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Tracking behind Viorica and Vlad, we kept a steady pace up a steep path. Rock formations jetted out of the snowy earth, and I sensed thick magic thumping at my skin. I could taste the unique Druid powers swirling in it. It was telling me to turn around, to leave. Humans would feel this and stay clear, the spell keeping them out. Fighting against the instinct, I tangled my hand in with Raven’s, knowing she felt it probably as much. Turning to look at her, I noted her face was white, her muscles tense. Squeezing her hand, I tried to give her comfort, but instead of confusion from the spell, I somehow sensed terror building inside her. Like her need to run had nothing to do with the enchantment.

“This way.” Vlad steered us to the left, coming to what appeared to be a stone rock wall, a Pagan Temple sign displayed, when suddenly I felt the slam of magic. Apopcracked in my ear, energy sizzling over my form as we stepped from the woodsy, icy outdoors into a tepid hippie tent city.

Chapter 20

Raven

My mouth parted, my body twirling around to take in what was hidden behind the spell, guarding a community inside. Warm, humid air peppered sweat under my heavy layers. Men and women, dressed in a minimal boho style, smoked, chatted, and played instruments around a central bonfire. Tents, or what was more like igloo dome lodging, were spread across the terrain in intricate groupings. One large structure stood in the middle, framed from metal, a main community dwelling with a fire pit, seating, hammocks, blankets, and cushions—a giant living room where a lot of inhabitants congregated.

Lanterns flickered over the vibrantly colored blankets and pillows, sculpture art, paintings, and vegetable gardens dotting in between tents and throughout. At least fifty people, with a few kids, lolled around the spaces, talking, smoking, or playing games. Chickens strutted wherever they wanted, a few pigs and goats freely roaming around too. It seemed no one was abiding by the late hour, which humans deemed sleeping time. Even fae had given over to this in the new era.

The smell of herbs billowed thick in the air from those sitting around the fire, their attention barely lifting when we walked up, reminding me of a night I was at the Burning Man Festival, when everyone was coming down from their high early in the morning hours, still thrumming guitars and smoking weed.

“Brându?a!” Viorica bounced in, calling to a woman near the fire.

A small, dainty woman turned her head. “Viorica?” Her velvety voice sounded like a soft breeze.

“Look what pretty bees we captured.”

Brându?a’s bright yellow eyes widened as she looked to Ash and me. Dressed in a thin and loose purple cotton dress, her skin was darker, her hair a deeper purple, but I could see a likeness in their features.

Brându?a glided up, appearing even more beautiful and delicate than Viorica. Drifting to us, her attention went straight to Ash, her eyes brightening like the sun, peering up at him as if he were a god. “I must be pollinated by you until I take all of your seed.”

“Wha-at?” I choked out, surprise halting my feet, my brain slowly taking in the innocence of her voice and appearance and the bluntness of her words.

“I saw him first.” Viorica tried to wiggle between her and Ash, her brow furrowing, and I picked up on a little jealousy. “He will pollinate me first.”

“Like you two haven’t shared before,” Codrin mumbled with a snort, causing Vlad to glare at him.

Brându?a continued to stare right at Ash, simpering through her thin petal lashes, not backing down to Viorica. “My pollen tube is ready to be fertilized.”

My mouth dropped open, my head snapping to Ash. His one eyebrow quirked up, and the side of his mouth turned slightly up, finding this all amusing. “Trees and flowers don’t pollinate well together.”

“Oh, we’re open to cross-pollination here. We don’t like boundaries.” Viorica bounced with a giggle. “We do not want to actually reproduce, so cross-pollinating with a different species is even better.” She peered at both Codrin and Vlad with a lustful glance. “As much as we want.”

“We don’t live by society’s rules.” A short, beefy man with a beard and a booming voice stepped from one of the structures. Wearing butterfly boxers and a matching thin cotton robe with sandals, his expression was open and happy, though his dark hair, eyes, and facial features seemed familiar. “We follow our own.”

The girls moved out of the way. The human man was only a few inches taller than me but held all the weight, making it clear he was the leader. His personality drew you in, putting you at ease, yet I could see his gaze took in everything, rolling quickly from his men to us, taking in the unspoken situation.

“It’s a bit late and cold for a leisurely hike up a snowy mountain.” The man clamped his hands together, his expression turning more serious. “And since you were close enough for my people to find you and you are not dead…” He eyed Vlad. “I am thinking you are here on purpose.”

“Yes,” Ash spoke. “We were sent here by Reverend Baciu.”

The man tipped his head in slight surprise, his lips pinching.

“Told us to speak to Iacob.”

“I am Iacob.” The man confirmed what I had already figured. “And you are?”

“Rowan, and this is Scarlet,” Ash quickly answered, gesturing to me.

I tried not to react to his fake name, my eye sliding over to him.

Iacob’s cheek lifted, his eye squinting, skeptical of us.

“He said we might find sanctuary here for a few days,” Ash continued.

“Sanctuary?” Iacob’s bushy brows lifted. “From what?” Examining us again, he tipped his head. “He has never sent anyone here for sanctuary. That uptight bastard is not exactly a fan of what we stand for.”