17. Chapter 17

17

Chapter 17

Rowan

" E velyn Blackwood!" Astra's hands are outstretched as we're led to her.

My eyes widen as we step into Astra Moonshadow's workspace. Shimmering crystals dangle from the ceiling, catching the light and casting rainbow reflections across the walls. Shelves lined with battered books and mysterious artifacts surround us, and incense hangs heavy in the air. It's been years since I've been here; I was just a girl when I visited last. Not much has changed.

"Evelyn Blackwood!" Astra's hands are outstretched as we're led to her. "What a delightful surprise. And young Rowan, how lovely to see you."

Gran embraces Astra warmly. "It's good to see you, old friend. We've come for your help."

Astra's eyes twinkle with curiosity. "Oh? Do tell."

Gran glances at me, her expression careful. "Rowan's been having some… dream issues."

"Ooh…intriguing." Astra winks at me. I wish I could share her carefree attitude. "What kind of dream issues?"

"There seems to be an…unwanted intrusion." Gran glances at me. "An external presence," she adds, her voice low. "But we don't know much more than that."

My stomach twists with guilt. I know Gran's trying to protect me by not revealing too much, but I can't help feeling like we're deceiving Astra.

Astra's eyebrows lift sharply. "Fascinating. You know, just last week, I guided a young witch through a particularly tricky dreamscape filled with shadow creatures. The mind is truly a realm of endless possibilities."

She turns to me, her gaze penetrating. "Tell me, dear, have you noticed any changes in your dream patterns? Any recurring symbols or sensations?"

I swallow hard, thinking of Darick's intense blue eyes, the feeling of his hands on me. "It feels…real," I manage. "More real than any dream I've had before." More real than reality, in some ways. Which is just nuts.

Astra nods thoughtfully. "I see. Well, we can certainly set up some protective wards for you. Dream intrusions can be quite dangerous if left unchecked. We're pretty vulnerable in our sleep state. You don't want something taking control of your mind."

Too late for that…

She moves to a nearby shelf, her fingers dancing over various crystals and herbs. "We'll create a personalized dreamcatcher for you, infused with protective magic. It should keep any unwanted visitors at bay."

"I think we may need a little more than a dreamcatcher, Astra."

Astra shoots a sharp look at my gran. "What aren't you telling me?"

"This…presence is ancient. Powerful." Gran's expression is carefully neutral.

"He… It feels like he's in my head," I add.

"Hmmm…that's what I was worried about." Astra purses her lips as she looks at me. "We're going to need something stronger then. We're going to have to set spells in place within your dreamscape itself."

"What?" I frown. "What does that mean?"

"We'll need to go into your dreamworld and cast blocking spells, Rowan. Find the access points and lock them against outsiders."

"You can do that?" I tilt my head. It sounds complicated.

"Not me. My days of dream traveling are behind me." She smiles. "But my son has grown very proficient."

"Heath? But he's barely—" Gran stops and then chuckles. "I keep thinking of him as just a boy."

Astra's lips twitch. "He's all grown up now, Evelyn. Just like your Rowan." She raises a hand and gestures to a young woman who's been standing silently near the door, calling her over. "Could you ask Heath to join us, Rebecca?"

With a quick nod, the woman leaves the room, and Astra continues.

I listen intently as she explains the process, conflicted by the thought of Heath entering my dreams.

"Heath will use a combination of dream walking and astral projection to enter your dreamscape," Astra says. "He'll guide your subconscious to create a shared dream space where you can interact."

She continues, describing how Heath might use enchanted crystals or herbs to enhance the connection or perform a ritual to synchronize our energies before sleep.

I shift uncomfortably, heat rising to my cheeks. "It sounds…intimate," I mumble, avoiding eye contact.

Astra's eyes soften. "I understand your hesitation, dear. But I assure you, it's a clinical process. Heath is a professional."

I nod, trying to push away thoughts of Heath's glowing violet eyes and the way his glossy black hair falls just so…

And somehow, it's not as compelling as it once used to be.

"It's simple, really," Astra continues. "You'll both fall asleep, and Heath will find you in the dream. You can show him around, and he'll identify the best places to set protective wards."

"What kind of wards?" I ask, grateful for the distraction.

"Oh, various types," Astra replies. "Psychic barriers, dream veils, even some ancient runes that repel unwanted presences. Heath will tailor them to your specific needs."

I take a deep breath, steeling myself. "Okay," I say finally. "I'll do it."

It's not like I have a choice in the matter.

I feel a flutter in my stomach as Heath enters the room. He's even more handsome than I remember, his hair slightly tousled and those striking eyes immediately finding mine.

"Hi, Rowan," he says with a warm smile. "It's been a while since we spoke, hasn't it?"

Hardly. I greeted him two days ago when the covens met. Not that it's unusual. I've known him since high school, and yet we've barely said two sentences to each other. I manage a small nod, suddenly tongue-tied. "Hi, Heath."

Astra claps her hands together. "Wonderful! Now that we're all here, shall we get started?"

She leads us to a separate room, murmuring to Heath as we walk, no doubt filling him in on what we've discussed. The space is dimly lit with soft, purple-tinged lights. Two comfortable-looking beds are positioned side by side, surrounded by various amulets and charms.

