, hold on.” I turned toward him and shook my head. “Are you saying that Central Park is a cover up?”
He grinned that grin only the Devil could make. “According to legend. Yeah.”
“So, all of these creatures are from the Old Lands?” I turned to look at the dinosaur kittens behind the bench with new eyes. “I’m surprised The Coven never did anything about it, like force them all back in and seal up the passageway. I mean, the Old Lands. So dangerous.”
“See, that’s just the thing.” He took a sip of his sprite then picked off a piece of my soft pretzel. “When we were kids, I brought Henley and Royce here but they couldn’t see what I saw. They both said the park was special and it had lots of magic, that they felt it, but didn’t see anything. They thought I was messing with them.”
I looked back over to the winged horses hovering by the water. They were real. I saw them as much as I saw the pigeons and squirrels. “So…why can’t they see them?”
He finished chewing. “I only told them because they’re in The Coven so I thought I was doing the right thing, right? But then I figured if they couldn’t see then who would? I was afraid if I told anyone else they’d think I was crazy then tell everyone else. Then one day I decided they must’ve been lying to me, that they had seen them but The Coven wanted to keep it secret and they weren’t allowed to tell me. Wanna know the crazy part?”
I giggled, there was something about the wild glint in his eyes. “Yes?”
“When I found out we were going to the Old Lands a few months ago, I pulled Bentley aside and asked him if he knew anything about this legend. He said there was no record of it, but then while we were gone all those weeks he researched it more and found some clues suggesting it might be accurate. He also said that some times creatures have gotten out of the Old Lands, but only those people who’d been there would be able to see them on the outside.”
“That’s why you brought me here, to see if I would see them?”
He smiled and nodded. “I mean Central Park is gorgeous, I’ve always been obsessed with coming here that’s how I found these guys. But yeah, I was curious if you’d be able to see them.”
“Because I’ve been to the Old Lands.” I nodded but then a thought occurred to me. “I didn’t know you’d been to the Old Lands before we went.”
“I haven’t. At least, I have no recollection of it. And neither of my parents can see them.” He sighed and leaned back against the bench. “But I must’ve at some point, because you can see them.”
“That’s unsettling.”
He snorted. “You’re telling me. I wasn’t sure if I wanted you to be able to see them or not.”
I pulled out my phone and snapped a bunch of pictures of all the magical creatures. When I scrolled through the pictures I saw the animals clear as day. “Alright, so when we go home we need to show these to everyone else. Because if there’s an opening into the Old Lands here we need to close it off.”
He smiled and tucked my hair behind my ear. “Or at least make it so no one can get in.”
“And so nothing dangerous can get out.”
“Deal.” He wrapped his arm around my shoulders and pulled me close.
I curled my legs onto his lap and rested my head on his shoulder. “The real question is, what are the odds we can get a ride on a Pegasus?”
He threw his head back and laughed.
I smiled. It was nice to hear him laugh. Things had been so serious for so long. I loved this side of him. The free spirit, the humor. His mother was a monster. His friends were horrible. I was terrified of what would go down later at the gala. But at the end of the day, this moment – this side of Deacon, was worth coming here.
All of the doubts I’d had about us and about why he was chosen as mine…they were all gone now.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
EMERSYN
Hours later when we stepped off the elevator into their penthouse palace Stedman passed us in the foyer carrying a large box. He paused and smiled at us. “Good afternoon, Deacon and Miss Emersyn.”
At least the butler was nice to me. “Hello, Stedman.”
“Hey Steds, did a package arrive for me yet?”
The butler nodded. “As a matter of fact, yes. About an hour ago. I was just about to tell you. It is in your room.”
“Perfect, thanks man.” Deacon put his hand on the small of my back and led us up the stairs. But then he paused and turned back. “Oh Steds, where are my parents?”
“Your father is down at the Lorenzo residence to gather some more information about the incident the other night.” He switched the box to his other arm. “Your mother is preparing for the gala this evening. Which reminds me, Miss Emersyn, do not hesitate to let me know if you need anything at all to get ready tonight.”
I smiled. “Thank you, Stedman. I’ll let you know if that should arise.”
Stedman bowed his head then slipped through a doorway under the stairs.
Deacon wrapped his arm around my shoulders. “Come with me, Butterberry.”
“Butterberry?” I giggled as we walked down the hall to his room.
“Yeah, Buttercup the blueberry.” He grinned and opened his door. “After you, Butterberry.”
“You’re such a dork.” I laughed and walked into his room.
After a day eating vending cart hotdogs it was weird to be back in rich people land. But there was no denying the beauty of Deacon’s bedroom. I couldn’t decide which view I liked better, the city street or Central Park. Or, for that matter, day time or night time.
And he had both views right from his bed. Every day.
“What are you thinking about over there?”
My cheeks warmed. I smirked and spun away from the window. “Can’t you tell, Mr. Devil?”
He shrugged and sat on his bed next to a big brown box. “I could, but I’d much rather have you tell me.”
Well…damn. “I was just wondering…how…how I can compete with all this.” I tugged on the hem of my sweater so he wouldn’t see how much his answer to my question meant.
