Jade Fern Grove hauntings

the forest around them seemed weighted, as did merrick's tongue.

astara could sense her rook was conflicted -- she nearly leaned in with anticipation, her tail curled in a sickle. what, what? what's got your tongue, who -- who is it, who has got your cock, merrick..?

was it nyra?

not ikkalrok, for she was dead.

rosina...? a flare of ugly jealousy lit in astara's gut.

she blinked slowly, observing the place merrick spoke of. it was nothing like the woods she had grown up in. these forests were old and disquieting.

and, how many women had merrick bedded here, before her? how many since?

astara fixed merrick with a distrusting gaze. why had he brought her here?