Page 19 of In Love With the Leshy

I shake my head. “I’m not going anywhere with you.”

She’s Nikolai’s sister. Maybe they’re working together, and he sent her to find me. But she wouldn’t. Not if she truly is Irina’s granddaughter. There’s no way to prove it, either way. Looking her up and down, I evaluate her. She looks like Irina might have looked if she stepped into a time machine that brought her back to the same age.

Masha sighs. “Have it your way.” She tosses the bundle at me. “Wait for Em, but he’ll be upset that you didn’t do as he asked. I need to get back outside to my daughter.”

Without a backward glance, she turns and walks away. Did she say daughter? If she has a daughter, is Em the father? She’s almost out of the cave completely when I drum up the courage to call out to her.

“Wait!” She stops and spins back to face me. “What is all this?” I ask, glancing at the supplies she tossed my way.

“Material to dry off with and a dress to change into.” My face must give away the multitude of questions on my mind. “Em asked me to bring you to the spring so you can get cleaned up. He thinks if you feel refreshed and have clean clothes to change into, you’ll be more agreeable. Anastasia,” she calls as she exits the cave.

Curiosity gets the best of me, and with the bundle still in my arms, I chase after her, taking care not to push my sore ankle too hard.

Chapter 10

“You live in the forest?” I ask, throwing a nervous glance at the cougar walking next to Masha’s young daughter.

“Yes. Ana and I live here,” she answers, unfazed. As if being in the company of a large cat that has the ability to gobble her child up in three large bites is an everyday occurrence.

“How? I mean, this is a forest with wild animals.” I throw another glance at the feline, who glares back at me with squinted eyes. “And Anastasia is so young.”

“Easy, Safra,” Masha notices the animal losing its patience with me. “She’s trying to learn about our ways.”

“Are you sure that isn’t Em posing as a cougar?”

She laughs. “I’m sure. Em can shift into any animal in the forest, but Safra is my personal guard. She never leaves my side and makes certain no one gets too close to me or Ana without permission. Human or animal. Besides, Ana was born here. This is the only life she knows.”

“The animals never attack you?” I ask, finding it hard to believe. “Or Anastasia?” Memories of the smelly bear and his rank breath threatening to take a large chunk of flesh from my body rush through my mind.

“No. I don’t know if it’s because they are obedient or because they’re afraid of what Em will do if they attempt something.”

Ana runs ahead of us, giggling, barefoot, with her blonde curls bouncing at her shoulders.

The sleek feline walking with us turns her head in Masha’s direction.

“Go on girl, stay with her. We’re right behind.”

Safra picks up her pace until she’s in step with Ana. Still uncomfortable with a deadly animal so close to a young child, I watch closely, noticing how Safra’s head and ears move and twitch as she looks and listens to assess the threats around them.

“Shouldn’t we be closer to Ana? Safra is still a wild animal. Even if you think she or any of the others are trained, you never know if or when they might turn on you.”

“Neither Safra nor any of the other animals are trained. They remain wild. They live wild, but they have an allegiance to Em as their guardian and protector.”

I want to argue, but I already know it’s useless. Instead, I sigh, letting out a long breath as we walk side by side in silence, listening to the sounds of the forest.

*

“Oh my goodness!” I turn to Masha, who’s staring at me as if I need my anti-crazy meds. “This is the most beautiful place I’ve ever seen.”

I look around, awed by the beauty around us. In the cover of the forest, a ten-foot stretch of short, mossy grass leads to a small body of water filled by a constant flow. It’s too narrow to be considered a waterfall, more like a trickling stream running off into a pond. Colorful flowers with unusual shades of orange, pink, purple, and blue sprout from the ground and grow on bushes—the likes of which I’ve never seen in nature or photographs. Even the water, pure and unpolluted, boasts a deep blue color I didn’t know existed.

“Does it always look like this?”

Masha tilts her head, considering my question. “There are seasonal changes. It’s especially beautiful in the early winter mornings when everything is covered in frost. There are fewer flowers. Not as much variety, unlike now. But they are beautiful nonetheless. I get to see the differences all year round. There’s definitely something to be said about bathing outdoors.”

“This is where you bathe?”

“Have you looked around? It’s not like we have indoor plumbing. By the way, I’d unwrap the supplies if I were you.” She motions to the bundle I carried and changes the subject. “Have everything ready when you get out. The water is warm. You’re not used to it and may get a chill from the temperature difference.”

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