“This is the beauty of sucking his cock,” she carried on to decree. “He’ll get over it and you no longer have to put up with his sulking. Just give him a climax, and in future, make it clear that was a one off. So if he starts sulking again, there will be no more cock sucking. Maybe ever. That’ll end the brooding right quick.”

I frowned for I didn’t think this was such good advice.

Mossy stretched her lips at me.

Twig appeared to be looking anywhere but at Jasmine.

They agreed with me.

In that instant, a blaze of silver and pewter pixie dust streaked by, along with one that was cinnamony and bronze.

Mossy tittered.

Twig waved at us.

And in a glittering waft of ginger, pearl, butter and fern, they flew off.

“Shaft-whipped,” Jasmine muttered, watching them go. “And I’ve met Rocky and Timber and I can’t say I was impressed with either of them.”

“I thought Timber was committing to Twig,” I remarked.

“Forest chatter, Ellie, you need to keep up,” Jazz said, pushing to her feet. “He’s got another. A female called Web. I haven’t met her. She’s probably lovely. But he’s not, seeing as he’s stringing them both along.”

I pushed to my feet as well, saying, “You’re joking.”

She shook her head and we started back toward camp, doing this with Jasmine talking.

“I’ll bet half the reason for the Night of the Fallen Masters was because our ancestors were sick to death of that very kind of rubbish.” She jerked her head toward where Twig and Mossy (and Timber and Rocky) flew away. “And the kind you’re dealing with from Prince Cassius.”

“I doubt our foremothers slit men’s throats because they were tired of having their hearts toyed with,” I replied.

She stopped moving so I stopped with her.

“And how do you feel right now, Elena, when you haven’t realized he knows precisely how you respond to him, because he’s had that experience, my sister, and you have not? And therefore, he knows precisely how to get you to come to heel. Now you’re all tangled up and worried about hurting his feelings when he sent Dora away and he’s never even met her.”

“It was for her safety, Jazz,” I noted.

“How’s this?” she asked. “Elena, I think it’d be best if your ward goes to The Enchantments with your mother. It’s safer for her there than with us. Do you agree? Yes? Excellent. Shall we talk to your mother together, or would you wish to speak to her yourself?” She shook her head in disgust and recommenced walking. “How hard is that?”

It was not hard.

But a few words.

No resultant shouting.

I would have agreed.

Dora would be safe.

Everyone on their way to their respective destinations.