* * *
That Saturday was a Leap Year,and the day of the festival. On February twenty-ninth I met Ethan at the entryway of the palace, all bundled up to head into the cold. It wasn’t quite spring in Malovia yet, as evidenced by the giant snow drifts outside. But hopefully, the weather would clear up in a few weeks, and we’d have warmth again.
Though I felt plenty warm when I observed the features of Ethan’s face. He met me with a gracious smile that made joy spread from the bottom of my core all the way to the ends of my being. There was a sultriness in his eyes that hadn’t quite been there before.
Things were different now between us in a big way. I mean, I’d jerked him off the last time we’d been together. It was totally hot.
I was wearing a new pair of knee-length socks today. Ethan had been all over me in the Conservatory, and it’d been because of those socks. I’d caught him staring a few times before at the other pairs I had, and knew he was into them. I ran out the next day and bought several more, because honestly, I knew they were insta-tickets into Ethan Nowak’s pants.
His eyes landed on the socks I wore and remained glued there until I was at his side. “You’re tormenting me, Miss Sosna.”
“A little torture is good,” I replied. I slipped my hand in his and squeezed it. “And I like it when you check me out.”
He smirked. “I’m certain you do.”
We walked into the main courtyard. “What’s the purpose of this festival? It seems like the Arcanea have a lot of them,” I said.
“There are four festivals of the year, to celebrate the changing seasons.Boginavalis the festival of spring, and Milonna’s holiday,” Ethan informed me. “The Arcanea welcome the spring as it comes, blessing Milonna with a party before she warms Malovia with her light.”
Milonna was my goddess, and the one who’d chosen me to be her champion. I loved learning about her.
“Ale tents are set up in the main square in Dolinska,” Ethan said. “The party’s there. The others are already waiting.”
The tents in Dolinska were gigantic, able to fit hundreds of people. We stepped inside, where Arcanea were taking tickets at the front counter. Ethan paid for both of us before he wound us within the tables of the festival.
“Why do you always pay for me?” I asked.
“You’re my lady,” he replied. “Why shouldn’t I?”
“Well, I’d like to treat you now and then.” I nudged him. “You don’t always have to play the role of prince charming.”
Ethan smiled, like the idea was pleasant to him, but said nothing more.
Boginavalwas set up differently thanHeimskanun. Huge bonfires blazing in the middle kept the tent warm, sorceresses dancing around them. In a square arena, alicorns sparred in their animal forms, using their horns like swords while people threw coin and cheered around them.
Marked sold woven flower and grass crowns at vendors, which Marked bought and put in their hair. Ethan purchased two carnations from a girl selling them by the bunch, and handed one to me. I smelled it, and magically, the petals bloomed right before my eyes.
A pretty illusion. The scent of flowers was so strong in the tent, it was almost overpowering.
There was a loud band, which played traditional Malovian music. On the dance floor, couples twirled to the polka before coming together in a group dance. Long tables and benches were throughout the tent, loaded with food. Mugs of ale were everywhere, and at the back of the tent, giant tankards as big as dragons were being poured from every second.
It was clear by the tipsy Arcanea at every table that the main purpose ofBoginavalwas to get very drunk. The fae sang along to the folk songs played by the band, ale spilling from mugs. The Arcanea Alliance watched, police stationed throughout the tent to make sure a bar brawl didn’t break out.
An altar was set up to Milonna at the head of the tent. There was a statue of the deer goddess before the wide table. On the table were eggs, flowers, and seeds. A few children played with rabbits near the altar, giggling and stroking their soft fur.
Ethan crossed to the table. He kissed his flower, and laid it upon the altar as an offering. I went to follow his lead, though I felt a wiggle in my stomach when I touched the altar.
Milonna was my goddess. I felt a special connection with her. She was the goddess of romance and love. Two things that I was grateful to experience.
Yet she was also the goddess of fertility and motherhood— something I would never have.
I kissed the carnation.If it’s possible, and you find it in your favor, let it be me one day.
I laid the flower on the altar, aware that Ethan’s eyes were on me. He’d been watching. He couldn’t hear my thoughts, but it damn felt like he could.
His eyes scanned the crowd for our friends. “Where are they...?”
We didn’t have to ask. Even with the music, Stefan’s loud voice was booming across the room. Our group took up an entire table of our own, near the back right corner. Everyone was dressed in winter clothes to keep warm— except for Odette, who was wearing this big, overly poofy white dress that had the embroidery of flowers stitched into the fabric, and with a pink bow in the back that tied it altogether.
