Page 120 of The Black Witch

“What does that matter?” Diana says with a snort. “My parents knew they were destined for each other when they first inhaled each other’s scent. They took each other to mate that same day.”

“They did?” I’m shocked by her bluntness.

Diana nods matter-of-factly. “That was twenty-five years ago.”

That brings me up short. “That’s a long time,” I concede, chastened.

“Mmm,” she agrees. “Well, Elloren Gardner,” she says, “I hope you are the one to claim this Lukas Grey. Fallon Bane is a fool, and even though you are a Gardnerian, you seem nice. Aislinn, too. Nicer than the others.”

I swallow uncomfortably, thinking of Ariel’s dead kindred. A situation I caused.

No, Diana’s mistaken. I’m not nice. And even if I did want Lukas Grey, claiming him seems akin to playing with dragons.

* * *

I ponder Diana’s precarious lodging situation as I walk back from my kitchen labor the next night. A full moon shines overhead, and the air is crisp and clear. Pulling my cloak tight to fight off the chill, I walk alongside a small, scrubby side field that borders the wilds. The field lies near a long series of men’s lodging houses, and I can hear men’s voices up ahead. Small knots of dark figures linger outside a half-open doorway, talking and laughing, most windows of the low, thatched-roof lodging houses warmed by the deep golden glow of lamplight. Squinting over at the men, I strain to see if I can make out one of my brothers.

A rustling from the forest catches my ear, and I turn to see Diana emerging from the trees.

Completely naked.

Seeing me, Diana breaks into a wide, exhilarated grin. She strides toward me, oblivious to the two Gardnerian men down the path who halt to gawk at her.

The moonlight shines on Diana’s bare skin, rendering her almost blue-white. Her body is long and slender, all lean muscle, but curvaceous enough to interest any man. She isn’t the slightest bit self-conscious as she approaches.

“Hello, Elloren,” she says casually.

I am absolutely mortified on her behalf, my mouth agape. “Why...why are you naked...out here?” I stammer.

She looks down at herself as if she hadn’t noticed, her face registering some confusion at the question. “I just came back from a run in the woods.” As if her reasoning should be obvious.

“Withoutclothes?” My voice comes out high-pitched.

Diana laughs and looks at me as if I’m a child who just babbled something very silly. “Of course without clothes,” she replies, smiling. “I can’t very well Change in my clothes. They’d be destroyed.”

I’m stunned by her outrageous nudity.

My eyes dart to the men. I hurriedly pull my cloak off. “Here,” I urgently offer, “put my cloak on. I’ll walk back with you.”

“I don’t need a cloak,” she says, refusing it, perplexed by my stridency. “Anyway, my clothes are right over there on the bench.”

“You mean you undressedhere? In full view of the men’s lodging?”

Now she’s regarding me like I’m mentally unhinged. “Really, Elloren, it’s as good a place as any.” Diana’s face takes on a rapturous look. She lifts her head into the cool night air and inhales deeply. “You should have seen the forest tonight. It wassobeautiful! The moon is so bright. There’s a lake about an hour’s run in.” She motions happily in the direction from which she came. “The moon’s reflection on the lake was dazzling, like liquid silver on water. And the hunting here...it’s glorious!” Diana grins widely, her strong, white teeth glistening in the moonlight like a set of dangerous pearls. She regards me for a moment as if she feels a little sorry for me. “It’s a pity you can’t see the forest like we can.”

The small knot of men by the lodging house has stopped talking and are now focused in on Diana, one of the men gesturing for someone inside to come out and see. My panic for her rises.

“Please put my cloak on. Those men are staring at you.”

Diana glances around as if noticing them for the first time. “I don’t care,” she says dismissively, swatting the air with the back of her hand. “Besides, I’m hot from my run. I want to cool off first.”

“You can’t... Diana,you’vegotto put some clothes on!”Ancient One, she’s stubborn.

She’s beginning to look irritated. “Why? Really,why? It’s ridiculous that this means so much to you people.”

“Because being unclothed is not allowed. You could seriously get kicked out for this. I think...it means something here that maybe you’re not aware of.”

“What?”

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