It takes me a while to shake off the nightmare. I know it was only that and nothing more, it has to be. Hailey has nothing to do with anything going on, hell I don't think she's even had a vision, but I can't shake this awful feeling that I'm missing something.

Hailey shuffles her slippered feet through the kitchen and sets down some tea in front of me on the counter. She leans over onto her elbows and waves a hand in front of my face.

"Hey girl, you sure you're okay?"

Concern fills her green eyes. I nod unable to look away from them. They are just like in the dream, only more real and less evil. It was just a nightmare I keep telling myself.

My phone vibrates on the counter next to me. Hailey looks over at it and smirks, a real one that I haven't seen from her in days. Making me forget the dream.

"You two seem to be getting pretty serious," she winks.

I'm confused by her changed mood. After last night I wasn't sure how she'd be this morning. I was worried she'd stay in bed all day and ignore the world. I like that she's back to being the Hales I love, but something doesn't sit right. I assumed she'd be hounding me about what happened to mom's necklace. I sigh and place a hand over the empty spot where it once hung around my neck. A lump forms in my throat and I try to swallow it down.

"Phi?"

Her smile fades as she carefully studies my face.

"Sorry, yeah," I say, as I pretend to grab the necklace.

"You should ask him out."

I check the message on my phone.

"Looks like I won't even have to," I say, giving her a reassuring smile. "He just asked me out for tonight."

She clasps her hands together happily. What I don't mention is that it's not exactly the kind of date she's thinking.

"We're still on for girls day?" She asks.

"Of course, I just have to call into work," I say, taking a sip of tea. "Why? What did you have in mind?"

"Makeovers," she says with a beaming smile. "My treat."

I stare at her blankly, sometimes I hate when she attempts to pamper me with her money.

"I don't know..."

"C'mon it'll be fun," she says, attempting to reassure me. "Plus don't you want to look sexy on your date tonight. Maybe you two can do more than just make out."

She does her usual eyebrow wiggle, and her lips pull into a smirk. I don't know what's come over her and I don't want her to fall back into her slump and distance herself again. I nod in agreement, "Okay fine. On one condition."

"What's that?" She asks leaning over even further.

The look on her eyes makes me feel uneasy.

"You don't spend more than one hundred on any of it," I warn.

"Fine."

"Great!"

I excuse myself to call work and to text Rowan. I hate that I lied to her. He asked me out tonight to do research on what's happening, so I doubt what she thinks is going to happen will happen. Tonight is our break in. He'll be a little confused when I show up to break into Silas's shop all made over, but I've got to make it look like a real date to keep Hailey off my tail.

My phone goes off, and my heart skips several beats when I see it's another text from Rowan.

Rowan: Of course I'll pick you up, what kind of gentleman would I be if I didn't? I promise one day I'll take you on a real date that doesn't involve breaking and entering.

I laugh out loud and realize it's the first time I've done that since everything started. With a ridiculous smile on my face I respond.

Me: Where's the fun in that?

Rowan: Haha. It's no wonder I like you so much. Even through the mess we're going through you still find it in you to joke around.

Me: And yet on the inside I'm freaking out.

My smile fades a little, but still holds because talking to Rowan seems to help. The vision from when we were in that strange world pops into my head. I hear Silas telling the white dragon who I'm almost positive was mom, that the little boy on his back would protect me, and here is doing just that. I haven't told him about what I saw and I'm not sure I'm ready.

"Phi, you almost ready?" Hailey calls through the door.

"Just a minute," I tell her.

Rowan: We're in this together Seraphine and I've got your back no matter what. You're kind of stuck with me now.

He sends a winking emoji and it makes me smile again.

Me: I like being stuck with you.

Rowan: Me too.

Having a day out with Hailey really did help make everything feel a little more normal. We went to the hair salon, nail salon, and even went for massages. Haily probably spent more than a hundred dollars, but the day with my best friends was totally worth it. Maybe one day I'll be able to pay for something as extravagant as what she spent on our day today.

