CHAPTER 23
Zara
I stared in awe as the rowan trees replaced the illusion in front of us. This was The Grove that my mother had spoken about with such awe in her voice. They were the ancient rowans that protected the forest and creatures in it.
They had a life of their own and were said to be able to come alive when they needed to. Swallowing hard, I struggled to hide the tears that kept filling my eyes.
I needed to be focused, and I had to keep my wits about me. Papa Bois wasn’t one to provide these types of gifts to just anyone. Even being allowed to enter The Sacred Grove was unheard of. Yet here we were, and I struggled not to pinch myself to make sure I wasn’t dreaming.
I faced him instead of turning and looking at the splendor around us, and I could tell from that ever-present mischievous smirk on his face that he was pleased.
“Faunus has agreed to provide you with a branch,” he said with that deep, powerful voice of his, gesturing behind him to a huge rowan that swayed with a non-existent breeze. “And you’ll be able to make a wand that’s powerful enough to protect you from the warlock.”
A shuddering breath left me and I couldn’t speak beyond the lump of emotion in my throat. Gratitude filled me, but I didn’t know how to express it. A knowing gleam filled his eyes and he moved toward the tree he was talking about, holding a palm out as he got taller and taller.
I gasped, eyes wide, as he reached a branch, his hand cradling it with care. He didn’t move, but the branch snapped and separated from the tree. A small shudder left it, but Papa Bois pressed his forehead to the tree and stroked a gentle palm across the bark in thanks before returning to his previous height.
He moved toward me, the branch tucked against his chest as he neared. “Use this with care,” he warned and my hands shook as I took it from him.
“Thank you,” I whispered, lowering my forehead to press against the branch. “To you and to Faunus. To the forest for allowing us to be here and to all the animals who let us pass.”
A small, pleased huff left Papa Bois’ lips and he patted my head with a big, strong palm. “When the time comes, child, bring them here. The forest will protect you and your family,” he murmured.
I smiled at him, but he continued without waiting for a response.
“It will be night soon. You cannot leave the forest. It is most vulnerable during the dark hours and I cannot have any breaches in my barrier.” He moved closer to me, tilting his head while his gaze penetrated my entire being. “And I sense something else.”
With a wave of his hand, the males around me disappeared. I gasped, looking around to find them, but he shook his head. “I need to speak to you alone. I’ve sent them to the caves where you’ll spend the night.”
“Caves?” I gasped, fear sparking its way down my back. “We can’t go home?”
“Not tonight,” he tilted his head from side to side, examining me. “I told you I cannot open the barrier.”
Swallowing hard, I nodded, trying to figure out why he was getting so close.
“You’ve been cursed,” he said with a low, thoughtful hum. “I haven’t seen this one in a long, long time. It’s dark magick. Blood magick.”
I gave him a slow nod, shocked to the core that he could sense it before parting my lips.
“I cannot break it for you,” he interrupted me, giving me a small smile. “As soon as you pass through the barrier again, it will return.”
I froze, shaking my head. “Does that mean that I’m not cursed right now?”
“No other magick can get through here,” he explained, raising his arms, and a low light left his hands. “Not through my territory. You’re safe here from the curse,” he added with a gleam in his eyes. “But it also means that you can’t use magick as well.”
Shock filled me. Magick was something that was so inherent in me—so deeply ingrained—that I hadn’t ever imagined not being able to use it. While I was still in training, so I wasn’t the most adept , I always had access to it. My fingers flared, seeking the familiar comfort of the warm purple glow of my magick.
When nothing came, I swallowed hard.
“That’s why you’ll come here,” he told me, moving backward, toward one of the trees, his hand running down the bark. The tree swayed without any breeze again. “I can protect those that need it and leave him to you.” His eyes glowed a deep, deep green for a long, silent moment and then he nodded.
“I cannot intervene, Zara. This battle has been written for a long time. The outcome is not mine to affect, but for those that need protection, I can provide it. Bring them when the time is near.” His words were gentle, but his tone was firm.
