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I was woefully unprepared for the human realm.

If my companions were as well, they at least faked it better.

First of all, I hated sleeping on the ground. The lack of bathtubs? Excruciating.

At least we traveled with two fire wielders who were kind enough to heat the small bucket of water that we used for bathing. Otherwise, I might have foregone it altogether.

The human realm was justcold.

It was autumn, the same as in Annwyn. But whereas Baylaur would stay relatively warm all year, the nights turning brisk, the chill had already descended here. I changed my cutoff leggings for the full-length ones and dug my cape out of the bottom of my pack. The others adjusted their own clothing as well, but I never caught any of them shivering the way I did.

Before the first week was out, Osheen had crafted me a special wooden cup with a clever sliding lid using his flora-magic, which Cyara refilled with hot tea every time we stopped. I sipped on it all day, letting the heat sink into my bones. I had to stop and pee more often, but I’d pay that price willingly.

At night, at least, I was never cold.

Not with Arran wrapped around me in the furs.

The tall mountains gave way to foothills and then wide, rolling golden plains. We were headed for the Spit—the Crossing, the human equivalent was called. Arran and Osheen knew the way, at least. The geography of the human world mirrored the fae realm, but that was where the similarities ended.

Instead of the Barren Dunes of the elemental kingdom, where nothing lived in a sea of rolling red-orange sand, the human realm’s golden plains played host to a whole myriad of wildlife. Even in the autumn, it was buzzing with life. Huge horned beasts with thick hides who moved in massive herds; tiny cat-like creatures that popped their heads out of the dirt just long enough to spot us and hide.

But game meant humans who wanted to hunt it.

We skirted the villages as much as we could. Arran scouted ahead in his beast form. If any humans saw him… it was as good as announcing our presence. I was certain there was nothing like him in the human realm.

But our choices were limited.

And eventually, we needed to go into a village for supplies.

“Maisri will go into the village. No one will pay a little girl any attention. I’ll monitor from the outskirts,” Osheen said over breakfast. We’d been compiling a list of things we required, Maisri dutifully listening while Cyara combed out her hair.

I was doing dishes. Another thing I hated about the human realm.

“What is that?”

My head snapped up. Lyrena’s voice was pained—

Osheen’s, however, was sour as a lemon. “A hat.”

That was being generous. It was a dark blue monstrosity that bulged strangely on one side and very much looked like he’d made it himself. I bit down on my lip, forcing my eyes back to the suds.

My Goldstone felt no such compunction.

Lyrena burst out laughing. Pained from trying to hold in her mirth—not actual discomfort. “What, precisely—”

“It covers my ears.”

Lyrena choked, pounding on her own chest. “What about Maisri?”

“If she can manage not to sprout any daisies underfoot, she should be able to pass for a human.” Cyara tapped the little girl’s shoulders. I glanced up to see that she’d fashioned her dark curls into two plaits, one hanging on either side of her head. Conveniently covering her pointed ears.

I rinsed the last cup, set it all out to dry in the feeble morning sun, and tried to rally motivation for the next chore. Camping was all about chores.

Osheen caught Maisri by the hand and started off, which meant my momentary reprieve was over. “I will start packing up the tents.”

“Lyrena and Cyara can manage.”

I’d been aware of my mate’s approach. He’d been terrible at sneaking up on me before the mating bond. Now, my chest practically purred with satisfaction when he was near.