The Skye Trilogy: Isle of Skye, Isle of Night, and Isle of Dawn. * Bonus: Scrumptious Skye Confections Cookbook* (102 page)

“We have all the time that you need,” he said confidently. “Fonn is of no concern right now.”

“Why do you say that?” I demanded. “Is there something going on that I need to know about?”

Mathias went silent, and warning bells went off in my head. “There is nothing of consequence that you need to know about right now. I have it on good authority that Lord Fonn and Lord Cual are running scared for the time being.”

I breathed out a sigh of relief. “Did you bring my backpack? I only ask because this whole nightgown thing is just so not me. I need my own stuff.”

“In all the confusion and haste I forgot but tomorrow I will go out and buy you an outfit,” he said

“Buy me one outfit?” I asked. “I hate to tell you Wolfie but I need more than one outfit if we’re going to be here indefinitely.”

“I will then come back, and we will both go shopping together in town,” he said. “I’m going to need to pick up a few things too and maybe we’ll, you know, get something to eat and make a day of it.”

“That sounds a lot like a date,” I smiled. “There’s just one problem. I don’t have any money on me. All my cash and few credit cards were in my backpack.”

Mathias rolled his eyes. “Correct me if I’m wrong but aren’t we true mates?”

“Yes but…”

“And what’s mine is yours and what’s yours is, well, yours,” he said

“Yes, that’s true but I don’t need you to spend a bunch of money on me,” I said. “I have plenty of my own.”

“Willa, it would take more than one day of clothes shopping for you even to make a dent in my fortune,” he smirked. “To be honest I doubt you could even spend it in one lifetime.”

“You know that’s the second time you have alluded to the fact that you are as rich as Croesus,” I said. “I never thought of myself as a gold digger but I have to say you’re looking better and better.”

Mathias smiled. “I’m waiting.”

“Waiting for what?” I asked confused

“You to start rapping,” he answered

I smiled before singing. “Now I ain’t sayin’ she’s a gold digger…”

“Ah and there it is,” he said

“Get down girl go ahead get down,” I continued singing as I stood up and sat in his lap.

We sat outside and stargazed until the air was too chilly for me. When we went to bed that night, I curled right up in arms and slept soundly. It was the best night’s sleep I had in a very long time.

Chapter Fourteen

I woke up the next morning feeling refreshed. I instinctively reached for Mathias and was surprised that he wasn’t in bed with me. I then remembered that he was going to head into town to buy me something to wear for the day.

I stretched in bed and realized that I was alone for the first time in days. Instead of panicking I smiled and laid in there nestled under the covers for another hour with just my thoughts for company. It felt decadent just to laze around in bed for an extended period, and I fully enjoyed every minute.

I finally roused myself to get out of bed and took a quick bath. I was just wrapping myself up in a towel when I heard Mathias come back to the cabin. I walked in the bedroom and smiled when I took in his frustrated expression.

“What’s wrong?” I asked. “Didn’t you have fun shopping in the woman’s clothing section?”

“Apparently none of these shops are open for business for a few more weeks. They’re all closed until Memorial day,” he explained. “I found one general store that carried outdoor gear.”

“Awesome,” I said. “I’ve always wanted a parka especially in the spring.”

“We’re going to have to go to Boulder,” he said

“Ok, so what’s the big deal?”

“Are you ready to be around a lot of people Willa?”

“I’m pretty sure there is a fairly low concentration of magically inclined people around these parts.” I answered

“There is a Wal-Mart nearby,” he said almost painfully

“What’s your problem with Wally World?” I laughed

“I refuse to set foot in that store especially on a Saturday,” he answered almost primly

“Well, I love Wally World,” I said. “Any place where I can buy food, clothes, and electronics while I have my oil changed at the same time is all right in my book.”

“We’ll fly to Boulder,” he said before throwing me a bag. “Get dressed.”

I looked through the shopping bag and pulled out a decent pair of jeans and a long sleeve red shirt. I looked around on the bottom but didn’t see any underwear.

“No panties?” I asked

“The only undergarments they sold were of the thermal variety,” he said

“Ok, looks like I’m going commando,” I said. “Thank goodness you didn’t throw my bra away or that would’ve been a bit awkward. My girls need support, especially out in public.”

Mathias just gave me a long look before walking out of the bedroom and stomping down the stairs. I was now looking forward to shopping with him about as much as I looked forward to seeing my dentist. I quickly got dressed and applied some of Katya’s makeup. If I was going out into the real world, I was not doing it with a bare face.

I skipped downstairs though because I refused to let Mathias ruin the day with his shopping phobia. He wordlessly went outside, and I followed him. I waited while he set the alarm and steel doors and bars in place. I climbed on his back, and we shot off into the sky. I had no idea how long it would take for us to get there, but I didn’t care. It was a beautiful sunny day, and the scenery that spread out before us took my breath away.

Mathias flew in and around mountains, and I knew he did that so we weren’t spotted by anyone on the ground. I finally gathered up the courage and performed my first spell in days. As I chanted the concealment spell, I felt calm and happy. There was no flaming fire or gusts of wind that came out of me after I said the words. It was exactly how I did it before I had these new immense powers, and I was relieved.

