She appreciated her worn clothes and dirty face, as she hoped to blend into the modest culture. As they drove through town, a crowd lined the street to congratulate the search party. She soon realized they came to catch a glimpse of her.
Their eyes widened when they saw her, followed by loud gasps and exclamations of her beauty. Few had seen an immortal before. Alina shifted in her seat.
“You’re quite a celebrity here, Alina. You could wave and smile if you like,” Maxwell suggested.
Alina realized she must look snobbish, so she forced a smile and waved. Her heart sank as a group of teenage girls sneered at her, then huddled and whispered to each other. Somehow, she knew their words would sting if she heard them.
She was relieved when Maxwell turned onto a dirt road and left the crowd behind. As they approached a large house on the end of the street, Jade hurried toward them, arms flailing with excitement. Maxwell slammed on the brakes to keep Alina from leaping from the moving vehicle.
They broke into laughter when they embraced. “I’m so glad you’re okay!” Jade exclaimed. “I’ve worried so much about you!”
“I’ve been worried about you!” Alina responded. “Maxwell said you were injured. Is everyone okay?”
“Oh, we had a little skirmish with the nightstalks. Don’t worry; we’re all fine,” she added, seeing Alina’s expression. “I’ll tell you the story when we’re with Rex. He’s the hero, and he’ll want to hear it again. I’m healing nicely. The nightstalks didn’t hurt me the second time.”
She waved to Maxwell as he drove past them. “You met Max, I see. This is his home. His sweet wife has been kind enough to house us, though there was no shortage of offers—nearly everyone in town volunteered their home to Carthem’s ‘chosen one,’ it seems. But the mayor and some others requested no young men be living where you stay. You’re such a famed beauty, maybe they didn’t think it safe.” Jade giggled.
Alina crossed her arms. “Why? Because I plan to seduce every boy in sight?”
Jade noticed her irritation and stopped laughing. “They meant your safety. I’m sure no one thinks you’re a danger to the boys, or they’re a danger to you. But it’s good to be careful. Maxwell is trustworthy, and he has three daughters. You like him, don’t you?”
Alina nodded. “Yes. I’m glad he found me. Some of the other men gave me the creeps.”
Maxwell’s home was so charming, Alina couldn’t pull her eyes from the scene as they walked up the path. A wide porch wrapped around the brick walls, with three dormer windows extending from the roof on the second floor. A maple tree towered over the home, its broad leaves covering the lawn in deep, cool shade. Several chickens roamed through the yard, pecking at the ground and squawking at the cat that stalked them.
They climbed up the porch steps and a beautiful, fair-skinned woman came out to greet them. She smiled warmly at Alina.
“Welcome, Alina. I’m Christine. We’re honored to have you stay with us.”
“Thank you,” Alina said. “I’m grateful your husband found me.”
A young girl peeked around Christine and eyed Alina shyly. Christine smiled and put her arm around her, bringing her forward. She possessed her mother’s blue-green eyes and long blonde hair.
“This is my youngest daughter, Rachel.”
Alina smiled. “Hi, Rachel.”
“Hi.”
“How old are you?”
“Ten.”
Alina paused. She wasn’t good with kids. Jade stretched open her arms and Rachel ran into them. Why can’t I be more like that?
“Rachel is an expert on the farm and will teach us our duties while we’re here,” Jade said as Rachel beamed. “Of course, they say we don’t have to work,” she spoke over Christine’s protests, “but I told them nothing could stop me. I love the animals already.”
“I’m sure I’ll love them as well,” Alina agreed.
Another girl came out, this one with Maxwell’s red hair. Her eyes grew wide when she saw Alina.
“Wow! You really are pretty!” she exclaimed.
Christine smiled and put her arm around her other daughter. “This is Katherine. She’s my thirteen-year-old.”
“All my friends want to come over to see you. I hope you don’t mind. Maybe you can tell us stories about Pria,” Katherine jabbered without drawing breath. “Everyone is so jealous you’re staying here. Well, except Nicole.”
“Katherine!” Christine chided under her breath.
“Everyone will find out soon anyway, Mom. She just told me she won’t come down to meet her.”
Christine flushed. “Run upstairs, Kat, and make sure Alina’s room is ready for her.”
“It is, but Nicole won’t leave.”
Christine reddened further. “Just go!” she whispered. Katherine went back inside.
Christine looked at Alina. “I apologize for both Katherine and Nicole. Katherine is a chatterbox and slow to learn manners. Nicole is suffering from the jealousy I’m afraid many girls in town are suffering from. She hasn’t wanted to give up her room.”
“Oh! Please don’t have her give it up. I don’t sleep anyway.”
“Yes, dear, but you need a place to go when you want to be alone. It’s hard being in a strange home.”
“Let me be with Jade, then,” Alina said. Jade looked at Christine and nodded.
Christine sighed. “Very well. But you may be denying my girl a valuable lesson. I had hoped sacrificing something for you might change her feelings. But it’s difficult for the girls here. They outnumber the boys two to one. The competition is already so fierce—you know how girls are, and since the news of your coming, the boys haven’t paid much attention to them. I suppose they all want to be free in case you should choose one of them.”
Alina’s mouth dropped. “I won’t be choosing any, thank you very much!”
“She left her heart back in Pria,” Jade teased.
“That will break many hearts here, then,” Christine said as she led them inside.
“Your pack is in Nicole’s room,”
