I'm not ashamed of sex. Not even of loud, wild sex with vampires. But it's another thing to have the aftereffects blooming like neon signs under the eyes of a druid.
Kayden, Asher, and Eira stay back with me, forming a loose semicircle, all watching Maeve with varying degrees of interest and mistrust, most of the latter radiating from Kayden.
Maeve moves with practiced ease, choosing a patch of ground and kneeling in the grass. She clears away the topsoil until fresh, dark earth is exposed, then places the celestite crystal gently in the center. From a pouch at her belt, she draws out a handful of dried herbs, fragrant and pungent, and arranges them in a loose circle around the stone.
As she begins a low, rhythmic chant in a language that feels older than anything I've ever heard, hairs on my arms rise.
She gestures for me to come closer. "I need a drop of your blood."
I step forward, heart thudding. She pulls a small dagger from beneath her belt, old and encrusted with runes. The flash of the blade draws a growl from Kayden.
"Calm down, vampire," Maeve says without missing a beat. "I only need a drop. I'm sure you've taken more."
Kayden doesn't answer, but his eyes burn, tracking every movement.
Maeve takes my hand gently, then pricks my finger with quick precision. The sting is sharp but brief. She guides my bleeding finger over the crystal.
The moment my blood touches the surface, the stone hisses softly, steam curling up like breath in the cold. The drop vanishes into it, absorbed completely.
Maeve continues the chant, voice steady and melodic. The rhythm coils around me like a memory I've never had—familiar and foreign all at once.
Then, with a snap of her fingers, she lights the herbs encircling the crystal. They catch quickly, the scent of sage and lavender wafting through the air. The flames burn in a tight ring, and the crystal shifts before our eyes, its color morphing from deep blue to violet to a flash of blood-red before settling back into a vivid, almost glowing indigo.
"It's done," Maeve says calmly, voice soft but certain.
"Really?" I ask, blinking.
She nods. "Old, but simple."
Asher steps forward, eyes sharp. "Are you sure it will work?"
Maeve meets his gaze. "If Sage were a regular nymph, I'd guarantee it. As it stands… I believe it will hold. But I hope you never have to test it."
Her tone grows more serious. "This won't make you invincible. Especially not against someone like Darius Hawthorn."
I nod, the weight of that truth sitting heavy in my chest.
"Thank you," I say. "I appreciate it."
I reach down and pick up the crystal. It's cool again, smooth in my fingers. I slip it onto a chain and fasten it into a makeshift necklace.
Asher steps closer, his fingers brushing the back of my neck as he helps secure the clasp. The gesture is small, but intimate and steadying.
"The full sum will be transferred tonight," he tells Maeve.
"How much—?"
He shakes his head slightly:Not now.
Maeve rises, brushing her hands together. "Well, my part here is done. But I'll be in town for a few days. Just in case."
After a quick goodbye, she leaves with Eira. The sound of their footsteps fades, and then it's just the three of us alone in the house again.
"So… it's done," Asher says, arms crossing.
"It's done," I echo, my fingers brushing the crystal at my throat. It's cool against my skin and heavy with meaning.
Kayden leans against the wall, arms folded, eyes narrowed. The air around us feels still, like a line has been crossed.