"Alright, dears," Astra says, gesturing to the beds. "Make yourselves comfortable."

As I settle onto one of the beds, I'm acutely aware of Heath's presence beside me. But surprisingly, I don't feel the overwhelming nervousness I would have expected. There's something calming about his demeanor, a quiet confidence that puts me at ease.

"Don't worry," Heath says softly, turning to face me. "I'll guide you through the whole process. Just relax and let your mind drift."

I nod, taking a deep breath. "Okay. I'm ready."

As I close my eyes, I hear Astra's voice, soothing and melodic, begin to chant softly. The scent of lavender and sage fills the air, and I feel myself growing drowsy.

The last thing I'm aware of before sleep claims me is Heath's steady breathing beside me.

When I open my eyes again, I'm no longer in Astra's workroom. Instead, I find myself in a misty, ethereal landscape. And there, standing just a few feet away, is Heath.

"Welcome to the dreamscape, Rowan," he says.

I look around. It's surreal to have Heath here in my most personal space.

"So, um, where should we start?" I ask, fidgeting with the hem of my shirt.

Heath smiles reassuringly. "Why don't you show me around? This is your dreamscape, after all. I'm just a visitor."

I nod and begin to walk, Heath falling into step beside me. As we move through the shifting landscape, I point out various features – a shimmering pond that wasn't there before, a grove of trees that seems to whisper, a path that leads to nowhere and everywhere at once.

"Interesting," Heath murmurs, his eyes scanning our surroundings. "Someone has been here." His brows pull together. "Someone who…who—"

"What about over there?" I interrupt sharply, gesturing vaguely toward a cluster of trees.

"Sure. I think we can set up a ward here," he says, gesturing to a cluster of glowing mushrooms. "And maybe a veil over there, by that archway of vines."

I watch, fascinated, as Heath begins to cast spells. His hands move through the air, leaving trails of sparkling energy. Words in an ancient language flow from his lips, and I find myself silently mouthing along, trying to commit the incantations to memory.

"This should help keep unwanted visitors out," Heath explains as he finishes a particularly complex spell. "But remember, Rowan, the strongest protection comes from within you. Your will, your intent – those are powerful tools in the dream world."

Yeah, right. There's nothing powerful about me.

I remain silent as Heath continues to weave his spells, intent on what he's doing. I'm still mouthing the words when suddenly, a tingling sensation erupts on my throat, right where I thought Darick had bitten me in the dream. It's warm and pulsing, growing more intense by the second.

Before I can process what's happening, a beam of brilliant light shoots from my hands. It arcs through the dreamscape, leaving a trail of shimmering energy in its wake. The light collects into an intricate pattern, forming a protective ward far more complex than anything I've ever managed in the waking world.

Heath's eyes widen in shock. "Rowan, that's…incredible. I had no idea your magic had grown so strong. When did you learn to cast like that?"

I stare at my hands, then at the ward I've somehow created, utterly bewildered. "I… I didn't," I stammer. "I mean, I can't. I've never been able to do anything like this before."

My mind races, trying to make sense of what just happened. How did I cast that spell? And why does my throat still tingle where Darick's bite had been – or hadn't been? Nothing makes sense anymore.

Heath looks like he doesn't believe me. "You've been holding out on us, haven't you?" He smiles. There's an odd expression in his eyes.

"Heath, I swear, I don't know how I did that." My voice trembles slightly. "My magic has always been…well, let's just say it's never been anything to write home about."

"Sure. Whatever you say." He winks, then goes back to his spells, until finally, he straightens and dusts off his hands, as if brushing away stray magic. "There. All done." His lips curl up. "That should keep you safe in here."

Safe in here…

Did I feel unsafe when Darrick came in? No. Not for a moment…because I was too busy feeling-

Stop it, Rowan!

"…time to go back," Heath is saying. He clicks his fingers, and the world disappears.

I blink rapidly as consciousness floods back, the dreamscape fading away like mist in the morning sun. My hands are the first thing I focus on, turning them over in disbelief.

How did I cast that spell?

It doesn't make any sense.

"Rowan?" Heath's voice pulls my attention away from my palms. His eyes are fixed on me strangely. "That was… unexpected."

I swallow hard, unsure how to respond. "I… I don't know what happened," I manage to stammer out.

"Well, whatever it was, it was impressive." His gaze is still locked on me. There's a new intensity to the way he's looking at me, so different from the polite disinterest I remember from our high school days.

I tear my eyes away from Heath to find Gran and Astra watching us intently. They exchange a loaded glance, communicating silently in a way that only decades of friendship can allow.

"How do you feel, dear?" Gran asks, her voice carefully neutral.

"Fine, I guess," I reply, flexing my fingers. "Just…confused."

"Well, you certainly gave me a lot to think about." Heath grins with a charm I'm not used to from him. It should set off a swarm of butterflies in my belly. It doesn't.

Gran and Astra share another look, and then Gran places a hand on my shoulder. "Well then, I think we're done here?"

Astra nods in assent, and Gran seems satisfied. But I can see the questions in her eyes, the same ones swirling in my own mind. What just happened? And more importantly, what does it mean?