A dragon shifter novel Chapter 17

Everything I Never Dreamed Of

The next stop is impossible to miss. The furniture shop rises like a patchwork tower at the far end of the street, its windows stacked unevenly, every pane glowing in a different colour. The sign above the door shimmers and rearranges itself with every blink: Furnishings, Enchantments, Home Essentials, Dreams. The moment we step inside, I nearly stagger. It is chaos. The best kind of chaos. Sofas drift lazily in the air like balloons. Curtains whisper to each other when you walk by. Rugs roll themselves across the floor in an attempt to be noticed. Lamps flicker in bursts of soft light, competing like fireflies, while mirrors lean toward customers, offering flattering reflections. Tessa grabs my hand before I can get swallowed by it all. “Okay. First things first: bathroom. We need a renovation box. The clerk, a squat gnome with round glasses, waddles over and produces a small crate no bigger than a lunchbox. It glows faintly, etched with runes. “Standard Bath & Wash,” he says, tapping it. “Plumbing, tiling, sink, shower, the works. Just

open it where you want it, and stand clear.”

“Perfect,” Tessa declares, tucking it into our cart. Then her eyes widen. “Wait, kitchen too. You’ve got the space.” Just like that, another glowing crate joins the pile, this one with the faint scent of herbs and roasted bread. From there, it is impossible to stop.

We pick out a thick, soft carpet, black with silver threads that glitter faintly when the light hits, like stars scattered underfoot. A bed that all but sings when you touch it, promising a perfect sleep. The headboard shapes itself into whatever design you like; I press my hand to it, and it moulds into the sharp curves of black wings. We get curtains that ripple with shifting colours, deep midnight one second, crimson the next. Lamps that adjust their glow to match your mood. Tessa squeals when one warms pink in her hands. Next are desks with drawers that whisper their contents to you if you forget where you put something. Chairs that shift their cushioning to cradle you just right. Then, the crown jewel. A roof enchantment crystal, glittering in a velvet-lined case. The clerk explains with no small amount of pride, “Set it into the ceiling, and the roof becomes transparent. You’ll see the stars at night, the sunrise in the morning, even the rain falling, but you’ll stay perfectly dry.” Tessa clasps her hands to her chest. “You have to get it, Allison.” I buy it without hesitation.

By the time we wander to the back of the store, our cart is stacked high with everything I’ve never dreamed of owning. Bookcases that adjust their height to fit however many tomes you cram in. Actual books, rows of them, glittering with magical ink. Enchanted blankets that warm themselves. A tiny kettle that brews tea at the exact temperature you want. Tessa chatters the whole way, her braid swinging as she bounces from shelf to shelf. Sometimes she holds something up and wrinkles her nose. Sometimes her eyes linger a little too long before she sets it back. Every time she looks away, I add it to the pile. A delicate silver lamp shaped like a rabbit. A fluffy blanket that smells faintly of clover. A set of glass jars charmed to keep herbs fresh forever. All of it because I can. When she notices later, she gasps. “Allison! You didn’t have to!”

“I wanted to,” I cut în, sharper than I meant, then softer. “You’ve been… kind. No one’s ever…” My throat tightens. “You’re my first friend.” Tessa’s eyes glisten. Then she throws her arms around me in a hug so fierce it nearly knocks me into a display of enchanted candlesticks. “Then we’re even,” she whispers into my shoulder. By the time we pay, we are both laughing, staggering under all of the bags that float around us, enchanted to follow wherever we go.

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The van looks like it is on the verge of splitting its seams. Thankfully, the clerk shrinks most of the big pieces down to palm-sized tokens, each glowing faintly with a rune. “Just put them in place and say unlock,” the gnome explains, wagging his finger. “Don’t do it in the car, unless you want a sofa exploding out the windows.” So into the rattling minivan they go. Tessa shuts the door with a buff and leans against it, grinning ear to ear. Her eyes glitter as she looks at me. “I’m not done yet,” I say, smiling back at her. “I was hoping you’d say that,” she squeals, bouncing on her toes. “Clothes, right? Please tell me you’re thinking of clothes!” I bark out a laugh, shaking my head. “Actually, I was going to say food.” Her mouth drops open before she lets out an over-dramatic groan.

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19:37 Mon, Jul 6 TMO.

Everything I Never Dreamed Of

“Food? After all this? That’s so practical it hurts.” I smirk, glancing up at the dimming sky. Lanterns strung between the streets already glow, the scent of roasted nuts and sweet bread thick in the air. “Well, it’s probably dinner time back at the Academy, and I’m starving. But…” I nudge her with my shoulder, “We can do clothes first. Then food.” Tessa squeals again, grabbing my hand and tugging me toward the nearest row of boutiques. “Deal! And Allison, trust me, we’re going to get you out of those stuffy uniforms when you’re not in class. You’ve got the figure for it.” I groan. “I think I regret this already.” But my lips betray me, tugging into a

smile as she pulls me along.

The clothing shops are a blur of colour and fabric and enchanted mirrors that lie in the nicest possible ways. Tessa practically skips between racks, shoving outfits into my arms faster than I can argue. Dresses that shimmer when you spin. Boots that adjust perfectly to your stride. Hoodies woven from cloud-soft threads that warm themselves. I have never felt anything like it. The fabrics are so soft, so delicate, I half-expect them to dissolve the second I touch them. Every time I try to put something back, Tessa gives me that wide-eyed look that says Don’t you dare, and somehow another pile ends up in my arms. By the time we stagger out of that store, my new enchanted bag is groaning. Not physically, but mentally, I’m sure of it. The bag holds piles of clothes, but it still feels

Now the lanterns strung along the streets glow soft gold. My stomach grumbles loudly enough that Tessa laughs and grabs my wrist, pulling me toward a food stall glowing with heat. We load up on paper-wrapped parcels and meats dripping with sauce. We get roasted vegetables charmed to stay hot and little pastries that glitter faintly with sugar enchantments. “Come on,” Tessa says as she marches us toward the van. “We’ll eat while we set up your room. Best way to end the day.” I hug the warm food to my chest,

Comments

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rela77

love this chapter, it reads like you’re there with them

7 days ago

75