Over the next several hours, many of the people who had gathered at the start of the evening drifted away, leaving behind only the vampires, witches, and Hauke's father, Ritchel, to pass the time until dawn.
Zedya brought out a half finished blanket that she intended to present to Samira when her child was born, along with a matching blanket that she'd already finished for Noomi's son, Saku. Both women had settled into Ollie's village in the days since their rescue from the Summer Villa, and Zedya had taken them under her protective wing in Ollie's absence.
Old Nan and the other villagers had given the pair of women something close to a heroes' welcome when Noomi returned from what should have been certain doom, and when they learned how Samira had helped to protect her and her infant son, the Heartwood clan had all but adopted the woman who bore a striking resemblance to Lady Ashlynn.
