thinking, but does make it quite embarrassing to talk about it.

I tried to play it cool. “That’s good. I’d hate to think you brought me out here to watch woodland porn.”

He started to say something, probably to continue the teasing, when I caught a blur of movement from the circle and turned just in time to see the entire group flitter off into the woods. In their absence, the circle seemed to shrink, still magical and mysterious, but lessened somehow by their departure.

“That’s it then?”

Paul nodded. “Pretty much. Fairies aren’t into long rituals. They’re not the brightest supernatural creatures ever, and that’s about as long as their attention span can manage.” He stood up, extending a hand to help me up. “What did you think?”<...

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