Page 41 of Monster Mishap

“Folk love weapons,” Callum says.

“What day is it?” Edgar asks him.

“It’s the night of the Moon Festival.”

“Can’t piss Hecate off by asking you to send me tonight. I’ll leave in the morning then.” Edgar slides his gaze toward me. “Do you want to come with?”

“Hmm.” I want no part in the incredibly uncomfortable, potentially dangerous, family reunion. “I’m good.”

“Not done fiddling with the ogre yet?”

I scoff. “That’s…noneof your business.”

Callum gives me a knowing smirk. “The festival begins at dusk. You and Orcus are welcome to stay the night. I’ll craft a sleeping tent for you. And you,” he looks at Edgar. “If you promise not to hit on anyone you can stay the night.”

“I never liked witches,” Edgar says. “Too feisty for my liking.”

“Don’t I know it,” Callum mumbles. “See you all at the festival.”

* * *

The festival isin full swing and the moon is high in the sky by the time Zyla leads me toward the bonfire. The village has undergone a transformation, no longer a seemingly simple community. Magical orbs of glowing blue and green lights hang a few feet above our heads and occasionally one will break away to weave through the crowd. Children are lined up to get their faces painted with magical paint that moves. A painted cat stretches and curls up on a little girl’s cheek and she races to her mom to show her. There’s a band near the roaring bonfire. Adults and children gather around to dance and laugh.

Zyla sighs beside me. “It’ll be a good night.” It almost sounds like she’s trying to convince herself of that.

“Thanks for the bath and dress.” I was more than happy to ditch the oversized shirt in favor of a forest green, knee length dress. A soft, braided brown belt is tied around my waist, molding the material to my curves. Zyla gave me a solid pair of leather sandals to complete the outfit. I won’t be winning any marathons, but it’s a hell of a lot better than trekking around barefoot.

“Your mate thanks me for it too,” she says with an amused chuckle.

I follow her gaze and spot Orcus on the other side of the bonfire. He’s looking—correction, staring at me like I’m made of magic. Heat crawls up my neck and Zyla hooks her arm with mine.

“You’re attracted to him.”

“Yes.” There’s no point in lying when she can read my mind.

“Then you should enjoy his company tonight. There is no better lover than one who is snared.” She pauses. “Well, maybe hate can make for a comparable lover, but your mate doesn’t hate you. Not in the slightest.”

“He’s always grumpy.”

“He’s an ogre.”

“Solid point.”

She leads me through the crowd. A blue orb drops and shifts into a wisp that toys with her hair before circling my shoulders with a soft vibration. The magic releases the tension between my shoulders and shoots away.

“The moon will rise soon. Hecate will cast her blessings across the land like the stars across the sky. Some will worship her under the light of the moon.” Zyla gives me a sly smile. “Your ogre is willing to worship you tonight.”

I blink a few times. “Sex. You mean sex.”

Nodding, she gives a wistful sigh. “There is no better way to praise Hecate and the moon than to take the seed of a lover. Where Hecate is not a lover or mother herself, the moon is both. Both matrons and lovers celebrate tonight.”

“And what about you?”

Her eyes stray to a certain warlock. “I will bask in her light alone.”

Based on the way Callum is smoldering at her, I highly doubt she will be alone.

“What’s the deal with you two?”

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