Page 35 of Turret

Quinn smiled gently. “Now that you’ve taken this first step, it’s no doubt the beginning of imagining all sorts of possibilities for yourself.”

Every one that already filled my mind containedhim.

We admired the view a few minutes more before the tower gently guided us towards the stairs that had been created from the slates of the roof, which would take us on top of the turret. Quinn was understandably more wary by this prospect, but once more relinquished the fight at my earnest pleas. He carefully guided my steps, keeping himself behind me so he’d be able to catch me should I slip.

It was one thing to imagine this moment and quite another to actually live it. The tower’s makeshift stairs were small and rather uneven, making each step precarious. I’d never imagined I’d ever embark on such a venture, but Quinn’s presence behind me lent me courage. No matter what we faced, I knew that so long as we were together we could do anything.

The heat of his chest pressed against my back, dispelling the coolness of the settling night and proving quite distracting, making each of my breaths shallow as I ascended.

We reached the place where the tower had arranged for us to sit. The moment I’d settled, my earlier fear returned in a rush and a wave of dizziness overcame me. To think I was on thetower roof. I hooked my arms around his to steady myself.

“Are you alright?” he asked.

The world was still swaying, making it difficult to find my voice. “I think so.” By the way my voice shook, I wasn’t surprised he remained unconvinced.

He bit his lip. “Perhaps this wasn’t such a good idea.”

“I’ll be fine; I just need to get my bearings.”

Considering how high we were, it took surprisingly little time, but even after my dizziness settled I didn’t release his arm, grateful for the excuse to touch him.

The mischievousness accompanying his worry as he studied me made it clear he knew the real reason I clung to him so tightly. Thankfully he made no move to pull away, whether for my protection or because he desired to be as close to me as I longed to be with him. The tenderness filling his look deepened, causing hope to enfold my heart; perhaps his battle to resist me was more difficult for him to fight when sitting so high.

Once the world stopped spinning, I was better able to appreciate the spectacular view. The night was settling, allowing the first hints of stars to light the velvety sky. The silverly moonlight cast dancing patterns across the treetops, illuminating the setting before us, a place we’d remained ever since the tower’s fading magic had prevented it from changing its location. I found myself immersed in the surrounding beauty—the endless sky caressing the surrounding forest, the ocean of stars so close I almost felt I could tumble inside with one breath.

All of a sudden the scenery shifted, gradually at first. Rather than the sky growing darker and the stars brighter as night settled more fully, the sky began to lighten, as if the night were ending rather than just beginning. I exchanged a perplexed look with Quinn.

“What time is it?” I asked.

“Not long after sunset. Even if it were near morning, dawn wouldn’t be arriving this quickly.”

I was so occupied with the sky that it took me a moment to notice that not only was it lightening, but the landscape stretching around us was also changing. My breath hooked. “What’s happening?”

“I…I’m not sure.” Quinn’s eyes widened as he slowly took in the shifting surroundings. “From what little I can see, I think I recognize this scenery. I’m certain we’ve been here before.”

The forest melted away, replaced first by rolling green hills, then majestic mountains, before taking us to a lake that allowed us to see the tower’s reflection within the water with us sitting side by side at the top.

“I believe the tower is taking us to the places from its history, allowing you to see it now that you’re no longer trapped inside,” Quinn said reverently.

It was as if the world around us had become a canvas. Each vision unfolded one by one as the tower created each new place, painting not just the sky in vivid colors but the entire landscape as the tower moved through different places and times from the past three years without actually physically transporting us there.

The story continued; not only did the scenery transform, but the seasons changed—spring, summer, autumn, winter, creating a variety of visions in the shifting landscape. I saw flowers of all types and colors, animals I’d previously only seen illustrations of in books, and a variety of scenery. For the first time I was truly experiencing the world.

I rested my hand on the slates of the roof. I could feel the tower’s magic diminishing with every vision; considering its diminishing magic, it’d rendered a great sacrifice to create a magical experience on my behalf. Gratitude filled my heart for its matchmaking efforts. I needed to do whatever I could so its sacrifice wouldn’t be in vain.

I broke the reverent stillness first. “Did you ever imagine your post would lead you here?”

He chuckled. “Never. It’s been quite the unexpected adventure.”

He said nothing more, causing another question to burn my tongue, one I’d ached to ask for years but had never done so for fear of his answer. “Do you…ever regret it?”

The rising sun illuminated his concern as he shifted to more fully face me. “Regret what, Gemma?”

“Staying. The day I became trapped…” My fear swallowed the remainder of my words. I’d never spoken of that day to Quinn, and I’d done my best not to relive it.

But that was the thing with memories—even when they didn’t play across my mind’s stage they were always there, waiting in the wings for when I was ready to face them.

I’d felt too afraid to speak of it before, but I felt brave enough to now. I took a wavering breath. “The day I became trapped…Mother gave you a choice. You didn’t have to remain in the tower with me…yet you chose to. Why?”

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