Page 269 of Kingdoms of Night

“I didn’t steal anything,” said Enid. “I was looking for you. It’s how I knew where to find you at Odin’s.”

Morgan’s hands dropped, and her eyes went wide on Geraint. “You were at the All Father’s place? Did you meet any Valkyrie? What are they like? The most kick-ass women ever?”

“Morgan,” said Gwin. “Focus.”

“Neither of you focus,” said Geraint. “Enid’s with me. She’s mine.”

Now Gwin dropped her hands, snuffing her witch fire out. “Yours? As in prisoner?”

“No, as in mine,” said Geraint. Then he cursed under his breath, turning back to Enid. “Notmine,as in my property.”

Enid’s gaze hadn’t left the army of women around her. Geraint looked down to see that the thorny vines encircled his legs as well. They didn’t hurt him. In fact, the thorns pointed outward, like spikey armor.

Was this her way of protecting him? His heart raced at the thought that she wanted to keep him safe. He wanted to pull her into his arms right there and show her exactly what it meant to him.

“Yeah, I hope she’s not your property,” said Morgan. “Because that’s illegal. Though someone should tell my husband.” A grin split her lip. “Actually, no, don’t.”

Geraint stepped in front of Enid, giving the others his back. It took a moment before Enid let her gaze leave the witches and focus on him. “Enid is my wife.”

“She’s your wife?” said Gwin, her tone one of delighted hospitality once more. The sound of a grin was in her voice.

“You got married,” said Morgan, her tone incredulous. “Without us?”

“Geraint, I’m so happy for you.” Gwin touched his shoulder and gave his bicep a squeeze.

Then she turned her cheer to Enid. Gwin stepped forward, arms open. The sharp blades of grass parted with each of her steps toward Enid. The trees leaned back, returning to their erect postures.

“Welcome to the fam-ow!”

Gwin pulled her open arms back, but not before one of Enid’s thorns managed to draw blood. The thorns on Enid’s vines didn’t retract, but they did point away as Geraint came to stand beside his wife. The posse turned welcome wagon kept their distance as they regarded the two. Blending his new family with his old was going to take some doing.

CHAPTERFIFTEEN

“So… you’re a flower?” asked the dark-haired one.

“Morgan, that’s rude to ask a person’s… genus?” The blond-haired one ended her emphatic statement on a question.

“We don’t even know if she is a person, Gwin.”

“Of course she’s a person.” Lady Gwin brushed her sister’s words away. Then she turned to Enid with curiosity. “You are a person, aren’t you?”

“The Goddess created flora and fauna,” Enid explained patiently. “I am a highly evolved species of the genus flora.”

Gwin tilted her head at her sister as though to say,See, I told you so.When she straightened her head, she didn’t look so certain.

Enid sat around a table with the two women, one on each side. They sat with their backs to the wall, leaving Enid in the space closest to the door. They hadn’t chosen the most tactical position. If they planned to attack, Enid could get out the door and leave them pinned to the wall with her vines.

“Well, you’re our new sister now,” said Gwin, with absolute certainty in her voice. “You’re a part of our family, and we welcome you to Camelot.”

Enid wasn’t sure what to say to that. She could usually detect if a fae was misleading her. Often, one of their leaves might crinkle or their noses might wrinkle.

Gwin looked at her with bright, open eyes. Her sunflower hair radiated from her crown in waves, not showing a hint of crinkling. Her nostrils flared in the way of an eager faun naïvely advancing on another beast, who was likely a predator.

Morgan, on the other hand, regarded Enid with a raised brow and pursed lips. “Are you pregnant?”

“Morgan!” Gwin smacked at Morgan’s arm. The dark-haired witch was unperturbed.

“Is that how you got G to marry you?”

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