Contents
4. Four
Overview
Amara ventures into the forest to harvest vitella and unknowingly steps into a fae circle, triggering a shadow barrier that traps her. A powerful fae confronts her with hostility toward humans, then softens after noticing her eight-point star birthmark. He announces he will marry her, sharply escalating the stakes and tying Amara to the fae world.
Summary
At dawn, Amara packs harvesting tools and enters the forest to find vitella, vital for remedies after the recent fae attack. Her usual spots are barren, pushing her deeper toward the portal despite growing unease.
After hours, she discovers a lone vitella centered within a ring of strange black-capped mushrooms. Focused on collecting pollen, she steps into the ring and begins a delicate harvest under a rare shaft of light.
A branch snap reveals a stunning, terrifying winged fae with ice-blue eyes and a crescent moon tattoo. He warns that she has stepped into a fae circle and is trapped. When Amara tries to retreat, a shadowy wall seals the ring. Her attempts to threaten him with a dagger fail as he advances, criticizing humans for taking from the forest.
As the fae seizes Amara’s wrist, he notices her eight-point star birthmark and reacts with shock. Drawing her close, he abruptly declares he is the man who will marry her, transforming the confrontation from imminent danger into a bewildering, high-stakes entanglement linking Amara to the fae.
Who Appears
- AmaraApothecary who ventures into the forest for vitella, steps into a fae circle, and is trapped.
- Unknown winged faeBeautiful, terrifying fae with black wings and crescent tattoo; traps Amara, notices her star birthmark, declares he’ll marry her.