Page 394 of Bitten By the Fae
That piqued Zakkai’s interest. “She stripped in a garden?”
“In Central Park.” Zeph didn’t take his eyes off her while he spoke. “The humans didn’t approve.”
Aflora muttered something back about only removing her sweater last time before collapsing onto a pile of green grass beneath a tree. “Oh, so pretty!”
My lips twitched at her amusement. Then I glanced up at the high moon. This part of the paradigm never saw the sun, so it was hard to determine the time. However, I suspected my grandmother expected me any minute now.
I glanced around the open living area, spotted a hallway to the side, and wandered down it by four different bedroom doors—all of them open. The biggest bedroom was at the end of the hall, where I found a walk-in closet filled with clothes. Most of them were feminine and appeared to be Aflora’s size. There was also a dresser inside with four wands on top.
Because Aflora still didn’t have her own.
Odd that the dark source hadn’t gifted her one yet.
With a shake of my head, I grabbed my own and turned to find Zakkai behind me, expectant. “Do you want your wand?” I asked him.
“No. Leave it for Aflora.”
A good answer,I decided. He followed me back into the living area, where Zeph and Kols were both watching Aflora in her element. She’d completely lost herself to her Earth Fae nature. Roots were dancing along the ground as she renewed the soil with life, causing the trees to elongate and the flowers to blossom.
“I need to go meet with my grandmother before she sends for me,” I told them. “Can you make sure Aflora remembers to eat something?” Because I suspected she had forgotten all about her hunger now.
Zeph nodded without looking at me.
Zakkai didn’t bother commenting, just turned to lead the way.
Because we both knew he was going with me, and he didn’t feel the need to mention it to the others.
Rather than comment, I followed him out and ensured that my connection to Aflora remained wide open. It was my way of telling her there would be no more secrets.
Whatever my grandmother said, I’d share.
Because Aflora and I were finally on a true path—as fully bonded mates.
No more alternate timelines. No more Paradox Fae. Just a single way forward, with all four of us by her side.
Hurry back, she whispered to me, acknowledging that I’d left.
I won’t be far,I promised.
I know, she replied.Just like I know how to find you now.She breathed a spell into my mind, telling me she’d notonly learned how to use my shadowing ability, but she’d also memorized it.
Good, I murmured.Eat something.
Mmm,she hummed, her mind purring with life and earth once more.
I laughed under my breath as we exited the building. “When this is all over, we need to find a place with a real garden for Aflora.”
“So we can watch her frolic in the nude?” Zakkai asked.
My lips twitched. “Among other things.”
Many other things.
Warmth.Beauty. Passion.
I reveled in it, rolling around in the grass and soaking up all the magic. “There are so many types of earth,” I marveled out loud, speaking to no one in particular. “So much life!”
There were plants from all the fae realms, including some from my own. And the human world, too.
