“Odette’s secret needed to come out,” I said. “In time, she’ll have to face the light.”
I squeezed Emma’s hand. “I know it hasn’t been the greatest night. But I think it’s best for now if we take your mind off it. I did promise to make up for my poor behavior from yesterday.”
“You don’t have to. I said I didn’t care about that,” she protested.
“But I do. And you deserve to be treated like a princess.” I guided Emma outside, under the glow of the moon. I took a blindfold out of my pocket and handed it to her. “Put this on. It’s time for your surprise.”
Chapter Twelve
Emma
Ethan guided me carefully, as the blindfold made it impossible to see anything. I had no idea where we were going, but I felt the stone paths of campus beneath my feet become cobblestone as we ventured into the streets of Dolinska.
“Ethan Nowak, where are you taking me?” I teased.
“It’s a surprise.” He called for a carriage. Ethan lifted me in, and I leaned against him as the carriage jolted down the street. He put his arm around me, and I inhaled his fresh, wolfish scent. Gods, he smelled so good. He smelled like home.
The carriage stopped. Ethan took my hand and pulled me along another pathway. Soon, the rock became grass, and I reached out a hand to feel velvet flowers skimming my fingertips.
“Open your eyes.” Ethan took off my blindfold.
I gasped. Ethan had led me to a beautiful garden. White roses bigger than my hand bloomed in a circle around the fountain of a wolven shifter. Fireflies fluttered over the roses and glowed, while a small stream trickled by peacefully over smooth stones. A circular gate stood as the entrance, a low fence containing the area. Vines and ivy grew over the stone, bursting with fresh grapes. A willow tree suspended over the lawn as cherry blossom trees bloomed big pink blossoms, the petals floating down delicately and giving the area a sweet scent. Inside the garden, it was warm, like springtime.
Behind us rose the royal palace. As if the garden was contained by a glass dome, snow fell outside of it, but never touched the garden.
“How is this possible? It’s the dead of winter,” I gasped.
“It’s an illusion. One that never fades, even in the cold,” Ethan said. “The royal sorceresses tend to this garden and make sure it blooms all year round.”
On the other side of the garden was a wicker couch, flooded with cushions, and a stone table with a center that had coals blazing with fire. Ethan guided me to the couch, and we sat. The fire from the table warmed our skin as I heard crickets chirping in the surrounding night. Above, the stars shone brightly, sparkling like diamonds against a dark blue sky.
Ethan put his arm around me. I bristled, though I didn’t want to. I couldn’t help but want to get close to him. It was like trying to fight nature itself, avoiding the connection he had to my body. It just wasn’t fair.
There was a rustling behind the willow tree. I jumped, but Ethan laughed. “Don’t worry. They won’t hurt you.”
A creature cooed as it stepped out from the fronds. My eyes widened. The creature was twelve feet tall, with a whip-like tail that she curled behind herself. She had a long neck, and two beautiful butterfly wings on her shoulders. Her face was small and round, accented with pink almond eyes. All over her body were pink feathers, with darker fur. Another creature came out from behind her, though this one was blue, and male.
“What are they?” I whispered in wonder.
“They’re called windfarers,” Ethan said softly. “When we crossed over from Edinmyre, we brought some of our faekin with us. Not every creature in Malovia is a monster.”
The creatures came close enough for me to touch. The pink one put her head down and sniffed at me, curious.
“You can pet her,” Ethan said. “She won’t mind.”
I reached up to stroke the windfarer’s nose. She gave a low coo. Her nose was so soft— like stroking velvet.
The windfarer snorted, and the gust of wind from her nostrils blew back my hair. The pink windfarer turned to the blue, who I assumed was her mate.
“How many species of fae creatures are there in the world?” I asked.