Page 107 of Anywhere

“Yeah, it means to use this on you, so you know how it works. I won’t hurt you.”

“Aye, you can show me,” I said, but kept an eye on Mari as she walked around behind me.

“I’m going to smack this softly on your bottom. If it’s too much, tell me,” Mari said.

The thing connected with my arse, and I jumped forward. I looked back at Mari but realized it hadn’t hurt. At least, not in the way I was thinking.

“Can ya do it again?” I asked.

Mari nodded. This time I watched as she pulled her hand back slightly, and the flat wooden piece made contact. The shock of it hitting sent a tingling sensation to my bottom but also to my womanhood—or, as Rook called it last night, my pussy. I still didn’t understand the reason for calling it a cat. Did my womanhood purr?

“Dat be very interestin’,” I said, and Mari giggled.

“That it is. I’m pretty sure that both Rhys and Rook know how to use all the toys in that room. If you want to learn, all you need to do is ask them. Trust me, I’m sure they’d be more than happy to give you the tour,” Mari said, like it was a joke, but her eyes were downcast.

She pulled the paddle off.

“Cannie ya show me?” I asked, and Mari laughed again.

“It’s not like the stuff in the kitchen. I can’t just point it out and show you. You will want to do this with Rook and Rhys. They are your partners. Does that make sense?”

I shrugged as she handed me the wooden paddle. She walked away, and even though she didn’t say anything, I got the feeling she held a lot of weight on her shoulders.

“Aye,” I said.

She leaned against her bed and waved a hand at me while she smiled. “No, I’m fine. Hey, I have a great idea. Have you ever been dressed up? I mean, in a fancy dress like what I had out? That’s a silly question, you probably have never seen a dress like that before,” Mari said.

I shook my head, and she smiled widely, her eyes lighting up.

“Well then, I know exactly what we are going to get up to. You deserve to have a day of nothing but fun and pampering. Then we’ll go for a walk through the gardens and pretend we are queens,” she said, her voice shifting higher as she said it dramatically.

Mari dashed across the room and grabbed my hand before tugging me towards the closet. “I know the perfect dress for you, and it will go perfectly with your green eyes. After we will get Liam to do our nails, he is amazing at it.”

The closet was almost bigger than the hut all of us women from the coven stayed in all winter. I pulled on her hand, so she was forced to stop walking.

Mari’s eyes were concerned as she looked at me. “Is something wrong?”

“Naw, I’ma just wanna tell ya dat I be thankful fir ya bein’ nice ta me. I know dat havin’ me ‘ere is no’ easy, but ya ‘ave been so kind. Tank ya. I’za never had a girl me age ta talk to or sit wit or anythin’.” I looked down at the ground. “I like dis time wit ya.”

Mari closed the distance and wrapped me up in a hug. I held her tightly and wished that I could help ease the anguish that I felt inside of her. “Yer a beautiful soul, Mari, and I’za happy ta ‘ave met ya.”

“I’m thankful to have met you too, Elewyen. I’m genuinely happy that you were the one chosen, and I hope that you decide to stay,” she pulled back with a smile on her face. “All right, let’s get you into that dress, shall we? Oh, and I know exactly what I want to do with your hair.”

I wanted to give something back to her since she’d been so kind to me, and as I watched her pull out one dress after the other as she talked, I knew what I could do.

Rhys

Rook flopped over, and we both rolled onto our backs to stare at the ceiling as we panted hard. I never thought sex could be life-changing, but what we’d done shifted my world. Magical connection or not, we were made for one another, and now everything was enhanced. The walls seemed brighter and more in focus. My hearing had increased to the point where I could hear Rook’s heartbeat in his chest, and I felt it pounding along with mine through the connection.

My arm was draped over my eyes, and I wasn’t sure I could even get it to move. A few breaths later, I shakily pushed myself up to stare at the carnage we’d created in the library.

The candles were all over the place. Luckily, their wicks had snuffed out. I wasn’t sure we would’ve noticed if the place had caught on fire. All but one desk was overturned or on its side, and not a single book was left on the shelves. I vaguely remembered them flying around the room but hadn’t paid much attention at the time. My head lulled to the right, and a soft chuckle left my mouth as I stared at the book entitled Family Ancestors and Their Stories. Bet they just got a heck of a show.

“What’s so funny?” Rook asked.

My feelings for Rook were at the top of the list of things amplified. I went from yes, I can picture a future with this man in my triad, to I can’t live without him in a blink. It was a little unnerving that I could feel how Rook felt about me. If I could feel him, then he could feel how much he and this moment meant to me. The magic that had been penetrating our bodies seemed to fuse us together in this emotional bond. I couldn’t even imagine this being stronger after the final ritual with Elewyen.

Our eyes locked, and a smile spread across my face. “Apparently da ancestors be watchin’. Makin’ me kinda wonder if what we did will be put in a book?”