“Cara,” I replied softly.
Ode smiled. “Cara. Well, that’s nice. I’m Odelia, or Ode for short as I’m sure you’ve gathered. My shift on watch duty just ended, so uh, how do you feel about parties?”
I gave Xander a questioning glance. “Parties?”
“Oh, it’s amazing,” Ode said, waving her hand and fluttering her wings. “We don’t get to relax much around here, but we always celebrate the first night of summer. There’s food and wine, and music...” She stared off dreamily.
I glanced reluctantly at Xander again, but he was already talking to Samson and the others and striding away from us. A part of me wanted to follow them, but Ode took my arm, drawing my attention back to her. I forced a smile to my face. “Sounds…fun.”
She beamed, any reservations she had about me completely melting away as she led me along the mossy path. “So, I have to say, Samson’s glamor is very well done because I wouldn’t have realized what you were otherwise.”
“What I am?” I asked.
“You know,” she said, then leaned closer and whispered, “A human.”
“Yeah, I get the feeling there aren’t many of us around here,” I replied.
Ode’s brow furrowed. “Actually, I think you’re the first we’ve encountered for nearly two centuries.”
Centuries?I wobbled on my feet, but Ode held me firmly, keeping me upright. “Everyone always talks about how dangerous your kind is, but you seem really fragile. It’s probably a good thing Xander and the others found you on their way back.”
I cleared my throat. “And wherewerethey coming back from?”
Ode chewed her lip, silent for a moment, but then her face brightened, and she released me to gesture dramatically with her arms. “Ah, here we are! Welcome to my humble abode.”
I turned to the building in front of us and this time I was the one gaping. The structure was twice the size of my cottage back home and made from oddly shaped colored sheets of glass that fitted together like pieces of a puzzle.
“What do you think?” Ode prompted when I didn’t say anything.
“It’s incredible,” I whispered, admiring the patterns of the glass. I’d never seen anything like it.
“Come on,” she said, grabbing my arm again and dragging me toward the diamond-shaped door. Despite the glass exterior, inside the building it was all soft silks, crystal furniture, and fluffy cushions.
“You live here?” I asked, feeling overwhelmed as glowing white orbs around the room filled the space with light.
“Yep. All by my lonesome,” Ode responded, and though she was smiling, there was a hint of sadness in her eyes.
I frowned. “Oh, I thought you and Ellis might be—”
“Together?” Ode cackled. “No Xander and Ellis are the sons of Corak, the leader who runs this place.”
“Wait, so they’re like the chief’s sons?”
“Well, I’m not sure what a ‘chief’ is, but Xander’s next in line to take over from Corak when she dies if that’s what you mean.”
When I remained in stunned silence at the idea that I’d been saved not only by fae but by the sons of their leader, Ode went on. “Xander is like a brother to me. He saved me a few years ago, much like he saved you I guess, though there was more screaming and well… fire.” Her voice became quieter as she trailed off, staring out through one of the glass windows like she was picturing a scene from her past. Abruptly, she realized what she was doing and spun her head back to me, a wide smile on her face. “But I make it a point not to dwell on the past. I have my place here, and I honestly couldn’t be more grateful.”
I didn’t fully grasp what Ode was sharing with me, but from that brief glimpse of sadness, I knew enough. She was lost just as I was, though I couldn’t imagine exactly what she’d lived through.
“Anyway, it’s a good thing I live alone as it sounds like you’ll be staying here for a while,” Ode continued to babble. “Can’t say I’ve ever had a human as a guest, but I’m sure we’ll find a way to make it work.”
“Just until Xander finds a way to send me home,” I added, unsettled by how enthusiastic she was getting.
“Exactly!” she agreed and began tapping her chin with her finger. “Now, let’s see what we have for you to wear. We don’t get newcomers at the camp often, so we’ll want to put you in something that makes a good first impression.” She tilted her head, scrutinizing me, and wrinkled her nose. “And something with a little less…dirt.”
Ode let me bathe and then fussed over me for a good while, adding color to my face and taming my hair. Apparently, the only dresses she owned were a vibrant pink that matched her hair, so I wore one with a simple neckline and velvet pink leaves that wrapped around my chest. It wasn’t what I’d usually wear back on the island, but the garment was surprisingly comfortable, and I was glad to be out of the nightgown.
When she deemed us ready, Ode led me through the eerily quiet camp, past the glass homes of numerous other fae and toward a deep valley. When we reached another line of large boulders, much like the ones we’d encountered to get into the camp, she paused and leaned close to my ear. “Remember not to let anyone know you are, well, you know,” she whispered, “But I’m sure Xander and the others have already been telling everyone that they found you. So take a deep breath and smile. Everyone is super friendly.” She then paused before adding, “Well, mostly. There are a few fae you’ll want to steer clear of, but they should be pretty obvious.”
