Marked (The Coldest Fae Book 3) by Katerina Martinez (novel24 .txt) 📗

slid out of the bed with a serious purpose for what felt like the first time in weeks. Walking to the rack on the other side of the tent, I ran my fingertips over the long, blue dress I had lovingly hand-stitched together. Then I touched the white cloak hanging off it, feeling the fur under my hand.

“Alright,” I said, turning around to look at Mira. “It sounds dangerous, but it beats sitting around doing nothing.”

“That’s the spirit,” Mira said. “I’ll let you get changed and meet you outside. There’s one more thing you need to see before we leave.”

Nodding, I got to work getting out of the clothes I’d been living in for at least a few days—barring baths—and slid into the dress. I hadn’t had as much time with it as I had my other gowns, and I also hadn’t had the benefit of a sewing machine, but the dress fit me perfectly. The material was soft and warm, and the furry, white cloak covered my shoulders, arms, and neck, keeping the cold at bay.

I crossed the tent and picked up a small hand mirror, one of Mira’s, and saw myself for the first time in possibly weeks. I looked tired and run down, but behind those vibrant, blue eyes I saw the survivor that I was, and the fighter I had become.

I shook my hair loose, tucked it carefully into my hood, and pulled the hood over my head. When I was done, I clapped the mirror shut, went up to the tent flap, and pulled it open, finally emerging from the tent… to find the ground littered with flowers, and wreaths, and candles.

I looked around, trying to figure out what they were all for, but I wasn’t having any luck. All around me, the village was a flutter of movement, voices, people. The moon children were going about their business, cleaning clothes, cooking meals. Most of them offered a slight smile and a curt nod as they walked past, others took the time to bow, place two fingers against their foreheads, then move those same two fingers to their lips, and finally their chests.

I didn’t have a reply to that, but they didn’t need one. Satisfied, they would all move away and keep doing what they were doing once the gesture had been made.

“It’s reverence,” came Toross’ voice.

My uncle was standing across from me. Beside him was a huge white elk eating carrots from his hand. “Ollie!” I said, walking over to them. “I thought he’d been… you know.”

“Eaten? No. Not him. He’s special.”

“Special? Why?”

“Because he brought the white wolf to us.”

I smiled at him. “What was it those people were doing?”

“It’s their way of asking for a blessing.”

“Oh… I don’t know how to give them one.”

He shook his head. “You don’t have to. The moon children have been coming to you and paying their respects ever since…”

I turned my head and looked at the offerings laid out in front of the tent. “Is that what those are?”

“They ask for your blessing, and they give you their blessing in return.”

“I don’t know what to say.”

“It means you have been accepted,” Ashera said, coming around the other side of the massive elk. She had her fingers in its fur, and was rubbing it gently as she approached. “You are one of us,” she said.

“Thank you,” I said, “That… means the world to me.”

“Mira tells me you will be leaving us.”

“She’s already talked to you?”

The Alpha offered a slight grin. “We may have all had a hand in preparing this plan. I am glad you accepted.”

“You don’t think I’m making a mistake? Going back to the castle, I mean?”

“Look around you. Have you noticed how the sky has dimmed?”

I turned my eyes up. I hadn’t noticed, not until she’d pointed it out. The sky was darker, though. The clouds were thicker, and they seemed to churn from inside. There was no lightning, no thunder, no eerie redness, but it was strange all the same.

“What is that?” I asked.

“The Veridian. The storm has quietened, but it has also stretched. Our scouts tell us it gets stronger near Windhelm. It seems the prophecy is in full force… going to the castle is exactly what you must do.”

A cold chill worked its way through me. “I don’t like the sound of that.”

“None of us do, but we have a plan. Mira will tell you on the way.”

I nodded. “Have either of you seen her? Or Mel… or Gullie?”

Ashera gave Toross a quick, playful glance. “Maybe you should go in there,” she said, pointing at one of the nearby tents. “We will get Ollie ready for the trip back to Windhelm.”

I eyed them both suspiciously, then carefully walked over to the tent I had been prompted to head over to. There were voices coming from inside. Mira’s, Melina’s, even Gullie’s. Once again, I felt like an intruder once I reached the flap, like someone who didn’t belong. My heart was racing, for some reason, but I steeled myself and slowly drew it open.

Stepping inside, my eyes widened, and my mouth fell.

“Hey, Dee,” Gullie said.

 

 

 

 

 

CHAPTER THIRTY

 

 

“Gull?” I asked.

Gullie couldn’t seem to look directly at me. She turned her head to the side, fiddled with strands of her bright green hair, blushed bright red. Her butterfly wings shimmered as the light hit them, fluttered as I looked at them, leaving clouds of glittering green mist to fall to the floor where she stood.

“What do you think?” she asked, twirling slightly.

“You’re… tall… what?”

“Didn’t I tell you the moon children were friends of pixies? They were kind enough to teach me a new trick.”

I stepped closer to her. I was still taller than her, by at least a head—maybe two. She was petite, but she was people sized. I couldn’t process it. “Wait… is this you now?”

She smiled again and shook her head, green pixie dust loosing from her hair and floating around her. Mel and Mira were standing nearby, both looking smug. I took