MATED TO THE ENEMY ALPHA
I’m missing something here.
She takes the jar and leaves.
Immediately I turned to Astra, my entire face already asking the questions for me.
“Leave it,” she said, going back to grinding.
“You know I can’t. What was that?” I asked.
“Bitterroot intensifies desire, Elara,” she says quietly, not looking at me. “It lowers restraint. Heightens certain urges.”
“Certain… urges?” I asked, trying to process it.
“It has become… customary,” she continues carefully, “for certain pairings during festival nights for Zuri and Draven.”