Chapter 6: Page 4

“Wow, Cherry Hill. That’s prime Grove.”

“I know you’re not fond of working for us Divinities, but would you like me to put your name in for consideration? The Silverplums are highly respected Tree Nymphs, you would have an easy in.”

Neak looked over at Dewi and Oben playing with Sabelle like puppies. “If this were six months ago, I would jump at the chance.” She looked back at Toff and Ruby. “But now, I… I don’t think that I could stand to leave here. I’ve made so many friends, and I could never leave Sabelle. She needs all the love she can get. Besides, she wouldn’t understand if I left.”

“You mention Sabelle, what about Dewi?”

Heat flooded Neak’s face. “You’re a Divinity, use your Divinity abilities.”

Toff laughed. “I knew it the day you two first met.”

“Bah!”

“It’s true. The way he kept staring at you and, deny it all you want, you stared back.”

“Maybe.”

Toff snorted, grinned. “Bah!”

Neak laughed. “Anyway, I would never miss seeing baby Centaurs playing in this Grove; it’s been a long time since you romped here, a good five-six hundred years.” She wiggled her brows at them. “I do assume you’re planning to have as many as possible, seeing how you’re mates.”

Toff and Ruby looked at each other with silly grins, leaned forward and kissed. It was hard for either of them not to touch the other in some way.

“No wonder we haven’t seen you around, Toff.”

Toff blushed. “Sorry about that, but…”

“Don’t apologize.” Neak waved that off. “I think it’s wonderful and I’m quite sure everyone here would agree with me. As for Cherry Grove, you might ask my sister, Tressa.”

Toff’s brows furrowed. He hated to hurt Neak, but she had a right to know and…

Virgo appeared and, with a gasp, her hand over her heart, stared horrified at the Grove. “What has happened here?”

The three looked at Virgo wondering what she was talking about. Toff’s spirits sank, recognizing the look in his mother’s eyes; she was in one of her moods, not dealing with full faculties.

“What have you done to my Grove!?” Outrage filled the Divinity’s face, her dark eyes narrowed, as she thrust her finger at the Tree Nymph. “You, what do you think you’re about allowing the trees to grow wild. A Scared Grove…”

“Mother,” Toff interrupted Virgo’s tirade in a gentle voice. “Oak’s Holm is no longer a Sacred Grove. It hasn’t been one for almost five years now.”

“What foolishness is this? I never would have signed off on that.”

“I spoke with you about this six months ago. Our former secretary had…”

Virgo pushed her nearly black hair over her shoulders—there was a spattering of silver in it—a moment of wistful sadness washing over her delicate looking face. “I miss her. I wish she hadn’t quit.”

“She stole funds from us. She collaborated with Justice’s secretary and several other Secretarial Pixies in stealing those funds from us and other Divinities.” Toff eased Ruby further behind him as he moved into a more protective position. His mother was definitely in one of her fits and knowing how she felt about Ruby, he wanted to keep his mate out of the line of fire.

“I don’t believe you, she wrote me a very sweet letter goodbye.” Virgo’s outrage reappeared. “You never liked her, that’s why you’re saying these things. Now don’t change the subject. Why are the trees growing wild?”

“They prefer to grow that way.” Neak crossed her arms over her chest, drawing Virgo’s attention away from Toff and towards herself. “And since Oak’s Holm is no longer a Sacred Grove, but a small village, I allow the trees to grow as they wish so long as they don’t eat anyone.”

“I never liked your family, always so uppity, believing itself equals to the Divinities and Lady Arbor enforced that belief when she allowed her son to marry that tramp. I tried many times to have the Silverplums removed, but Lady Arbor refused.”

Neak tried to hold her tongue, as her temper was dangerously spiking. She failed. “Well, I can say the Silverplums have never cared much for you either, but it was Lady Arbor who charged us with the care of this Grove…”

“And a stupid choice that was, seeing how you’ve failed in the proper upkeep. Well after this, she'll have to listen.”

“Mother, enough! Please return home.” Toff didn’t like this new look in his mother’s eyes and he feared for Neak’s safety. “We will speak this evening.”

Virgo was about to answer that, when she spotted Ruby. Her voice turned guttural, “What is she doing here?”

“Ruby is with me, Mother. We were strolling the Groves, enjoying the late summer afternoon.”

“I forbade you to see her.”

Toff’s face darkened. “You no longer make those decisions for me. I choose to be with Ruby, she’s my mate.”

“I will not allow this!” Virgo started towards the female Centaur when Neak moved in front of her. “Out of my way, Nymph.”

Neak stood her ground. “I suggest you rethink your position regarding Toff and Ruby. I know enough about your past indiscretions…”

Virgo’s last hold on sanity snapped and struck quicker than a snake, blasting Neak in the chest, sending the Tree Nymph flying twenty feet.

“You shouldn’t have done that.” Lady Arbor appeared behind Virgo, cold rage filling her delicate features. She wrapped an arm around Virgo’s neck and then disappeared. She reappeared outside the Sanctions Forest—a place no one could leave once entered, unless called forth by The Mother—and shoved Virgo through the entrance, leaving her to await her fate.

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