“You know, my entire life I wished my life was like Henley and Royce’s. I always envied them, and their family and how close they all are.” He smiled and shook his head. “I may have grown up in a penthouse but I was here all alone. I respect my parents for the work they do, for our society, I just hated that I paid the price for it.”
“I’m sorry,” I whispered and walked over to him.
He took my hand and pulled me close. “I was miserable. Getting Marked was the best thing that ever happened to me…and then I met you.”
My heart pounded. Heat rushed through my body. “Deacon…”
“There’s no competition, Emersyn. I brought you here to meet my parents, and only that. I’m counting down the hours until we can get out of here.” He sighed and looked over toward the window overlooking the city. “I wanted you to see where I came from, so you can understand—”
“Your reputation?” I guessed.
His cheeks flushed. He shrugged. “Have you ever behaved a certain way that you completely thought was justified only to later have the rude awakening of how bad you messed up?”
I chuckled. “You mean like hating your soulmate and being awful to him and then having him die in your arms?”
He grinned. “Yeah, like that. Go figure, we have a lot in common.”
I ran my f
ingers through the long strands of his hair. “I like getting to know you more. I want to know everything about you and your life, even if your mom is mean to me and my hair gets turned blue.”
He smirked and pulled the brown box closer. “That’s why I got you this.”
“Wait this is for me?” I frowned and touched the box. “Deacon, you don’t have to buy me things.”
“I know, but this is just something to say thank you for putting up with…everything.” He rubbed his hands together. “Please, open it.”
There was no point in fighting him, he was going to make me open it. Plus it was rude to refuse a gift and I was done being that person to him. From now on I was going to be grateful for him, and that including any gifts. Besides, who turns down presents from their boyfriend?
But then I opened the box and the most ridiculous squeal came out of me. Inside were the most amazing pair of cowgirl boots I had ever seen in my entire life. They were dark brown with little crystals making the shape of an eagle. “Oh my God. Old Gringo with Swarovski crystals?”
“Uh, yeah?” He chuckled. “Have you seen these before?”
I squealed. Again. I couldn’t help it. To my horror, I bounced up and down and clapped my hands. “Oh my God, oh my God, I’ve dreamed of these for years,” I said as I pulled my Chanel boots off.
“I hope they fit, the reviews said to go up a half size.” He picked them out of the box and yanked the tissue stuffing out then sat them on the bed while I struggled to get my Chanel boots off.
Please fit, please fit, please fit. My jaw hurt from how wide I was smiling, but I was just too excited. I tossed the Chanel boots aside and dove for the Old Gringos. I slipped my right foot inside and heard that glorious pop sound as my heel slid in perfectly. My left foot was a little smaller but it fit just as perfect. I sighed. They felt like socks. Like pillows for my feet. They were soft and smooth and sparkling so bright I could die.
“After we got back last night I had to get these.” He blushed. “I thought you might want to wear them to the gala tonight, so you feel like yourself—"
I grinned and hugged Deacon, but in my excitement it was more like a tackle. We crashed onto the bed. I kissed him with every ounce of passion I had inside me. This wasn’t just a present. It wasn’t like his mother taking me shopping and spoiling me with a designer wardrobe. It was more than just a pair of shoes, it was a gesture. This was my soulmate showing me with actions that he liked me for who I was. That he didn’t need me to wear Chanel or Louboutin, he just needed me to be me.
He wrapped his arms around my waist and kissed me back with a fiery passion that burned through my clothes. I’d never kissed him quite like this, with total lack of control. I pushed aside all of my fears and doubts and let myself feel the effect he had on me. The flutter in my pulse, the heat in my veins, and the slight tremble in my fingers. As his tongue brushed mine I wanted to kick myself for all the time I wasted being cold to him.
“Hey, Deaco— oh, sorry!”
I gasped and rolled off of him, thinking it was his mother. She already hated me, I didn’t need to add fuel to the fire. Except as I sat up I realized it wasn’t Mrs. English, it was only Amelia. I sighed and pushed my hair back, ignoring the burning in my cheeks.
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to, um, interrupt…” She blushed and looked at the ground.
Deacon glanced over to me with a wild sparkle in his eyes. He chuckled. “It’s alright, Amelia. What’s up?”
She bit her bottom lip and hesitated.
I frowned. “Is something wrong?”
She groaned. “Yes. I have this paper due tomorrow and I don’t understand the rules my teacher wants me to follow and we have the gala tonight so I’m totally screwed and neither Aunt Heather or Uncle Sebastien are here and Stedman doesn’t know—”
“Amelia, Amelia,” Deacon said and held his palms up. “Deep breath, kiddo.”
Her shoulders rose and fell as she did what he said.
I smiled and got to my feet, then turned to my boyfriend. “Go help her.”
He frowned. “But—”
I pressed my lips to his. When I pulled back, I whispered. “Help her. I have to go get ready for the gala anyway.”
“Are you sure?”
“Trust me.” I gave him a wink then turned and headed out the door. “No stress, Amelia. I’m sure you’ll get it done. I’ll see you both in a bit.”
