But this was definitely the way they needed to go. He knew it.
“Hang on. This could get a little bumpy.”
As they turned onto the dirt track leading into what looked like solid forest, Race realized there was definitely something magical going on. For one thing, the ride was much smoother than he’d expected. Even though it looked like rocky, untamed wilderness, the truck barely dipped and swayed.
A hundred yards into the forest, a definite track emerged and Race knew they were on the right trail. He stole a glance at Mara, who stared wide-eyed out the front window.
They drove almost a mile before he realized that what he was seeing ahead weren’t just abnormally large trees.
They were houses, one-story log houses clustered around a central clearing.
They looked like fairy houses. Honest-to-God fairyland houses. With the covering of snow, the scene looked like something out of a movie.
And when Sal, in all his goat-legged glory, stepped out of one of the houses and waved to him, he felt Mara practically vibrate with shock.
And in the backseat, Arin started to babble.
“Mara, look at me.”
She didn’t turn right away. It took her several seconds but when she finally did, she began to sign, so slowly he actually understood most of it.
“He’s exactly what you think he is. He’s salbinelli.”
Her hands moved again.
“Obviously they’re not extinct.” He smiled. “There’s actually another one living here.”
“Hey, it’s freaking cold out here, people,” Sal yelled from the doorway, making them both turn to look at him. “Get a move on.”
Typical Sal. Blunt and to the point. And maybe more than Mara could handle right now.
Mara grabbed his arm in a tight grip. If she wanted to leave, they were out of there.
But when he looked at her again, she wore a grin a mile wide.
“All right then. Let’s get inside before Sal comes out again. He doesn’t like getting his hooves cold.”
She shook her head when he said hooves and he hid a smile at her obvious astonishment. Damn, he liked when she smiled. He felt as if the world brightened around him.
Yep, he’d definitely gone sappy. If his brother could see him now, Lark would fall on the ground laughing. And Race wouldn’t care one damn bit.
Mara made him happy. And now that they’d moved their relationship to the next level, he wasn’t going to let her get away.
Hell, he was occasionally a wolf. If she tried to get away, he’d track her down.
“I’ll get the kid. Be careful getting out over there.”
There was more snow here, at least six inches. Mara didn’t seem to notice as she plowed through it to reach his side. With the baby in his portable carrier, they hurried to the cabin, barely taking time to knock the snow off their feet before Mara pushed through the door.
She stopped just inside, forcing him to crowd her and get her to move in a few more feet so he could close the door behind him.
When he looked up he realized why she’d stopped.
“Hello, Race.” A tall, dark-haired man with a wide smile and distinct Etruscan features walked toward them, his hand held out. Imposing was a good word for him and Race instinctively stepped in front of Mara. She didn’t handle meeting new men easily.
A split second later, he realized who this man was and bowed.
“Selvans. Greetings.”
Apparently his mother’s insistence that he learn some manners as a kid had stuck. At least enough to know what to do when he met an Etruscan god.
“Nice to meet you, son.”
Straightening, Race found himself looking into bright-green eyes. He took the god’s hand automatically and shook.
Then that startling gaze transferred over his shoulder.
“Hello, Mara.” His voice had softened and behind him, Mara shifted, moving to his side to take the God of the Woods’ hand.
“And this,” Selvans’ gaze dropped to the baby, who stared up at him without making a sound, “must be Arin. Nice to meet you too, little man.”
When Selvans held his hand out to the baby, Arin grabbed for it like babies did. Which made Selvans draw in a deep breath and his mouth curve in a bittersweet smile.
“Yes, I see. So the signs are correct. I had wondered…”
Selvans seemed to be speaking to himself, though he could be talking to the baby. Hell, Arin could talk to animals. Why not gods?
Selvans straightened and smiled at Mara again. “Well now, who’d like some hot chocolate? Sal makes a mean cocoa. I’m going to have mine with a shot of peppermint schnapps. Then we have some things to discuss.”
Mara began to sign but Selvans held up one hand with a wry smile. “I’m sorry I don’t understand sign language. But one of the things on the agenda today is breaking the rest of that spell. As a matter of fact, let’s see if we can get that taken care of right away. Mara, I’d like you to meet Scarlata.”
A woman Race hadn’t noticed came forward from the other side of the room, where Race realized another man stood as well. He couldn’t believe he hadn’t seen them, especially the gorgeous redhead. Then again, meeting a god and worrying about Mara consumed most of his concentration.
He’d have to watch that. Couldn’t afford to get sloppy.
“Nice to meet you, Mara.” The woman’s voice held a trace of an Italian accent, husky and deep. “I understand the streghe weren’t able to break the spell on your vocal cords. I believe I can do something about that, if you’ll let me.”
Race watched as Mara took a moment before nodding then turned to Race and lifted her hands.
“Oh crap,” he interrupted as he set the baby on the floor. “I forgot I had this.”
Reaching for the baby bag, he pulled out the whiteboard Dorian had left on the porch this morning. He swore Dorian could read minds.
As Mara gave him that smile that made his blood heat, she took it from him then began to write.
What makes you think you can break this spell?
Scarlata grinned. “Because I’ve got a few secrets up my sleeves that even the streghe don’t. And with Selvans and a few of my other friends, I think we have just a little more magic than even the streghe.”
What are you?
The redhead threw her head back and laughed and, from behind her, Race heard another baby gurgle.
“Well, there are some people who call me a b—”
“Scary, honey, no one calls you anything other than beautiful. Not if they want to continue breathing. Hi, I’m Justin.” The other man in the room walked forward, now holding a tiny, pink-blanket-wrapped bundle. “And this is our daughter, the eighth wonder of the universe.”
Scarlata snorted and rolled her eyes at Justin but the look she gave the baby said she totally believed his boast. “Also known as Celestina. And I’m folletta. And fata magic works differently than enu magic.”
Folletta. Holy shit.
Race felt his mouth drop open as he tried to wrap his head around the fact that Scarlata was an actual folletta. He’d thought they were extinct. Obviously not.
As he shook his head, Mara turned to him with a puzzled look.
“Enu are the human branch of the Etruscan magical race. Fata are the—”
He’d been about to say creature-based but that wasn’t right. Some of the fata resembled humans almost completely, except for their pointed ears. Or wings.
“We’re the non-human branch,” Scarlata finished for him. And then turned to show them her back. Just as pink wings fluttered through slits in her shirt.