I chuckle, knowing if she stares too long, Ash might bite. “Thanks, Sera. We’ll be ready to leave as soon as we’re dressed.”
Seraphina blinks and quickly drops her gaze again. “Right.”
Ash steps into the plain cream-colored dress. It’s like a giant nightgown with long sleeves. I raise an eyebrow at her teasingly and she smirks, slipping her arms into the light-gray piece that goes over the top. She efficiently laces up the front of the dress and adjusts the belt.
I smirk. “You look like an elven princess.”
“At least I’m clean,” she replies, poking out her tongue.
I snatch up the shirt that Sera left behind and raise an eyebrow. It’s a bit medieval.
One more day, I remind myself and tug it on.
Seraphina scurries away and hooks a brown leather satchel over her neck, then grabs a dagger from the table, along with a brown cloth.
“Do you have everything you need?” I ask, approaching her.
“Yes,” she whispers, not looking at me.
Great, now we’ve made her feel awkward and self-conscious.
“Look . . .” I start, but her face whips to mine, her eyes flashing.
“Please,” she hurriedly interjects. “Don’t say anything.”
Feeling uncomfortable, I instinctively rub the back of my neck as Ash comes over to us. There’s a sharpness in her dark eyes, a keen awareness that misses nothing. Not a single detail escapes her and her eerie sixth sense.
“Sera,” she says, her tone firm yet gentle, “there’s nothing to be ashamed of. It’s a normal reaction. Embrace your natural instincts.” Her words hang in the air, direct and honest, as if she’s trying to soothe the discomfort she knows I’m feeling. “Plus,” she adds, a slight smirk tugging at the corner of her lips, “now you can look forward to a future where you can freely delve into your sexuality.”
The bluntness of her statement catches me off guard, and I can’t help but choke out a laugh. It’s not that what she said is funny, it’s the sheer absurdity of how she’s trying to defuse the situation. But that’s Ash for you, always finding a way to cut through the tension with her straightforwardness, whether it’s welcome or not.
“What you did together . . . is that natural? Is that what men and women do?” Seraphina asks, curious.
“Yes. And if you have the right partner, it’s extremely enjoyable.”
“Just enjoyable?” I inquire.
“Fine, mind-blowing,” Ash adds, rolling her eyes.
“That’s better.”
Ash grins and hooks her arm in Seraphina’s. “Ready?”
The naïve shifter nods, biting her bright-red bottom lip. She’s nervous—and who wouldn’t be in her situation?
“Sera, like I told you last night, the decision is yours. Once we are safely out of this valley, we can discuss your options,” I assure her.
Seraphina pushes her black hair behind her ear, bobbing her head absently. “Okay.”
“Great. Then let’s go,” Ash urges.
Chapter thirty-seven
Kai
“You don’t always need a plan. Sometimes you just need to breathe, trust, let go, and see what happens.”
Ash lets her shadows slip ahead of us, their inky tendrils weaving through the rocky, barren valley like silent sentinels. The presence of her magic seems to command respect from the unseen predators lurking in the wilderness, keeping them at bay as we make our way forward. This isn’t the way we came in, but I trust Ash knows where she is going. My eyes roam over crumbling bones and twisted remnants of what I hope are animals that jut from the cracked earth.
