“No, that’s the truth. When two scents mingle, it usually means that some sort of bond was activated.Consummated,” she adds, wiggling her brows.
“So everyone cansmellthat we’ve been together?”
She nods. Talk about a scarlett letter.
“Well, please. Don’t spare me the gory details.”
“I could never repeat such things. I’m a lady.”
She lets out a cackle as we reach the clearing. A cluster of young Bluebloods is gathered behind the well, frozen in stillness, wide eyes fixed across the glade. We stop beside them.
“What is it?”
One of the girls lifts a trembling finger. We follow her gaze toward Kai, shirtless and sweat-slicked, swinging an axe through the air and bringing it down through the center of a log. The girls gasp as the wood cracks into two perfectly even halves and topples to the grass.
“Oh, that’s just Kai,” Mar assures them.
He looks up, giving them a polite wave. Another loud gasp and they skitter off in opposite directions, dispersing among the camp.
Mar and I burst into laughter.
“I think you’ve got some admirers,” I call to him.
“What else is new?” Kai sticks the blade of the axe in the chopping block, shielding his eyes from the sun. Zadyn finishes setting down a pile of chopped wood. Dusting off his hands, he walks up to me.
“Hi.”
“Hi.” I know I’m smiling like an idiot, but I take comfort in the fact that he is too, so at least we look stupid together.
Mar’s eyes openly dart between us. “Deargods, you two.” She makes a retching sound and spins on her heel to greet her mate.
“I learned something new today,” I boast.
“Is that so?” Zadyn takes the basket from my hands and sets it down beside us.
“If I had known that when fae sleep together their scents are a dead giveaway, I would’ve sprayed some perfume or something.”
“If you had done that, I would have made you bathe before you walked out the door and then scented you all over again.”
My jaw hits the ground like a goddamn cartoon character.
“Oh, you would havemademe?”
He nods, deadly serious. “See, there’s a reason for everything in this world—in nature. The mingling of scents tells everyone when a female is taken. It’s a warning for other males to stay away. And I want every living thing on this earth to know that you…are very much taken.”
His fingers slide over my waist. And just like that, I’m fucking drenched. I fight to keep my face neutral as I nod.
“I’m okay with that.”
A lopsided grin blooms on his face, turning him even more handsome, and I feel an actual tug on my heart.
I’m givena white dress with blue embroidery to match the other witches. Zadyn and I follow the rising smoke to the clearing where three giant fires light up the dark night. The soft breeze ruffles the vibrant garlands strung from the towering oaks, sending a dusting of colorful petals through the meadow. I smile up at the tiny fae lights suspended around us, twinkling like little fireflies. Overhead hangs the moon, the star of the show, shining so wickedly bright.
Zadyn drops his mouth to my ear, a smile in his voice. “Look at Furi.”
I turn to find my dragon sitting on her hind legs toward the edge of the clearing, surrounded by a group of young witches. They toss up flowers, delighting as Furi catches them like grapes in her mouth. She purrs, reveling in the attention.
Mar stands waiting to greet us, a row of flower crowns slung over her arm.
