It didn’t look real. Almost like it was some facade someone had made to trick you into thinking it was real.
But… that was ridiculous considering Ailin Ellwood was one of the most powerful witches in the world, and his affinity was nature. Of course the powerful nature witch could manipulate trees like this. I mean… why wouldn’t he be able to do something I thought was totally impossible?
Sheesh.
Knowing Ailin was a powerful nature witch wasn’t something I’d learned by getting to know him and his family. It wassomething I’d read in my history books in school growing up. He and Seb had played a huge part in defeating the berserkers in the Berserker War back before I was born. They were actual legends.
Legends I knew in real life.
Legends that wanted my viramore and me to become a part of their family.
I wasn’t sure why that was hitting me so hard right now, but it was. Holy shit.
Maybe seeing an entire freaking house created by trees and a whole lot of magic had done it.
Good gravy, I was overwhelmed.
All around us were trees so tall, I knew they had to be hundreds of years old. They were covered in snow and frost, and for some reason, it felt like they were kind of… sentient.
Was the Brinnswick Forest sentient?
I’d never heard such a thing, but I supposed it was possible.
Tan came over, all smiles and happiness, waved me toward him, and said, “Come on. Let me introduce you guys to everyone.” He winked at me. “Welcome to the Ellwood Coven, Dain. Once you’re a part of it, you can never leave.”
I narrowed my eyes at him. “Way to make that sound creepy and cult-like.”
He laughed. “Just kidding. You won’t want to leave. This is the best family ever.” He sounded like he believed that entirely.
I glanced behind myself to check that my brother and the rest of Lanche’s family were following us. They all looked just as dazed and amazed by the house and the surrounding forest as I felt, but they were walking with us.
Lanche put his arm around my shoulders, kissed my temple, and said, “You good?”
Leaning into his side, I smiled up at him. “Yep. Really good.”
He gave my forehead another kiss before we followed Tan all the way to the backyard.
I sucked in a breath at the number of people gathered here. There had to be at least a hundred people of all ages, sizes, and species.
Holy shit.
Witches, shifters, vampires, mermaids, nymphs, incubi, fae, and a ton of others.
Holy crap. I’d never in my life seen so many different types of people together in one space like this.
And they were getting along.
Not only that, they were… family.
So many people were laughing and chatting and goofing around.
There was a buttload of different types of kids running around playing some kind of game I’d never seen before.
Honestly, it was one of the most beautiful things I’d ever seen.
Lanche leaned down to press his forehead against my temple and whispered into my ear, “I think it’s beautiful too.” He took a beat, breathing me in. “And now we’re a part of it.”
I sent him a smile and pecked his lips before taking a breath and squaring my shoulders. “Let’s check out the food.”