Back at home Hailey comes knocking on my door as I start to get ready for my date. She steps into the room with a white box in her hand. She's all done up like she's going out too.

"For you," she says holding out the box.

"No," I say, shaking my head.

"Yes."

She thrusts the box in my direction, and I know for a fact she's not giving up.

"It's for tonight, just wear it," she says. "You'll thank me later."

She gives me a wink and slowly starts to slink out of the room. There's a knock on the front door, it's probably Rowan.

"Fine. Now get out so I can finish getting ready," I chuckle and throw a small decorative pillow off my bed at her.

She giggles and then slips out to go answer the door. Inside the box is a short black dress with lace in the front and a V neck that dips just at the top of my breasts. I stand in front of the mirror admiring the girl I see. Today was a good day to refresh my mind and body and now here I am ready to take on a date with the most handsome and sweet man I've ever met, well - aside from Joe.

I grab my bag with the book inside because we'll definitely need that and head out into the living room. The moment I open the door Rowan's eyes find mine and he's speechless. His jaw drops and it's like he's frozen in place. I bite on my bottom lip.

"You're beautiful," he tells me.

He doesn't look half bad himself since he's playing the part of my date. He's not as dressed up as I am, but he's wearing a black button down and tight blue jeans. Cologne permeates off of him and it's a nice smell. Hailey's eyes dart between the two of us as a happy smirk appears on her face.

"You two kids have fun now, and don't do anything I wouldn't do," she teases.

The entire walk to the store from the apartment he holds my hand. He asks me about my day with Hailey and for the time it takes to walk to the store, it almost feels like a real date. As we get closer he grows quiet, then turns to me.

"Hey, you okay?" he asks, when I tug him back for a moment.

I nod, "Yeah, I've never broken in anywhere before," I say.

"Well technically it's not," he says, holding up some keys that he pulls from his pocket. "Silas gave me these if I ever needed to get in," he says.

"Well now you've taken all the fun out of it," I say trying to make my voice sound light and flirty.

Rowan gives a comforting smile and leads me towards the door. I've never gone through the back door before and I can already feel the buzzing of the books. The books around us drum with excitement as we step into the backroom. Looking around now in the natural light of the room I see a strange resemblance to the Isle of Dragona. The walls remind me of the green hills and the book cases resemble the mountains along the edge.

My thoughts are interrupted by his soft fingertips dancing along my bare shoulder. He pushes my jacket down off my body and it falls to the floor with a soft thud. My lower stomach is tightening with such pressure I have to press my legs together to calm it. His lips settle right against my shoulder blade and I release a shaky breath. Rowan spins me around his mouth continuing to devour my skin. I roll my head back and moan lightly. A small smirk plays on his lips and he continues to give small kisses all the way up my neck until they reach my lips.

"Thought you could use a minor distraction," he whispers. "Let me know if I'm going too far."

I crush my lips to let him know that I'm okay with this. I need to feel normal and this, whatever is going to happen right now in the back of Silas's store is okay with me. Gently, he brings us down to the floor. I'm cushioned by a soft black beanbag behind me. He starts to gently tug at the opening in my black dress as he softly trails small kisses down my chest just at my cleavage.

I toss my head back pulling him into me. Normal is good I tell myself. Everything around me vanishes, but not like I'm in some vortex, I'm just losing myself in the moment with Rowan.

"Better hope my uncle doesn't have this place under surveillance," he teases.

My lips tug into a gentle smile under his, "I hope not too or he's gonna get a show," I joke.

Rowan laughs and it makes me want him even more. I tug him down to me and begin to unbutton his black shirt. He carefully helps me peel it off his body along with his leather jacket. My hands roam his bare chest as he slowly slips my tights down. Rowan allows me to take off the rest of his clothing and toss it aside. I keep my dress on, but lift it just enough. Something inside of me clicks like this man is the one I'm meant to go places with, like he's always just been there even when I didn't know him. Everything about tonight, and everything I've gone through with him feels right. When he asks me to lose myself in him I do just that, and I do it with the knowledge the Rowan is going to be in my life for quite a while, and I can't wait to see where it goes from here.