Page 116 of Huntress

“Is that how it sounds?”

“Yes. Your mother is a Goddess of Death, but does she not also serve her people? You pray to her for protection, and I’m willing to bet she has other facets.”

“You wouldn’t be wrong,” she agreed. “She wears a rainbow of robes, each representative of one of her aspects. Protection, wisdom, luck, wealth, love—you name it, someone has prayed to her about it. She’s the holy mother of death, but she cares for people during life as well.”

“My father led our pack, but he never shied away from any job that needed to be done. No matter how dirty, boring, or far outside of his skill set it was. He’d take the opportunity to learn and help his people. That’s what your squad has been asked to do here. You find it humbling, but it’s an opportunity to help the people you protect without having to risk your lives.”

Elsie leaned her head against the building and huffed out a single laugh. No one else in her life was willing to put Elsie in her place the way Saint did. It was refreshing.

“Any other words of wisdom you have to share, oh sage one?”

He smirked at her. “I’m sure you’ll grow tired of my bits of advice soon enough.”

She stared at him for a moment, appreciating his beauty. “I doubt it.”

Their group studied until late that night, then they got together to discuss what they’d learned. Elsie listened closely, trying to discern if there were any gaps in their knowledge, but they wouldn’t know for sure until any problems cropped up.

“Good. Get some sleep. We’ll get to it in the morning,” she ordered.

“This isn’t the kind of farming I’m used to,” Riven said the next day, horrified as she looked out at the massive fields of bare dirt. “They know that’s bad for the soil, right? Exposing it to the sun? They’re killing all the good bacteria and enzymes.”

“I swear Mordane picked these missions to mess with us,” Perrie fumed. “Of all the things to make us do, we’re planting corn and cleaning up after natural disasters?”

“It could be worse,” Elsie sighed.

“How?”

“We’re not shoveling shit. Some of the nests do nothing but raise livestock. Besides, it’s beneficial for us to do stuff like this once in a while. A little humbling won’t hurt us, and it gives our squad good PR. The humans don’t usually get to have positive interactions with squads on our level. It makes us less of an omen if we’re out here doing mundane crap like this,” Elsie explained, only glancing at Saint for his reaction after she’d finished.

“Don’t ask me to be grateful. We have five and a half weeks left. Mordane might get spiteful and throw something like that in there.” The witch shuddered.

The demon threw her a wink when no one was watching.

They brought out their sleeping bags and slept under the stars that night, and for the two nights after that. By the time they left, they’d all gained a newfound respect for what it took to feed the livestock and humans inhabiting the nests, but also themselves. Some of the food they’d planted could end up on their own plates later in the year.

Another tram from the compound was already at the station when they pulled into the next nest. Elsie pulled up behind it and powered the machine down.

“Who did they send?” Morgan asked, peering out the window. Perrie scurried over to squint at the tram in front of them, scoping out the identification number.

“That’s the one Trenton and Marley took! Let’s go up and see!” She rushed to grab her bag.

She practically vibrated all the way to ground level, while Saint’s body language grew more reserved with every step. Over the past week, a tentative, unspoken truce had evolved between him, Perrie, and Morgan. Their unease in each other’s company had finally settled into something close to comfortable.

At the bottom of the stairs, Elsie grabbed the back hem of his shirt, and he instantly responded, slowing to match her pace. He looked down at her, and she let him go.

“You’re worried about Marley?”

“Not worried, but not looking forward to the dirty looks, suspicion, and drama.” He hooked his pinky around hers. She tried to pull away, but he held on tight. “They’re not paying attention to us.”

Elsie’s eyes darted to the top of the stairs where Riven was hurrying after Perrie. “That could change at any time, and I’m not willing to risk it.”

The mischievous glint in his eyes faded, and he let her go. “Haven’t I been a good demon, waiting patiently? How am I supposed to know what’s acceptable when you haven’t given me your boundaries yet?”

His big, dark brown eyes were wide and earnest, and his lips were pouty. She still couldn’t get the feel of his lips on hers out of her head, and every time she thought about it only made her want more.

“This isn’t a good time, you’ll have to be patient a while longer,” she told him as they climbed the stairs.

“But–”