“I will,” I said, bowing my head in thanks, but when I lifted it again, I found myself facing a stone wall.
I stumbled back, gasping in shock, but was immediately surrounded by strong arms and a scent I knew better than my own.
“Thank the Gods,” Rudgar whispered into my hair, squeezing me tight. “I didn’t know where we were, but I couldn’t find you.”
“We have to spend the night inside his barrier,” I explained, peeking around him to see the other three males, standing in a protective circle around us. “Don’t worry. We’re safe here.”
They relaxed in increments as I saw the cave behind them. It was a huge open area with what looked like off-shoot caverns from where I could see. Warmth exuded from the back of the main cavern and I tiptoed to try to see what the source was, but I couldn’t. The sound of water dripping off of the stalactites that protruded from the ceiling was all I could hear.
“Now that you’re here, we can explore,” Krusk said, turning in a circle so he could take in more of the cave. “This is huge. And I smell food,” he added, pointing toward one of caverns we couldn’t see.
“We can bring everyone here before the battle,” I said, tilting my head and remembering what Papa Bois said. “I think it’s part of the reason he’s showing it to us. To let us know that our family will be safe.”
Rudgar’s eyebrows swept up as he looked around. “The clan?”
I nodded. “And my coven,” I said. He tipped my chin up with his thumb, cupping my face in his huge palm.
“Your coven is part of our clan, Gul-ar,” he whispered, making sure that my gaze was meeting his. “You’re the High Priestess and you’re my mate. That makes you and your coven part of us.”
I reached up to grip his thick wrist in my hands.
“Okay,” I whispered and he leaned down to press his warm lips to mine.
“We’re standing right here,” Enka said, his arms crossed over his chest.
“I know that,” Rudgar rolled his eyes. “And since we’re talking about clans, as the junior members, get your asses out of my face and go explore the fucking cave.”
With grunts, they turned and marched off, muttering amongst themselves as a peal of laughter left me.
“Love you guys,” I called, and they waved back, continuing to mutter as Rudgar pulled me into another kiss.
“There’s something else,” I gasped, running my fingers through the thick, silky strands of his hair, my lips at his ear.
“Mmm,” he moaned, pressing me against the wall of the cave—that was somehow warmer than I thought it should be. “Tell me.”
“The curse doesn’t work here,” I peered up at him from under my lashes, and I saw the exact second that my meaning penetrated the lust-filled haze he was in. He went perfectly still, staring down at me.
“W-what are you saying?” he asked, lifting me higher so I was at his eye-level, my legs wrapped around his waist.
I leaned forward to lick my way into his mouth and he groaned, squeezing my ass in his huge hands. I pulled away for a moment to whisper, “You’re going to fuck me tonight.”
His long, extended groan told me that he felt those words in his soul. Grinning, I bent my head to take a nip of his throat. “We need to get those fuckers out of here,” he murmured, pinning me against the wall again, his hands clenching my wrists hard and holding me still.
“Sorry, weren’t you the one going on and on about a clan a moment ago? And how important they were—” I cut myself off with a laugh as he snapped his fangs in front of my face, the threat non-existent.
“Enough out of you, Gul-ar. All I want to hear from you now are screams and my name on your tongue,” he whispered, rocking his hips against me and making my eyes cross in my head.
“We’re going to have to be quiet,” I moaned, the back of my head pressing hard into the stone wall. “But I don’t know if I can be.”
His grin was feral as he turned to move toward the back of the main cave area. I gaped at what came into view. Around a bend was a steaming hot spring.
Fuck yes, pool sex!
“Don’t bother us! Stay in there!” Rudgar yelled into the open mouth of a cavern as we passed, and the grumbles from inside told me that that was where the three males were.
“Very subtle,” I said with a grin, not caring if anyone knew I was going to ride this male until I passed out from exhaustion.
“I try to be,” he quipped, lowering me long enough to strip me from my clothes in a medal-worthy length of time. I was standing naked in front of him, his gaze sliding over me like a caress as he tossed his own clothes onto the pile.