“Welcome to the party.” She smirks, plopping one on each of our heads. “This way.”
Light music lingers in the air as we weave through the crowd of Bluebloods. A few witches join hands and dance around the fires, singing songs in Ancient Fae, wearing bright smiles and rosy cheeks.
I catch Esther across the clearing, scowling at us over her wine beside a few of the elders and Mar’s mother. Calliope’s expression shifts when she sees her. She looks like she might come over, but Esther’s black nails wrap around her wrist in a warning to stay put. I feel a glimmer of anger as Calliope concedes, turning her back on her daughter.
As someone who’s had her fair share of mommy issues, my heart aches for Mar. But I’m relieved to see her focused elsewhere.
We reach Dover and Kai, seated on a wooden bench beside a roaring fire, engrossed in a story being told by the Matron.
“Please don’t scare them,” Mar groans, slipping into the empty spot beside Dover.
The Matron looks offended. “I would never.”
“Your stories are fascinating. I didn’t know you were a thumb sucker, Mar.” Dover snakes an arm around her waist, giving her an affectionate shake.
The Matron chuckles, patting his leg. “I had to concoct a special ointment to get her to stop.”
Kai and Dover break into laughter, smacking each other on the arm.
“If I didn’t know any better, I’d think the two ofyouwere mates.” Marideth crosses her arms, and Kai pulls Dover into a headlock, threatening him with a kissy face.
The same group of Bluebloods from earlier are once again huddled a few feet away, gawking and whispering amongst themselves. Kai twists around as if sensing their eyes on him and flashes them one of those million-dollar smiles.
“Ladies,” he regards.
Their jaws spring open, and they bolt, leaving a trail of giggles as they scurry away. Kai turns back toward the fire.
“Was it something I said?”
The Matron waves a hand. “Pay them no mind. Some of them have never seen a male in the flesh.”
“What?” I gape.
“Most of our clan went into hiding hundreds of years ago. This pocket world does not permit outsiders. You lot have been the only exception.”
“What about husbands and fathers?” Kai asks.
“Sacrifices were made for the greater good. This was the safest choice for everyone. Those witchlings are our youngest. They were in their mother’s wombs when we set up camp here. They have never known the outside world.”
“I pity those poor fools,” Marideth murmurs, staring after them.
“You shouldn’t. Life is much simpler in here,” the Matron says.
“This isn’t life. This is shelter. They’ll never know what it is to havetheir hearts broken and put back together. They’ll never have anything to make their joy stand out. They’ll never even be kissed.”
“Safety doesn’t come without a cost.”
“But eventually your line will die out,” I point out. The Matron nods.
“If things do not change, then yes, I suppose eventually we will. With limited access to red blood, we are weaker than we used to be. We must rely on nights like these to carry us through, and even then we face limits. This place will not hold forever.”
“Why do you stay here?” I ask.
The Matron’s voice is little more than a whisper, as if aloud, the words will conjure up something truly terrible. “The Seven.”
Mar rolls her eyes as Zadyn and I take a seat across from them.
“The Seven?”
