Accidentally Married To A Demon - Mila Young Page 0,40

first to see me, as usual, waving his hands to grab my attention. I shifted my eyes around, and I certainly could see that the rest of the villagers were watching me a little more closely than before.

That meant that the news about what happened had gotten around. Bram already set a seat out for me, urgently motioning for me to come.

"Did they tell you?" he asked, pouring a mug of tea for me. "They named their price?"

"Yeah," I answered, taking the mug. "But it's... it's not one that I'll be able to pay. They want a hundred casks of wine from the Cloris vineyard."

"Not difficult. The Cloris vineyard has produced many casks of wine in the past."

"Not in a long time." I took a sip from the tea, which was surprisingly making me feel better. "The place has gone to waste over the past few decades. I would need... years to get it back to that sort of production. All the vines are dead."

Bram nodded slowly, taking a deep breath. "I'm sorry, I did not know that they would be quite so... demanding."

"What happens if I don't give them what they want?"

"So long as you do not attempt to leave before you have paid them. I... they are dangerous. I should have known that they would make it difficult for you."

"Is it because I'm a witch?" I asked.

He shook his head. "We have had witches come and go from this place. The vampires are powerful but would not want to anger witches to the point of retaliation. I am not sure the entirety of Transylvania would survive that sort of battle. This... is something else. Did they want something else, other than the wine?"

"No. They just wanted me to provide one drop of blood in each barrel."

"Not unusual, for a vampire." Bram shook his head. "I will help. I feel responsible. I am the one who told you to meet with them."

"Not that I don't appreciate any help I can get, but how are you going to help me?" I asked.

"I have no skills with the growing of vines, but I can help in other ways. If you need help with that, I suggest you speak to the dryad." He nodded his head over to the stall across from his, to the small, petite woman spraying water on the plants that she had brought for sale.

"I get the impression that she doesn't like me," I said softly, reaching out and scratching behind Dracul's ear, eliciting a low whine from the beast as he rolled over onto his belly.

"She does not like most anyone that walks around on two legs, but she does love plants. If anything, she will be happy to help you if only to keep you from ruining the seedlings that you asked from her before."

"Right," I whispered, looking over the woman. "Do you think I should speak to her now?"

"The sooner the better."

I nodded, standing up from my seat and walking over to where the dryad was still caring for her plants.

"Hi," I said, clearing my throat as the word came out a little softer than I intended. "We've never met. My name is Nilsa Kane, I'm—"

"The witch living with the demon," the woman replied curtly without so much as looking at me. "I know what you are, if not who. I am Emilia Cretu. I assume that Bram's big mouth already told you what I am as well?"

"Sure," I whispered, looking around. "I have no quarrel with fae. I spent a lot of time among them while I was growing up, although they were from the US, so I'm not sure I know of any customs or particulars that you want me to abide by. If I offend you, I hope you know that it is not my intent."

Cretu sighed, shaking her head before putting the spray bottle down on her stall. "I never was particular about customs and traditions. Respect is a universal language, and I understand it. I know that you do not mean to anger me. Just do not expect me to be happy about talking to you."

I nodded. "I'm sorry you feel that way."

"I understand that you spoke with our elders," Cretu continued, picking the spray bottle back up and continuing to care for her plants. "What did they ask of you?"

"They asked me to provide them with one hundred casks of wine from my vineyard, which I don't need to tell you is... impossible."

"Not impossible," Cretu cut in sharply. "Only