In Rowan’s world the Woven Outbreak had decimated the population of North America and had left just thirteen walled cities huddled against the eastern seaboard. Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia, and South America had abandoned North America to its fate in order to avoid any Woven contamination. Trade, immigration, and even communication had been banned between the Thirteen Cities and the rest of the world for two hundred years. In Rowan’s world, North America was basically a plague zone that the other continents had decided to forget about.
Lily had still been unconscious at the time, but when Rowan learned that he could fly to Italy the next day if he wanted, or read any UK newspaper online with just a few clicks, he left the house to go look at the ocean for a few hours. When he came back, he sat down with Lily’s laptop and began his self-education in what the world might have been if only the Woven hadn’t been created. He liked this world, and Lily could see that he was adapting to it quickly. She started daydreaming about the future—about the two of them going to college and getting an apartment together, like regular folks. But even with his willstone-perfect memory, Rowan still had a long way to go before he could pass for a regular guy. He needed a crash course in pop culture.
Lily got a kick out of watching her favorite movies and TV shows with the excuse that they were “educational” for Rowan, although his response to certain movies wasn’t what she’d expected. More than once, she’d found herself defending the awesomeness of Star Wars or The Matrix when Rowan shrugged derisively at both Luke Skywalker’s and Neo’s fighting skills.
“It looks fake,” he’d said apologetically. “And there’s nothing special about being able to run up walls or do back flips over an opponent. That’s kid stuff for a mechanic who has even a halfway competent witch. And the way Skywalker handles his weapon”—he rolled his eyes—“twirling it around like a toy so it makes a cool noise. What an idiot.”
“But Luke is in space. You can’t fly through space in a spaceship,” Lily had argued, deeply offended for Luke’s sake.
“No. But I don’t need to,” he’d replied, pulling Lily close. “All I need is you and I can go anywhere.”
“But it’s not the same,” Lily insisted weakly. He nuzzled her neck and the part of her that wanted to argue with him dissolved completely. “You’re impossible,” she sighed, before melting against him.
“Anthony Bourdain is on,” Rowan had said, grabbing the remote.
“Whatever you want,” Lily sighed, relenting. He loved cooking shows and travel shows more than anything else, and if he found a show that combined the two he watched it obsessively. Lily couldn’t say no, even if those shows made her want to eat the entire refrigerator.
If the days were fun, the nights were nothing short of spectacular—although still frustrating for both Lily and Rowan. He would only let her explore so far, and then he’d insist they separate. His dreams were getting increasingly vivid, however, and Lily suspected that it wouldn’t be long before he realized that they had taken it slow for long enough.
Lily had even seen her father. That visit had been less than fun, but at least he’d stopped threatening to involve child services once he saw how improved Lily was. Even her dad had to admit that Rowan’s doctoring was nothing short of miraculous, although he stubbornly refused to use the word “magic.”
And now all that was about to change. Lily was going to go back to school and leave Rowan behind. Even the thought of being separated from him for eight hours a day was intolerable, but what bothered her more was that he seemed to want her to go.
“Check again,” Lily pleaded. “The bottoms of my feet still feel a bit tender.”
Rowan gave Lily a doubtful look.
Lily, you have to go back to school.
But you won’t be there.
I’ll be here, taking care of your mother.
“If your feet start to bother you, you’ll just have to go to the nurse,” Samantha said regretfully. Lily nodded her head in acceptance. She knew there was no putting Simms off forever. “And, you should call Tristan,” her mother added. Samantha’s eyes darted over to Rowan, and then away pointedly. “Have you two discussed how much you’re going to tell him?”