“When?”
“When they are gone. I will wait.”
Nina knew that she should tell him to leave, never come back, but she could not do so. She wanted to speak with him too, no matter how wrong or forbidden. “I will try.”
That is when he smiled, and warmth filled his brown eyes and, in that moment, Nina decided to trust Orion Drakos.
The voices were coming closer. “You should go before you are caught.”
He grinned. “Until later, Nina, my lady in the grove.”
She watched as he disappeared down the path and then turned to find the Drakos women. Mothers and daughters born of or married to a Drakos, each of them a witch, approached from a distance. There appeared to be an animated conversation shared among the group, but they were too far away for her to hear what was being said.
The dryads stepped from the trees and approached Nina.
“That was not wise,” Basilia, the eldest, warned.
“I hope you do not think to meet him,” Cressida chastised.
“We should tell Lady Wharton,” Danea suggested.
“No,” Nina nearly cried. “Please do not.”
“He could be dangerous,” Zephyra reminded her.
“We do not know that he is,” Nina argued. “Please, say nothing. I would not have him in trouble.”
“It is not right,” Cressida insisted.
“I believe I am old enough to determine what is right…for me. I am no longer a child.”
“You are an innocent,” Basilia offered gently.
“And will remain as such, but please do not tell his mother or the others.” She glanced at the five women she had known since she was a child. “For me.”
“You plan to meet him?” Hermia asked.
“I am not yet certain.” Though Nina knew in her heart of hearts that she would. “Please hold your silence.”
Finally, the five acquiesced with a nod of their heads and turned to welcome their guests.
Four
Orion knew that he should retreat and wait for Nina to join him above the grotto, and he may have done just that had he not glanced over his shoulder one last time and saw five beautiful women emerge from the trees. Each had long, flowing hair, and dressed as if they had stepped out of Ancient Greece. Very curious indeed.
Five ancient ladies, his mother, aunts, sister, and female cousins would soon be in the temple with Nina, and even though Orion knew that he should leave, he could not. Instead, he stepped behind some bushes so that he could listen.
“Nina, it has been too long,” his aunt Eugenia greeted.
Nina dipped into a curtsey.
“I understand that my granddaughter has been visiting,” his aunt Cassandra said.
“Nephele surprised me one day. Otherwise, I would have hidden,” Nina explained.
“You did not turn her away.” There was an edge of warning in Aunt Cassandra’s tone.
“I know that I should have, but she is the sweetest child and I enjoyed hearing what was happening at Nightshade Manor from her.”
