Page 17

Chapter Nine

Nine years and four months ago…

The next day, Ena was sent to search for mushrooms in the forest. Their stores were low on some critical species that they used both for potions and cooking, so she grabbed her harvesting basket and took off into the woods surrounding their village.

She walked along a stretch of the River Wry past the clearing in the Sacred Grove, searching for pineroot mushrooms, but all she could think about was Ty.

That kiss had been…well, it was intense.

Just like everything with Ty. She knew she shouldn’t dwell on it too much.

He was leaving tomorrow. He’d probably be spending the rest of the day readying to leave and breaking camp, so they likely wouldn’t see each other again.

But still, the thought of him sent butterflies through her stomach.

He was gorgeous, yes—too gorgeous. And he had an air of danger and mystery about him that was unique, for a mortal.

Gaia, that combination alone drew her in like a moth to a flame.

But beyond that, he challenged her. She had already been way more adventurous with him in the last two days than she had her whole life.

And it was because he made her feel capable—powerful in a way she’d never felt before, and yet also…

safe. She found herself telling him things she wasn’t sure she’d told anyone else.

If she were being honest, it was those things that made a smile drift unbidden across her face as she thought of him, and that left her wanting more of him, even if she knew it was a fool’s hope.

She was so lost in thoughts of something that couldn’t last, but indulging herself anyway, she didn’t realize she’d wandered over by some of the travelers’ camps.

Small campfires dotted the landscape, along with canvas tents and bedrolls as visitors milled about, packing up their camps and readying to journey home now that Litha had passed.

Then she saw him. Ty was shirtless, loading crates into a horse-drawn cart.

His tanned skin was fully on display, his arm and back muscles rippling with every lift.

Not of her own volition, she stopped and couldn’t help but watch him.

He moved so gracefully for such a tall person.

There was another man helping him. He was older, maybe in his late forties, with dark hair and a powerful build that was covered in tattoos.

Tattoos were not uncommon among some mortals, but these ones looked very distinct.

He must be one of the uncles Ty had mentioned.

As if sensing her presence, Ty looked her way and caught her staring. A wide grin broke out on his face. He quickly said something to the other man, who threw a suspicious look Ena’s way, then hopped down from the cart and walked towards her.

“Ena,” he called, his long strides bringing him quickly to her. “How are you?”

Ena just stared for a second. He was slightly sweaty and out of breath from the lifting. The sound of his voice, deep and strong, sent tiny shivers up her spine. She tried very hard not to stare down at his exquisitely chiseled abs.

Clearing her throat, she said, “I’m good. Just mushroom hunting.” She held up her basket for effect.

Silence fell between them. All the comfort they’d developed with one another last night had seemingly evaporated in the daylight.

“I was wondering,” Ty said, rubbing the back of his neck. Was he nervous? “I have a lot of packing to do since we’re leaving tomorrow morning, but I was hoping you’d have dinner with me later tonight.”

“Dinner?” Ena repeated.

“Nothing fancy. I’d just like to see you again, before I go.”

Before he goes… Ena’s heart lurched at the idea of having to say goodbye to him, but it tripped over itself at his invitation.

“Yeah, dinner sounds good.” Ena smiled widely at him, and he smiled back.

“Great, okay. Meet me at the beach an hour before sunset?”

“Okay,” she said, her heart leaping at the idea.

“Good.”

They were grinning at each other like fools, but Ena didn’t care.

She gave him a delicate wave and kept walking past him. She felt him watch her for a few seconds after her back was turned, then heard him walk back towards his camp to resume loading their horse cart.

The rest of the day passed by in an anticipation-induced blur.

By the time her chores were finished and evening had settled, Ena rushed to her room to bathe and get ready.

She fretted for an embarrassingly long time over what to wear, but settled on a dark-blue linen dress with a built-in bodice that laced up the front with a length of black ribbon.

The neckline formed a low scoop, accentuating her breasts in a seductive yet tasteful way, if she did say so herself.

And she knew without a doubt that the color brought out her eyes, which were the same ocean blue as her dress.

Not knowing what else to do, she simply left her hair down, the gentle, dark-brown curls tumbling down her back.

