Chapter 106

Oliver

My mate lay sleeping while I was up, looking out the window. I planned on making this honeymoon RIGHT. I wouldn’t mess this up; she Deserved a nice peaceful time, and I knew thanks to Penny where to take her. I hoped I left her with enough energy, but so long as I fed the necklace, I think she would be ok. When she called this morning she sounded chipper and said she was fine. She even offered to stay and guard the office, making sure that no one would enter and I allowed her to, but I took the spellbook with me. It was probably one of the most important of the things I’d taken. I knew a few things about magic, not much compared to an actual witch, but I Could perform it.

However I didn’t take it with me for that, it was more so that if someone tried to find it, it would be with Me in another country, not my office.

“Oliver?” Winter asked sleepily.

“I’m over here.” I told her with a small smile, and her eyes became blue. It was nice to see her come out if even for a moment, and not cause Autumn to get weak.

She stretched, and walked to the coffee maker. It was French styled, and she put it on the stove to boil. This place was set up almost like my home, only the furniture here was a nice light blue that matched the lighter blue walls. It was small, being a traditional apartment from the late 1800’s, but it had been fitted with a gas fireplace, stove, and modern appliances. There was also a small balcony that looked to the street, and the windows that faced a large park on the other side of the place made me think to buy a condo here…. It wouldn’t be a bad thing.

The stove also had six burners now that I looked at it, and that was what made me like this place, in case I chose to cook for her or something. It felt good feeding your mate, because even though it wasn’t hunting, I was still providing food in some way.

“It’s ready, but there’s no sugar or cream.” She said placing two cups of black coffee on the counter.

“That’s fine…. This gives me a good memory.” I said taking a sip.

“Was it when you were with your dad?” She asked. I smiled.

“Yeah, we’d have a cup before hunting. It would look just like this; cold and snowy, oh and Chase would come along too. He was usually the one complaining that we could just Buy it at the store, but there’s nothing like killing your own meat and sharing it with pack.” I said taking her hand. “Just because you can’t as a wolf doesn’t mean I can’t teach you how to use a bow or a gun either… a bow’s better though.”

“Why’s that?” She asked. “That sounds like it would be fun too. When I was a kid, I did archery instead of gym. The principal said that I didn’t have enough credits to do it.”

“Ah, that sounds like an excuse. You couldn’t shift, so they put you in Omega classes.” I said with a smile, and she returned it.

I could see that Winter looked a little down about it, but I would reassure her that she was included in this. I pressed my forehead to hers. Winter whined, but I could tell that Autumn held it back well enough that no sound came out. That I was glad for; it meant that she was controlling her better than I originally thought….

“I don’t know why she’s upset.” Said Autumn.

“She wants to hunt with me now that I’ve talked about it, but that cannot be. Your body is not wolf enough to shift, but that gives you additional privileges, like riding me like a horse. Maybe next time I race your grandpa, I can get a saddle.” I chuckled, and she did too.

“And I can put ribbons in your fur too.” She said as a joke, and it was Then that East had a problem.

“I don’t think my wolf would let you.” I warned playfully, taking a sip.

We shared our coffee, and I put her in the purple bubble coat that I got for her. I’d gotten an army of these things. It was double the fluff, double the warmth, and she hated every second of that. I didn’t want her to get sick, and she didn’t either, but she always complained that she would be fine.

I wasn’t so sure. She was still human enough to get ill, so it was my responsibility to make sure that didn’t happen. Plus, if I was being completely honest… she looked cute. This one had a little ribbon on the zipper.

I held her hand and we went outside, being met by the briss wind that would have knocked her over if not for me holding her hand. The sidewalk was also a little icy, and I made sure that when we walked to the car, that I held her up. I got in after her, and I got on the highway. I had a place in mind for her, one I’d heard about as more of a rumor than anything else, but if it panned out, she’d appreciate it. If not, then there were other more generic places that I could go that would make her happy.

The ride was only 30 minutes, but the entire way she asked ‘were we there yet’, or ‘where are you taking us’, but I held firm. East would’ve cracked likely the first time she asked, but thankfully I held the reigns.

I pulled into a parking lot that looked pretty boring on the outside, even though everything was in a language I didn’t know. The building was no bigger than a two story house. Honestly because of the very few cars that were out there, someone would likely drive past this place thinking it was. The business had no name, so asking around if I’d gotten lost would have gotten me nowhere. Thankfully Doogle was on my side, and the translation app I got could translate signs, and was incorporated with GPS as well, but just in case, I’d already texted Lucas to be ready if I called.

“What is this place?” She asked, and I decided to make her wait a little longer.

“You’ll see.” I smiled getting out the car, taking her hand.

She held onto my arm and I escorted her in. The door man was a male fire witch who’s eyes were a sunset orange. We actually had a few of them at home, though this guy was from a different coven than those who worked at the precinct. In New Apple, fire witches protected the holding cells, warding

Inside this lobby however, there was a grand fireplace, and the room looked bigger on the inside than it did on the outside. The threshold of the door was magic, meaning that anyone who wasn’t of supernatural birth could not enter. Autumn could because of her wolf. Inside here was a white marbled room that looked akin to one you’d see from ancient Egypt. Pillars jutted to the 25 foot ceiling, whereas they also had fountains cascade down them like waterfalls.

“Lord Gray I presume.” He said gruffly with crossed arms. I nodded and he bowed.

“I seek to go beyond the gate, to see the unseen, and hear the unheard.” I said seeing him lift a magical velvet rope that I saw, but I don’t think Autumn could. She gasped a little, while I stood firm, and I walked in first through the door.

Inside was a wild, but well-manicured green garden, one that held witches flying on brooms and fairies flying high to the glass ceiling. There were shifted unicorns drinking from a stream of glass-clear water, and there were also plants that literally glowed light blues and pinks by marble seats to keep them warm. But what I came for was there. It was why I was more than happy to come to this country.

“Welcome to the Tree of History.” I told her. The thing was a massive oak with an archway that had to be at least as tall as the ceiling of the other room. It held birds of every color, along with tiny white flowers scattered here and there on its branches.

I took Autumn’s coat for her. She was speechless. The tree had to be as big around as the fake house that hid it from the world in a different realm altogether. One made by the witches of fire covens all over the world in collaboration with other magic casting creatures to keep this from humans.

“What is this place?” She asked.

“This is the Realm of Respite. This place is literally a living museum. I thought you’d like to go inside that portal in the tree and see the exhibits. I thought about taking you to a human one…. But this place holds art and history lost to time.” I said with a smile. It didn’t hurt that I’d used Doogle to translate the sign so I could impress her.

“…. Who all knows about this place?” She asked, and I walked her slowly down a cobblestone path.

“Only elders and leaders of covens and unicorn herds. Shifters too, but only the High Council would be allowed to enter here.” I said with a smile.