With that, I rushed into my room. Deacon probably would’ve preferred to spend the rest of the time before the gala with me, not helping a twelve year old write a paper. However, I also knew he wanted that close relationship with his family that he never had. Amelia may have been his cousin, but she was more like a little sister to him. And she adored him. She’d made a point of telling me how he used to help her with her homework. Deacon may not have realized how important that was to her. As someone who had a little brother, I knew it was important to be the helper even if he didn’t realize it yet.
Besides, I had things to do.
I rushed into the closet to where all my shopping bags were and dug through one until I found Maribelle’s business card. She’d made me promise I’d call if I needed anything else, and this was definitely one of those moments. I pulled out my phone and dialed her number.
Mrs. English had bought me a gorgeous navy blue gown. It really was spectacular, and it looked amazing on me. But it was also not me at all. These boots Deacon gave me to wear tonight was all the permission I needed to actually be myself. I had a plan…a little gift of my own for Deacon…I just needed some help to do it.
“Hello, this is Maribelle, how can I help you?” She answered with her soft southern twang.
I grinned and peeked over my shoulder to make sure I was alone. “Hi, it’s Emersyn. I need your help…the dress Heather bought me for the gala just isn’t right…”
Chapter Twenty-Nine
DEACON
The sun had just set when Amelia and I climbed out of the limousine and walked into the Crescent Club. I was a nervous mess. I didn’t like the way my parents were going on about honoring us. There was no need for a fancy event because we did our job. There had to be an ulterior motive. I knew these people.
And I hated that Emersyn was going to be sucked into it.
Emersyn…who wasn’t arriving with me. And the gala started twenty minutes ago. My mother was going to be furious. The old me would’ve relished in that, but the new me was worried how Emersyn would be handled because of it. My phone vibrated in my pocket, I pulled it out praying it was my girlfriend only to find it was my butler.
“Hey, Stedman, where—”
“She is with me, Deacon.” Stedman chuckled. “Don’t you worry. We will be there in five minutes.”
I sighed with relief. “Okay, well Amelia and I are waiting in the foyer upstairs for you—”
“No, you’re not!” Emersyn shouted in the background. There was rustling and then her voice was clear and close. “Why don’t you escort Amelia into the gala? She’ll love sharing that with you. Then I’ll be there.”
I frowned and looked to my cousin who was picking at her fingernails and biting her lip. She looked nervous. “As you wish.”
“Thank you, see you in a minute!” Then she was gone.
“Alright, munchkin, let’s get you in there.”
Amelia frowned. “Where’s Emersyn?”
“She’s coming, but I’d like to escort you inside if that’s alright by you?” I held my elbow out to her and wiggled my eyebrows.
Her face lit up and my love for Emersyn swarmed. I didn’t know how she knew these things, she just did. I also didn’t know why I didn’t think of it first. Amelia slipped her arm around mine and let me lead her to the stairs.
“Does my hair look okay? My makeup?” She turned wide eyes up to me. “You sure?”
Damn it, mother. That should have been her job. Amelia had already lost her own mother, now the aunt she was sent to live with so she’d have a mother-figure was letting
her down. Emersyn had snuck out while I was helping Amelia with her paper – and I still had no idea where she’d gone – so when it came time to get ready it was up to me. Although I had to admit, it was nice. Until it came time for hair and makeup. I’d been on my fourth attempt at eyeshadow when help arrived – sent by Emersyn.
I smiled down at her. “You look perfect, Amelia.”
And she did. Her sandy blonde hair was tied up in a knot low on her head. She had just the right amount of makeup for a young girl and a sparkly dress to match. It was light green and made her violet eyes pop. Apparently Emersyn had picked the dress as well. My cousin seemed to be as smitten with my soulmate as I was, I just wished my mother would get on board.
I plastered a smile on my face as we descended the grand staircase that ended right in the center of the ballroom. Right in front of us was a grand dance floor, then on the sides were a few dozen tables on each side. Every eye in the room snapped toward us. The Crescent Club was decorated like something out of a fairytale, actually it reminded me of Saffie. Little balls of golden light floated up by the ceiling, shimmering like glitter bombs waiting to explode. Everywhere I looked there were white candles. Tall ones, skinny ones, short fat ones. They sat in elegant clusters on each step of the staircase and in centerpieces on the tables. My mother loved candles, she said they made everything feel a little more magical. She wasn’t wrong.
I glanced down at Amelia and found her grinning like she’d just won the Miss America pageant. When I looked up I spotted my mother sitting at the table at the very far end. She smiled then gasped and looked down beside her to the empty seat. Her cheeks flushed. She looked back at us with wide panicked eyes. I kept my smile in place.
By the time we got to the bottom of the stairs my mother had scurried over to greet us. She smiled down at my cousin. “My, Amelia, you look beautiful. I’m so sorry I wasn’t there to help you.” In her defense, I knew she meant that. Problem was, it didn’t count.
The Fire Witch (The Coven: Elemental Magic Book 7) Page 13