"Drozel and Lessa?" I tried next, because I'd noticed them touching subtly quite a few times.
"Dating," she said. "That's like being intended, but without the marriage at the end, and it lasts for more than a week. They also don't have rules about kissing before marriage, or sex. People just do what they want whenever they want, and the only limit on it is if the people you're with mind."
"You lost me," I admitted.
"Omden and Drozel," she said, "are together. Partners, which is almost like husbands. Drozel is with Lessa. Boyfriend and girlfriend, which is like being intended. I'm with Lessa, but we're just girlfriends because it's kinda new."
"And that's okay?" I asked.
She nodded. "The important thing is that we asked. Lessa asked me to be her girlfriend, and I agreed. She also asked if I mind that she's with Drozel, and I don't. They're really cute when they're together, and Lessa is just as grumpy as he is. Strong, too! Those two make a very cute pair. Ommy and I agree."
"Ommy?" I asked, because she didn't usually shorten his name.
Meri shrugged. "I've realized nicknames are something you do when you're close with someone, and he's my friend now." Then she tilted her head a bit, looking at me slyly. "What about you, Sylis? Do you like women at all?"
"I... Uh..." I grimaced. "Not that way."
"Omden doesn't either," she explained. "Drozel likes both. Lessa likes both. I think I might like both."
One word in that stood out. "Think?"
"Well, I used to like boys," she admitted, "but then I got married, and after Gideon, I was sure I'd never want a man to touch me again."
"Mole men are cruel to their wives," I agreed.
"Yeah, but Dragon men aren't like that," she said. "They're sweet and caring andromantic. I just don't know if a man would want those things."
I could feel my face getting warmer. "I wouldn't mind those things."
Which made her suck in a little breath and twist to face me. "Really? Like what? Is that why you kissed Tobias? Is he romantic?"
I groaned, realizing I'd walked into that. "Meri, it was a mistake."
"He's very handsome," she pointed out. "Sylis, that man is so big! I mean, both of my hands probably wouldn't fit around his arms."
"It'd be close," I assured her. "He's not nearly as big as Drozel!"
And she gave me a sly look. "Nowhehas impressive muscles. Do you find those attractive?"
In that moment, I realized it was her. It wasn't the amount of time she'd been here, or how well she spoke Vestrian. The reason everyone was close with this woman was because she made it easy. The sparkle in her eyes made me want to smile in response. The open honesty? It let me admit things I never would've said before.
So I told her, "I do like muscles. I have also realized that green is a beautiful color."
"Omden," she said, nodding in complete understanding. "His scales are amazing, aren't they? And you can tell when he's tired because they get dull really easily. But he still has those stomach muscles."
"And his chest," I said, gesturing to the flat part above my nipples. "He has shapes there I didn't realize were possible."
"It's because they eat well up here," she explained. "Well, and they have more space, so heavier things. You want to know what's weird?"
"Tell me," I encouraged, because suddenly, I really did want to know.
"Well," she said, "I was so sure muscles were the problem, but Drozel?" A little smile touched her lips. "He's everything that should scare me, but he doesn't."
"He scares me," I admitted. "Sometimes, his tail goes..." And I used my hand to demonstrate the way it whipped. "...and I see his stinger!"
"They try not to show those," she told me. "But stingers aren't scary. I'm going to get immune to venom soon too. They said I had to wait, because of the baby and the healing. Naomi - she's the doctor who treated me - wanted me to put on some weight so she couldn't see my ribs, and I'm almost there, and then we'll do it."
"Do you think I can get immune, or do I have to do something first?"
