Xanderledmefurtherinto the forest, and I tried not to think about my changed appearance as our scenery changed. Strands of my long hair rested on my shoulders, no longer a mousy brown but a lilac color, just like the shade of the purple flowers we had back at home. I reminded myself that the fae Samson said the glamor could be reversed. Until then, I would have to accept that this was the best way for me to blend in.
Slowly, the boulders scattered between the trees became larger until they reached the height of my waist. I frowned at the evenly placed silver rocks that gleamed in the moonlight.Weird… It’s almost like they form some kind of wall.
Our group stopped before a boulder directly in our path, and I stared at the surface of the rock which was so smooth it showed our reflection.
“Let us in Ode, it’s been a long night,” Xander said to the rock like he thought it would answer him. There was a long pause, and I was starting to question the fae’s sanity when a feminine voice came from seemingly nowhere.
I’m not sure why I was so surprised considering I’d literally just been kidnapped by monsters, sent to a strange world, and had my appearance altered by fae magic. But then again, I’d never had the wild imagination my sister, Raine, did.
“It’s about time! Tori and Euren have been looking for Samson, and it wouldn’t have been long until they came to me to ask if he went out,” the feminine voice squeaked, speaking fast. “Not to mention you three should have been back hours ago. Where have you been!”
Xander shifted slightly and peered at me. “Just let us through. We’ll fill you in once we’re inside.”
The feminine voice let out a barely audible huff, but she must have done something because Ellis called out a moment later, “You’re the best, Ode!”
There was bell-like laughter and then the reply, “And don’t you forget it.”
I smiled at their exchange, already wondering if this Ode was their sister considering the casual familiarity. My smile fell when the silver boulder began glowing vibrantly, and Xander turned to me. “Ready?”
The answer to that question was a big fat ‘No’, but I said, “Would it matter if I wasn’t?”
He appeared troubled by my answer, but I took a step toward him, and he led me forward all the same. As we passed between the two boulders closest to us, the air changed, and a tingling sensation rushed over me, making the hairs on my arms stand on end. As fast as it had come, the feeling faded, and I gasped as the forest ahead of us changed. Instead of thick trees and boulders, I was now staring at a large clearing with green grass and a moss-covered path lined with small rocks that led to a row of colorfully painted huts.
“Is that—?” I began.
“Our camp,” Xander finished for me with a smile.
My brows rose. “But just a moment ago this was all trees.”
Samson came to stand closer to us. “Yes, the illusion is a powerful one. And a good thing, too.”
“You are all unbelievable,” a feminine voice came from above, making me lift my gaze as I instantly recognized the feminine voice we’d heard earlier. I expected to find someone scaling down the nearby tree, but my mouth fell open when I spotted a girl with long, pink hair, a plump figure, and large translucent wings fluttering down toward us. That’s right, she wasflying. Where did she come from?
“One of the watch platforms is up there,” Xander whispered as if he’d heard my internal question.
I was still staring when the female noticed me tucked behind Xander. Her turquoise eyes became round as she caught sight of me and took in my matted hair and torn nightgown. “Who is this?” she squeaked, and I promptly snapped my mouth shut.
“Xander’s new pet,” Ellis replied with a grin, moving forward to crowd into the female’s space. “Miss me?”
Her cheeks heated at his question, but she waved him off, her confused expression going from me to Samson and Nathaniel, and then to Xander. “Is this true? Is she from the northern camp? I didn’t think we were taking in any newcomers right now.”
I waited, expecting Xander to give the excuse he’d told me to use while I was there. That I was a runaway from the city, and that they’d rescued me in the forest. But instead, he replied bluntly, “We found her on our way back. She’s a human, and we needed Samson to disguise her ears.”
What in the name of the goddess?I said nothing as Ode’s jaw dropped, her brows lifting. “A human?” she squeaked, fluttering her wings.
Ellis grinned as he curled his arm around her shoulders. “Yep. And you’d better not let anyone in on the secret or things might actually get really interestin’ around here,”
Ode blinked a few times, still gaping at me as she processed the news. “So is she…?” she trailed off.
“No, not one of them,” Xander answered. “The humans in Katakin were all turned into monsters. My best guess is something strange happened with the portal we created, and she ended up here by mistake. I promised her we’ll give her a place to stay until we can figure out how to get her home.”
Ode swallowed, her gaze still glued to me.
“Ode,” Xander said, finally pulling her attention to him. “You can’t breathe a word of this to anyone. Can you show her around and help her blend in? Can I trust you with this?”
At his last question, Ode blinked rapidly a few more times and straightened. “Yes. Yes, of course. But, uh, what’s her name?”
Five pairs of eyes turned my way, and I shifted uncomfortably. Xander had asked me the question after they’d saved me from the bear, but I hadn’t told him then. Now I realized there was no point in keeping it a secret.
