“Fuck!” he squeaked, shaking away the stars from his eyes. His nose throbbed, and he glared at the assassin, who was rubbing her forehead. “Watch where you’re going!”
Croak rubbed at his aching nose and brushed past Migela, tearing a path through the courtyard and up to the wall walk. Peering over the wall, he blinked at the sight before him. He let out a shout, waving his arms and laughing.
“Sonah!”
His new sister looked up at the sound of his voice, a smile stretching across her face. She stood in her stirrups, almost falling off her mount as she waved back frantically.
Croak moved back and ran down the steps to the courtyard, passing a flustered Orry who pivoted to follow. A small procession followed on their heels as Croak yanked open the door and ran to the gates, startling the monks peering out through the hatch at the riders.
The door barely widened enough for him to slip through before Croak was racing out, his arms spread wide as he tore down the wooden bridge to where Sonah was dismounting.
She was barely on the ground before Croak swooped her up in his arms, spinning her once in a crushing embrace before setting her back down. The girl laughed, her voice cracking as she shook. Croak blinked, his smile fading as he pulled back to see tears tracking down her face. He frowned at the fading bruises near her mouth.
“Hey, hey,” Croak crooned, crooking his finger to lift her chin. Her beautiful green and brown eyes swam with tears, and she swallowed as another sob racked her body. She tucked her head into his neck, snot and tears soaking the collars of his tunic and jacket.
He tightened his hold on her, closing his eyes against the rush of feelings overwhelming him.
They stood like that for several moments before the sound of labored breathing behind him made Croak stiffen. Turning to glance over his shoulder, his lips quirked up on one side when he caught Orry’s beaming face, the apples of his cheeks stained red as he panted from exertion.
Sonah pulled away to see the newcomer and another sob tore through her as Orry bounded forward, wrapping his thick arms around both of them.
Croak lasted five seconds before he had to pull away from the stench of Orry’s armpits.
“Enough of that,” Croak grumbled, wiping at a tear. He sniffled. “You stink something awful, Orry. I daresay even the monks have provisions for a bath. You should definitely avail yourself of one.”
Sonah giggled, darting forward to give Croak a quick hug before she planted a wet kiss to Orry’s plump cheek. If possible, the cleric reddened further and Croak cackled.
“Oh, I’m so glad to see you,” Sonah said, her voice still shaking. She swallowed and motioned behind her at the rest of her party. “I know you’ll remember Melanos. And this?—”
“Melanos!” Croak shrieked, already launching himself at the giant god. When he pulled away, the god grinned down at him, slapping a large hand across Croak’s chest, sending him stumbling a few steps back into Orry and Sonah.
“Gods, it’s good to see you too, Melanos. And grateful Sonah wasn’t traveling without protection.”
“From what we’ve seen,” Melanos said with a wink at Sonah over Croak’s shoulder, “the little one—I mean, Sonah—can protect herself.”
Croak laughed uncertainly, seeing the look passing between him and Sonah. Before he could ask what the god meant, his gaze was caught by the stunning woman dismounting behind him. Croak’s mouth dropped open, and he stared at the vision slowly walking toward him.
Straightening his spine, he plastered a look of haughty indifference on his face and crossed his arms. The woman stopped beside Melanos and wrapped her long, beautiful fingers in the crook of Melanos’s elbow.
“And who might this be?” Croak asked in a voice one octave lower than his normal tone. He heard Orry snicker behind him. Sonah came to his side, her smile radiant.
“This is Bethana,” Melanos said, looking down at the gorgeous blonde with a smile that would melt all of the north. The woman beamed up at him, a glow about her making her appear ethereal.
Croak gaped at them. “Beth—theBethana?” Shaking his head, he speared a hand through his hair. “Gods you look… you look… very different from what Ren described.”
The woman smiled at him indulgently. “I hope so.”
Croak stared at her long enough for it to become awkward. Even Melanos shoving him lightly on the shoulder didn’t shake him out of his ensnared gaze until Orry dropped his arm across Croak’s shoulders.
“Bethana,” Orry began, his voice taking on an ingratiating, reverent tone he used whenever he was about to kiss someone’s ass. “The naiad who fell in love with a god and was punished by Poseidon to life as a serpent.”
The awe in his voice made Croak worry his friend would drop to his knees at any moment to kiss the poor nymph’s feet.
“I’ve read your story countless times in the old texts we have—well, they are at the White Palace with High Cleric Christos but—my lady, you are a legend, as are you, Lord Melanos, and it is an honor to meet you both.”
Croak rolled his eyes. “This is Ormano Peredor, our friend. If you ever want to be bored to tears or you just cannot sleep, call on Orry to regale you with tales from his studies as a cleric. That’ll do the trick.”
Sonah laughed and squeezed his waist, looking around him as she grinned at Orry’s flushed face.
