I glance over at him, watching as he stands confidently with his back to me. Why wouldn’t he go? I said I’m not his mate. I don’t understand.
His presence is too much—too large, too powerful—and yet, he’s shown me nothing but kindness.
I bite my lip. Mother, maybe you were right. Maybe the world outside Tárnov is not what I thought.Maybe I’m not who I thought I was.
I sigh deeply, my heart heavy with everything I’ve lost and everything I don’t understand. It’s confusing. Everything is confusing.
As I’m about to slip out of my dirty gown, tinkling, ethereal laughter echoes through the trees. Tiny dots of light fly around me, and I pause, my initial intention to bathe forgotten momentarily as I observe these glowing, leaflike figures.
Leaves with faces? How is that possible?
“What are you?” I whisper, reaching out to touch one.
The tiny leaf creature hugs my finger and nuzzles against it.
“They’re leaf spirits,” Theron says, walking closer. “Guardians of the forest’s growth, very playful and quite curious about visitors, especially those they have been waiting for for ages.”
The spirits’ touch tickles, their feet brushing against my skin like tiny balls of cotton. It feels surreal, as though I’ve stepped into a dream come to life. One of them lands on my shoulder and looks up at me with big button eyes. They’re black, contrasting against their light green bodies. Some of them even have little rounded bellies. What do they eat?
“Can they hear us?” I ask.
“They feel more than they hear,” he responds. “They’re mischievous but gentle. I think they came to welcome you.”
I step toward the stream, and the spirits grow more excited, their movements quickening as they rush around me in different directions. I turn to Theron, who watches with an amused grin.
“How am I supposed to bathe with all this attention?” I ask with a big smile on my face. They’re just so adorable!
His grin widens, and he leans in, his voice low like he’s sharing a secret. “Just tell them you need a moment of privacy. They will listen to you.”
“They will?”
Theron nods.
Skeptical yet very intrigued, I turn to the leaf spirits. “I appreciate your welcome, but I need some privacy to bathe. Please, could you give me a little space?”
To my surprise, the spirits pause, their tiny faces tilting as if they’re considering my request. Then, they back away, flying over to the nearest rock. From there, they continue to watch, but from a more polite distance.
I glance back at the smiling Theron, raising an eyebrow. “You too.”
He dips his chin and steps back to his previous position. “Call if you need anything.”
Did his tail just wag?
I take off my dirty gown and put it near my boots. The leaf spirits fly over to inspect it, and I smile. They’re so cute. I’m left in only the bandage over my breasts and my linen undergarments. My heart pounds as I slowly remove the bandage, my gaze never leaving Theron’s back—just in case. He really won’t look, right?
I place my soldier identification card, which I always keep with me, even when I’m not in uniform, on the handkerchief. And every few seconds, I glance at my spear, and the tip covered in his blood. It’s dark red, like mine. He sure felt at least a sting. A grin stretches my face.
A cool breeze travels along my skin, and I’m grateful that all of this is happening after winter so at least the water isn’t freezing. Theron wanted to heat it, whatever that means, but I said I was fine. Mother made me practice enduring cold water since I was a child, so it doesn’t bother me at all.
The water brushing against my skin and washing away the dirt and grime is refreshing, so I take my time. Letting the water cleanse not only my body but also my spirit.
Mother... You always believed water cleanses the soul. But what happened to you?
The uncertainty is torturing me. I need answers.
So far, this vólkin has not shown me anything to suggest he wants to go our separate ways. From what he’s said, he believesI’m his mate and we’re fated to be together forever. Obviously I can’t stay with him. I have my whole life in Tárnov. My mother’s home, our secret garden, my military career... I wonder how my soldiers are doing.
I dip my face into the water and then rise, my heavy, wet hair clinging to my back. I gather some fallen leaves from the bank near me and look for the ones that have the strongest veins, or leaf skeleton, Mother never told me what it’s called. Picking a few, I begin scrubbing my arm.
