Chapter 1681

They emerged from the grove glowing more brightly than before. Moss flowered beneath their feet. The trees leaned to watch them pass. The sky followed them with shafts of liquid light.

Back at the camp, the newcomers waited - but they were changed too. They knelt when Jude and his wives arrived, not in worship, but in welcome.

Rose stepped forward and touched one woman's cheek.

"You've felt it," she said gently.

The woman nodded. "It called. Even here."

Jude looked over the group - thirty, maybe forty now. All glowing faintly, all watching with eyes wide and glistening. All dreamers.

"You're not followers," Jude said, stepping forward. "You're part of this."

Zoey smirked. "Well, not all of it. We've earned some special status."

The others laughed, and the tension softened.

Stella walked to the center of the circle and knelt. She pressed her hands to the earth.