Mathias grunted when he felt the enchantment, but I knew he was happy to take a more direct route. We only flew a short time before a more urban area came into view, and before I knew it we were touching down in the heart of downtown Boulder right outside an honest to goodness outdoor mall. I had no idea where he would take me, but a mall with several stores was almost too good to be true.

I laughed when he looked like he was mentally steeling himself and grabbed his hand in delight. For the next few hours, we went from store to store. I tried to be as quick as possible but when Mathias started browsing the men’s clothes I laughed.

“You have been keeping a secret,” I said. “You like to shop. Admit it, you’re a closet fashionista.”

“You’re being absurd,” he scoffed

“I’m not the one with an armful of clothes Mr. Giorgio Armani.”

He walked away in a huff, and I laughed again. I went on my way around the large store and after grabbing enough underwear and night clothes for a few weeks I finally met up with him the shoe department. He was carefully looking over the men’s loafers with such detail I shook my head and walked up to him with my hand outstretched.

He slapped his credit card in my palm and went back to looking at the shoes. I dropped my purchases on a nearby counter and tried not to groan at the total. I knew Mathias was loaded and quite honestly I had
plenty of money thanks to my father’s careful investing but to spend almost a thousand dollars on underwear and pajamas still made my cheap heart sick.

I decided that it didn’t matter and to enjoy the day. After checking out what Mathias’s total purchases came too, I was proud of the fact I didn’t yell at the cashier in riotous indignation. I was still muttering as we left the store.

“Coming from a woman who has no problem dropping several hundred dollars on one pair of shoes, I find your hypocrisy on what I spent for clothing slightly asinine,” he said

“I know it doesn’t make sense but call me crazy if I think one plain black long sleeve shirt shouldn’t cost a hundred dollars.”

“It’s a quality shirt that will last for a long time,” he answered

“You could’ve gotten the same shirt at Wal-Mart for $14.97,” I said. “I’m just saying.”

“Stop,” he ordered. “Just enjoy the day shopping at the mall.”

“That’s a phrase that I never in a million years that I would ever hear from your lips,” I said. “Can you record that so I can play it over and over and over…?”

Mathias just shook his head, and I realized that this was his way of trying to make things normal for me. It wasn’t about shopping at the mall but about preparing me to be around people and acting normal. I stopped complaining right then and there. Four hours later, I gave his credit card such a workout I was sure he would need a new one to replace it soon.

I bit my lip though as we made our way down the street that was packed with pedestrians. We were both laden down with many bags. I had no idea how we would fly home.

Mathias stopped near a small parking lot and told me to wait a minute. I watched him leave with my mouth hanging open because he caught me off guard. Where on earth was he going? I asked myself. Was he going to fly back to the cabin and then come back for me?

When a sharp black Mercedes pulled up right where I was sitting on a bench, I sucked in my breath in disbelief. Mathias walked in and grinned. “Are you ready to go get some lunch?”

“Where did you get this?” I asked as I opened the passenger door and sank down on the black leather seat.

“I thought it would be fun to drive around instead of flying,” he explained before driving out of the parking lot. I could barely even talk. This car was the same model of vehicle that we had driven across country in many months ago when we first met. I was besieged with memories as he pulled into traffic.

“I can’t believe you did this,” I said in wonder.

“I thought the next few days we would drive around a bit,” he said. “Take a couple of mini road trips.”

I kept a big smile on my face for the rest of the day. After a big lunch, we drove around Boulder and checked out the beautiful mountain city. I looked at people in wonder as they went about their day. I saw couples holding hands as they strolled around and laughed together. I chuckled at the group of teenagers that were roaring with laughter when one of their buddies tripped and fell down.

I was delighted with the number of families that were out enjoying the beautiful day. I spied the most adorable little girl all decked out in a princess costume, and I tried to ignore the ticking of my internal clock that seemed to get louder and louder the more babies and children I saw. I had no idea where this longing was coming from all of a sudden. I had made peace with the fact that the likelihood of me becoming a mother was about zero percent, but I was still a woman deep down that would’ve liked a shot at it maybe.

I felt Mathias’s hand on mine, and I squeezed it tightly. I would never in a million years give up being with Mathias just for the possibility of maybe having a child. I did however think that when this was all over that I may look into options. I certainly had neither the time nor energy right now but maybe in fifty years or so.

I was looking out the car window drowsily a few hours later while we were on our way home when I noticed a sign on the highway. I straightened up right away.

“Take the next exit,” I said

“Why?” Mathias asked. “Our exit is up one more.”

“I know, but Wal-Mart is on this one coming up, and I need to go and pick up a few things there.”

“Willa, please do not make me go to…”

“Oh, shush it and pull over.” I said. Mathias sighed and got off the highway. I was grinning like a Cheshire cat inside. I did need a few things, but I just wanted to introduce Mathias to Wally World.

We parked in Wal-Mart’s crowded parking lot, and I almost had to drag him through the door. As I got a cart I almost laughed seeing him standing there looking lost by the front door.

“Oh for goodness sake Wolfie,” I said. “You can charge right into a fight with dozens of vampires but going into a Wal-Mart freaks you out?”