“Y-yes,” she whispers.“I’lllose my spot at theTempleofNatureif my eyes are turned.Andthen my whole life will beover.”
I give her a look of pure exasperation.
“Then why the fuck do you want me to fuck you?”Igrowl.
“Idon’t.”Herface crumples and tears start pouring down her freckled cheeks.“ButIhaveto ask you.It…it’s the only way to…to break the curse!”
2
ELOWEN
I wishI’dnever listened toMirabellaand the others.IwishIhadn’t let them bully me into coming along to the witch’s garden!IfonlyI’dbeen stronger,Imight have avoided the curse that compels me.
The tearsI’vebeen holding back for hours come pouring out and now what amIgoing to do?Thehuge, rough smith with the tarnished silver eyes and thick, curving horns is staring blankly at me, like he can’t believe what an idiotIam.
AndIaman idiot!Becausewho else but an idiot would go along with such a stupid scheme as sneaking into an infamous witch’s garden at night to steal her priceless wish flowers?
My mind goes back to last night—was it really such a short time ago?—to the dorm room at the temple…
I am already in my nightgown and curled up in bed with a book—Gorsyth’sBookofMagic, to be exact.Idon’t have much power yet, butIwant to be prepared for when theGoddessofNaturegrants me more.
But of course, she’ll only do that ifIremain pure.Iknow that well—it’s been hammered into all our skulls from the moment we were admitted to the temple to learn her ways.TheGoddessdoesn’t permit carnal relations between a priestess and anyone but herFatedMate.Andsince theSevering—when most of theOldGodswere pushed away and separated from the people—it’s almost impossible to find one’sFatedMatenow.Somost priestesses of theGoddesssimply remain celibate their whole lives.
I don’t mind celibacy—it’s hard to miss what you’ve never had.Andbesides,I’vegrown up in the temple.Someoneleft me as a babe in a basket with a note asking that thePriestess-Sisterstake care of me.SoallI’veknown my whole life is piety and modesty.Myinnocence has always been completely unsullied…untilMirabellaand her crew came along.
I didn’t have much contact with anyone my own age untilIwas old enough to be dedicated to the service of theGoddessand became an acolyte at the temple.Thatwas whenImoved into the dorms—vast, echoing chambers that hold twenty to thirty cots, all filled with noisy young women, forever talking, fighting, and giggling.
Truly, the drama there is never ending.
Though my previous bed had been located in a room a little bigger than a closet,Istill miss it fiercely.Mostly,Imiss my privacy.Youcan’t get a moment’s peace in the dorms—especially if someone likeMirabellahas it out for you.
I want to say now that it’s not my fault she doesn’t like me.I’mknown for being quiet and bookish—Ishouldn’t even have drawn her notice.She’salways so loud and funny—always making the other girls laugh and swinging her shiny, straight blonde hair.She’sa trueHighFae—unlike me—I’mjust a half-breed.Ishould have been the last thing on her mind.
Unfortunately,Iknow her secret.
Not long afterIfirst moved into the dorms,Iwas out on the grounds of the temple, searching for a quiet place to read.Therewas no peace or solitude to be had inside the drafty, echoing chamber which was constantly filled with the hum of female voices.Ijust wanted to read in peace.
I found a quiet spot at the base of a huge, ancient oak tree—what we call “anOlderBrother”—because it’s been growing for so long.
“Hello,OlderBrother.”Ibowed to the oak and stroked his rough bark.“Ihope you don’t mind ifIshare your shade for a while.”
Through my fingertips,Ifelt a very faint vibration—almost a humming—coming from the oak.Iknew from my training what that was—a welcome—an invitation to stay a while.
“Thank you,”Imurmured, stroking the bark again.
There was a bank of sweet rushes planted around the tree’s roots.Talland pale purple, they would hide me from prying eyes who might wonder whereIhad gone.Itwas technically chore time, butIhad already done my chore of sweeping and mopping the kitchen.Still, if one of theSisterscaught me, she would make me go back and help someone else finish their chores as well.
NormallyIwouldn’t mind helping, but right that momentIjust couldn’t bear to be around the crowd of girls that surrounded me all the live-long day and night.Iwas starving for solitude.
And that was whyIhid in the sweet rushes and settled myself with my back against theOlderBrother’srough but comfortable trunk to read.
However,Ihad barely cracked open my book on magical theory whenIheard hushed and laughing voices coming towards me.
“This way!”a familiar voice said in a whispered giggle.“Comeon—no one will see us here.”
“Are you sure?”another, deeper voice replied.“Ithought you lot weren’t supposed to fuck.”
“I do asIplease.”Thesewords were accompanied by a swirl of long, straight, blonde hair andIrecognizedMirabellacoming towards me.
