The Incandescent | Book 7 | The Fairy arc trilogy

Chapter 16 ~ The Evidence of an Iredescent Multiverse

The lack of warmth was what woke her. Ireyna turned on her side, feeling cold despite the long-sleeved shirt and pants she slept in. It hadn't been a nightgown kind of night, since Ireyna went to bed alone shortly after coming home. Mara and Drave were already in bed, but Killian and Erasmo weren't home. Ireyna assumed it was due to Killian's work, so Ireyna changed into simple night clothes, assuming Killian would return home later that night.

Steel blue irises appeared from underneath dark lashes, confused by the absence of Killian's arms. He usually held her during the night, her body nestled comfortably in his warm embrace as he cuddled her, but there was no warm embrace, no cuddle, no hug, no kisses or touches, nothing but the rustle of the bedsheets as Ireyna moved, finally waking up.

Worry arose when Ireyna realized Killian hadn't come home; he was gone the entire night. Ireyna sent him a message before she set the comect on the nightstand and got off the bed.

Ireyna looked in the mirror as she brushed her thigh-length hair, using her power to form blue roses in her hair. She changed into a fluorescent purple dress, with jewelry to match the roses, before regarding the discarded clothing from last night.

Among those clothes was the dress she wore at the library. Casim's words appeared in her mind, reminding Ireyna of the tangible hope he offered. The hope Ireyna accepted and held in her hand.

Then Ireyna heard Mara call her name. Startled out of her trance, Ireyna stashed the butterfly communicator in her dress pocket, her long hair pushed forward on her body to conceal, just as Mara entered the bedroom.

"Good morning, Mara. I was just taking these clothes to the laundry."

Mara grabbed the dirty clothes and tossed them in a laundry basket in the hallway, seizing Ireyna's hand and taking her downstairs.

Blackberry pancakes with rose petals and saffron awaited them. It was Killian's recipe, perfected with the addition of amaretto crème. Mara poured the tea into three cups, leaving an extra cup for Killian in case he showed up. But Killian didn't show up, and neither did Erasmo.

"Where did that come from?" Ireyna asked, motioning towards the cake container.

"Casim gave it to me. I visited him last night."

Ireyna nearly dropped her tea cup in surprise. "You visited Casim?"

"Of course I did. I'm a private detective. I investigate any suspicious person. Casim ranked high on the suspicious person list. I wanted to make sure he wasn't doing anything that would result in an arrest. A tiramisu gift wasn't worthy of an arrest." Though Mara kept her words light, there was a harsh undertone that implied she would not hesitate to act if things went south.

"He gifted the tiramisu? And you accepted it?"

"He was kind and hospitable." Mara retrieved the cake container and set it on the table. "Let's enjoy, shall we?" Mara said, reminding Ireyna of Killian in the way she spoke.

Tiramisu was made with savoiradi ladyfinger cookies, dipped in coffee, layered with a delectable, whipped mixture of eggs, sugar, and mascarpone cream, topped with chocolate cocoa.

Monshalowan tiramisu was light and airy, unlike the sparkly tiramisu of planet Iredescent, nor the Earth tiramisu decadent with indulgent flavor. Nonetheless, tiramisu was the most delicious dessert in the galaxy.

Afterwards, Mara and Drave played mavellors, and Ireyna went upstairs to Killian's library. Black bookshelves glimmered with iridescent sparkles, giving the library a marvelous gothic touch.

Killian loved candles, lighting them while he worked or read books. Ireyna lit some, watching the yellow flames turn purple at the top. Motion sensor lights followed Ireyna as she walked.