“When the ground shakes, the beasties stay away,” another says.
The one that comes toward us first is covered in flowers. Their hair is made of long stems that grow out of their skull, each a different length with different flower heads. There are flowers sticking out of them everywhere.
A second one has their hair sticking up, running straight down the center of their head, but as they get closer, I don’t think it’s hair at all. They’re spines. The spines continue down their back along their spine. There’s something about their appearance that reminds me of pictures of dinosaurs.
The third looks… I’m not going to use the wordnormal,but like they could blend in with a group of humans. They’re feminine, wearing frilly lace and soft, pastel colors. This must be the one that controls the earth since each of their footsteps reverberates through me.
Drystan hugs each of them, and I’m reminded of a family who have been separated for a long period of time.
“Are they siblings?” I ask.
“In a way,” Keary answers. “These are three of the first teko conceived naturally. Meaning, not created in a lab and implanted in humans like Drys.”
I wince.
“The first generation of teko born are primarily treated like younger siblings by the OG teko, so yeah, they’re pretty much Drystan’s sisters.”
I glance at Notto. “You don’t like them?”
“Just wait,” Notto tells me, sliding his hands into his pockets.
Drystan brings them over and points at me. “That’s our competition. He’s why Keary stopped being a stick in the mud.”
Keary rolls his eyes but doesn’t answer.
“A human,” the girl made of flowers says, tilting her head to the side. “Weird.”
I bristle. What’s weird about being a human?
“Yes. He’s super sexy,” Drystan says. “Seriously. I encourage you to try a human lover.”
“Mm,” the one with dinosaur spikes says, obviously unconvinced.
“These are my sisters,” Drystan says. “Amyre, Talice, and Thara. That’s Rainer, our husband.”
My heart jumps. That’s the first time I’ve heard that word from any of them. Where did it even come from? Why did he use it? Shouldn’t there be a conversation or, at the very least, a ceremony?
“Are you sure, Drys?” Amyre, the one made of flowers, says as she looks at me with amusement. “It looks like you just spooked him.”
Drystan looks at me, his eyebrows knitting together. “Aren’t you? I thought that’s what we agreed. You can’t undo this family now. It’s already formed. We can’t?—”
“Easy,” Keary says. “I think it’s the term you used. Not Rainer suddenly having second thoughts.”
“Anyway,” dinosaur girl Thara says. “We’re heading to ride the winged things nesting on the towers. Want to join us?”
It’s obvious Drystan wants to join them, though I’m surprised when both Notto and Keary agree. I don’t think they agree because they necessarily want to. They agree because Drystan wants to go. I’m over here choking on the word “ride.”
Not because my mind went all dirty, but because they want toridewhat I assume is a beast!
“Hop on, then,” Amyre says, and the three of them turn back to the heap of surfing rock.
Talice stares at Kaida, her eyes narrowed. I grip Kaida’s fur-feathers in my hand, hoping to convey that this particular beast is mine. Kaida is unbothered by her suspicion, though she keeps her eyes locked on Talice’s. I gather it’s a challenge since she raises her lips to bare her teeth.
“The lut belongs to our lover,” Drystan says, grabbing Talice’s arm and turning her around. “Leave her alone. She will bite you to protect him.”
“You’re not able to protect him?” Thara asks, teasing.
“Of course we can, but the lut was here first. We respect that,” Drystan says.