Not for the first time, she chastised herself for putting in too much effort, for caring too much.

Ty was leaving tomorrow, likely never to return.

Nothing could come of their relationship.

She knew that. This should just remain a casual fling.

She was having fun, she told herself. That’s all this was, and all it would ever be.

Making her excuses to Greya and Heran, she walked along the well-worn path through the clearing which dead-ended at the river. Then she followed it upstream to her beach, the route second nature by this point.

What she saw when she arrived made her stomach flip and brought a wide smile to her face.

Ty was there, sitting on a large blanket that was spread across the pebbles and sand of the beach.

He’d started a small fire nearby, which cast a warm glow over his beautiful face as he watched the water.

Arranged atop the blanket was a large green bottle of something and two chipped ceramic mugs, as well as an assortment of foods in wooden bowls that she couldn’t quite make out in the low light of dusk.

“What’s all this?” she asked as she approached him.

Ty turned to her, seeming startled by her appearance. Ena smiled lightly to herself at finally having snuck up on him for a change.

“Ena,” he said, standing up. He stared at her for a second, as if not quite believing she was really there. His eyes slowly roamed her up and down, and she saw his throat bob as he swallowed. “You look…” he started, trailing off.

“Beautiful? Stunning? Exquisite?” Ena offered flippantly at his hesitation.

“Yes,” he said, his tone deadly serious. “All of that…and more.” Then grinning, he added, “My apologies. Words seem to have escaped me for a moment.”

He reached out a hand to guide her to the blanket. Gaia, he was charming. The casual grace and confidence with which he moved was incredibly sexy. And his stare, always so intense, sent shivers down her spine.

Feeling like she needed to break the tension, she gestured towards the blanket and asked, “What food did you bring?”

“Ah, some delicacies,” he described, gesturing grandly to the spread of food.

“Strawberries that I traded one of the other Auster witches for, some cheese from the Northumbra travelers, and some corn cakes that I made over our campfire. And of course, some cherry wine,” he said proudly, holding up the mystery bottle.

“Wow, you cooked for me? I’m impressed,” Ena said.

“Finally,” Ty replied jokingly, rolling his eyes. “I’ve never met someone so hard to impress, you know.”

“Hmm. Well, I guess I’m just not easy prey. Not like all those other girls you impressed with your dancing prowess.”

Ty chuckled, deep and dark. “You’re still on about that? I told you, those girls are long forgotten. I don’t remember their names, what they looked like. I wouldn’t even recognize them if they were standing right in front of me.”

“Oh, I see. And will I be so easily forgotten too?” Ena said, teasing.

“You?” he asked, all hints of playfulness vanishing. A contemplative expression passed across his face as he watched Ena, as if she were some unknown entity he couldn’t quite figure out. “No,” he said quietly. “No, I could never forget you.”

Looking away, he picked up the bottle of wine and filled up both mugs, handing one to Ena.

The conversation turned once again to lighter subject matter as they picked at the food.

The corn cakes were absolutely delicious, and Ty was entirely too cocky after hearing Ena’s praise.

They drank the cherry wine cheerfully as Ena regaled Ty with stories of her and her sister growing up under the strict guidance of matriarch Heran, like the time Ena had accidentally started a very small forest fire when she was learning how to use her spellwords.

Luckily, Greya had put it out before anyone noticed, but to this day, Greya didn’t allow her to start campfires.

Then Ty described what it was like growing up with his surly uncles and extensive relations back home, including how one beloved younger cousin had followed him around so much as a child that they referred to him as Ty’s shadow.

Ena also peppered him endlessly with questions about Yalta and what it was like on the other side of the Chasm Mountains, but Ty remained fairly tight-lipped about his home, insisting that it was nothing special, given how isolated and hard to get to it was.

As the stars began to emerge in the sky, Ty regaled her with a particularly hilarious story wherein he and his best friend went spelunking in a relatively dangerous and unused section of the caves near their village and got lost for three days before they found their way out.

They had to survive by eating bugs and salamanders from the underground cave pools, so now Ty refused to travel anywhere without several extra days’ worth of food, just in case.