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"And children?"

Astrid shrugged "I’nant Children are rare for us, and Irin nant"

"So how does nobody knohere this place is?"

"Orsala"

"Who’s Orsala?" Ava asked "And… does she have tentacles and a great singing voice?"

Astrid threw her head back and laughed "Singing voice? Yes Tentacles, no Orsala is Sari’s grander I know She’s letting herself age now because herBut she’s still with us And Orsala is the one who’ll talk to you before you leave After you talk to Orsala, Volund hiive up the name of this place"

She felt a shiver creep up her spine "Magic?"

"Strongto lose herself in drea too nize the sy drew her Soed her to darkness and rest She huddled under the thick down blankets and closed her eyes

She wandered through the forest, but she no longer wept She waited He’d said he would be there, and she kneould co "You’re here"

"I told you I would be" He approached cautiously, one hand lifting as she drew near "You’re not crying anymore"

"I don’t need to" She took his hand and led hie of the clearing, butted up against the hedge he’d torn through The gash had closed, and now the dark leaves were lush, no longer forbidding The forest surrounding them was a shield and not a barrier It hummed with life, and the rass and dotted hite flowers that glowed under the half moon

The two lay down on the bed and he wrapped her in his arms Her body hummed in awareness as he traced over the marks he’d painted on her neck and shoulders, and everywhere he touched, her skin turned gold

"You’re not as tired as you were before," he said

"No I’lad" He nestled his face in her neck and took a deep breath "I miss your scent"

"And I miss yours"

"Jasmine and smoke We met in the market; it smelled like cloves"

"I think… I remember that"

She held on to the arm that banded around her waist He’d rolled her onto her back and kissed softly along her collar and neck, hisShe closed her eyes and let her senses take her away, losing herself in the feel of his skin against hers, his energy aligning with her own She felt calm Content to her bones But sloith every nip of his teeth against her neck, desire rose