A dragon shifter novel Chapter 18

Building A Home I’ve Never Had

By the time we rattle back into the Academy’s courtyard, the sky has gone dark, and the lanterns lining the paths glow like captured fireflies. The air is quiet, save for the faint hum of laughter and chatter spilling from the food hall. Thank the gods. The last thing i need is anyone seeing me haul a small fortune in furniture through the boys‘ dorm. The enchanted tokens float in behind us like obedient ducklings, glowing faintly as they trail into the stairwell. Tessa stifles a giggle the whole way, and by the time we push open the attic door, we both burst out laughing. “All right,” she says, planting her hands on her hips. “Let’s make some magic.”

The first thing we unlock is the bathroom. We place the tiny rune–crate at the far end of the attic, whisper “unlock,” and step back fast. The box pulses once, then bursts open in a whirl of light. The air shimmers, folding outward as tiles lay themselves across the floor, pipes snaking into place with a hiss. In seconds, a fully fitted bathroom stands neatly against the far wall. Sleek dark stone. Glass shower. Brass fixtures gleaming under enchanted lights. A stack of fluffy, dark green towels appears folded on the counter, as if they’ve been waiting for me. I stand there, staring through the open door, stunned. “Holy shit.” Tessa just grins. “Told you.”

The kitchen goes next, slotting in right beside it. This one opens with a warm rush of air, faintly smelling of bread. Cabinets snap into place, in dark oak wood, with dark green accents and tiny golden knobs shaped like leaves. A stone sink fills itself with water. stove clicks on with a cheerful hum. An open wall at the front reveals the pretty dark stone kitchen island, perfect for serving or chatting. We set the little dining table and chairs just in front of the space, then unroll the enchanted carpet to anchor it all. It’s black, soft as moss, and shimmers faintly under the lamplight as it crawls along the floor, silver threads glinting like hidden constellations. I notice it slides neatly over the vent covers without blocking them, cutting out the shapes as it goes and hiding them just a little better. “Kitchen and bath: check,” Tessa says, clapping her hands, eyes sparkling.

We don’t stop there. We shove the old wardrobe out the door and start laying out the rest. Directly in front of the door, we carve out a living space. A pair of large, soft dark green chairs sinks into place, angled toward the wall where the television blinks to life. Around the television, we set my floor–to–ceiling bookcases, lamps and trinkets. In the middle of the space, we spread a whimsical rug patterned with stars and moons, its fabric glowing faintly like a night sky. It grounds the space, making it all feel cozy and

welcoming.

Then comes the bed. We wrestle the old frame out of the way with more groaning than grace, and I unlock the cloud–bed crate. The mattress expands in a puff of air, settling directly beneath the massive stained–glass window. It’s ridiculous. Enormous. Fluffy to the point of absurdity. But the moment I press my hand to it, I nearly melt. We dress it in dark green sheets, top it with a thick black comforter, and pile so many pillows against the black winged headboard that it looks like a fortress. Beside it goes the new wardrobe, sleek and charmed. A study table with drawers goes up beside the door, tucked into a little nook that will be perfect for inspiration. We hang midnight velvet curtains that swallow light and place soft lamps all around the space. The attic’s cold, dusty

shell melts away piece by piece.

By the time we finish unpacking, the space no longer feels like punishment. It feels… lived in. Homey. Earthy tones spread everywhere. Dark greens. Deep browns. Soft blacks. The occasional glint of silver from enchanted touches. The rug in the living space glows faintly. The lamps shift their warmth to match the cozy hum of the room. The carpet underfoot is softer than anything I’ve ever stepped on. I spend a little extra time in the workspace by the door. I place vials and jars neatly across shelves. Hill’s list of books piles up in a tidy stack, along with cauldrons, stirring rods, and bundles of herbs Tessa insists are essential. A green- shaded lamp perches on the corner of the desk, its light clear and focused, perfect for hours of practice. When we finally dump our bags and collapse onto the couches, I just… stare. Moonlight pours through the stained–glass window, spilling across my new bed. The starry rug shimmers faintly beneath our feet. The kitchen counters gleam like they’ve always been there. It’s warm. It’s safe. It’s mine. I exhale slowly, sinking deeper into the cushions.

OOG

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19:37 Mon, Jul 6 TMO.

Building A Home I’ve Never Had

Tessa stretches her arms above her head, groaning as she sinks further into the couch. “Not bad at all.” Then her eyes light up, that mischievous sparkle returning. “Oh! Wait. There’s just one more thing.” She digs through one of the enchanted bags and pulls out a small velvet box, tossing it at me. I catch it, frowning. “What is this?”

“The ceiling enchantment,” she says, grinning like she’s been waiting all night for this reveal. “You didn’t think I was going to let you sleep under dusty rafters forever, did you?” A slow smile tugs at my lips. I rise from the couch, flip the box open, and lift out the crystal inside. It shimmers faintly with blue and silver, humming with magic against my palm. Tessa hops to her feet, practically bouncing. We lock eyes, grinning like conspirators. I throw the crystal into the air and shout, “Unlock!” The crystal bursts in a shower of sparks, dissolving as the magic spreads across the attic roof. The wooden beams shimmer, then fade away. Above us, the night sky stretches, endless and impossibly clear. Stars twinkle in silver clusters. The moon casts its glow across the stained–glass window and the fortress of pillows beneath it. Wisps of clouds drift lazily, and faint streaks of shooting stars flash across the black velvet sky. We stand there, heads tilted back, laughter bubbling out of us in awe. “Now,” Tessa whispers, her voice soft but brimming

with triumph, “it’s perfect.”

Tessa claps her hands together. “Okay, food time before I faint.” I laugh, shaking my head, and reach for the bags we hauled back from town. The rich smell fills the room the second I open them. Pastries still glitter faintly with sugar charms, and everything is still just as warm as if they’d just left the oven. Tessa flips on the television, and we sprawl across the couches, plates balanced on our knees as we dig in. “Oh gods,” Tessa groans around a mouthful of potato. “This is so much better than the dining hall.”

“Mm,” I hum, chewing carefully. The meat is tender, flavoured with something herby I can’t quite place. It’s nicer than anything I’ve eaten in years, and better still, it’s shared with a friend.

Comments

M Mickey

I really like Tessa, I hope her friendship is genuine A

7 days ago

71

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