Maybe it was the way he was dressed. His outfit was simple. A loose tunic that fell to his knees and a pair of comfortable looking fur-lined boots. The garment was tied at his waist and the deep v of the neckline exposed his chest and the pendant he wore.
Even a tagalong like Eva could recognize that emblem. An elderberry plant carved into stone.
A healer. A good one too if the respect the Trateri treated him with was anything to judge by.
Even more importantly, he was special. Not in the same way as Eva, of course. She didn't get the sense he could hear the mythologicals like she could, but there was something there. Something different.
Like she was different.
Eva pushed the strange healer out of her mind as she focused on Van.
What had he asked her? Ah, right. Whether she had fun?
Not quite how she would put it, but sure, why not. She'd hadfunplaying with the babies, and the flight itself had been beyond anything she could ever dream.
If she lived a hundred years, she would never forget all that she had seen and experienced. It was forever emblazoned in her memory. Something she'd carry to her grave, treasuring it always.
Not that Eva would share any of this with Van. She was a secretive person under normal circumstances. Let alone when the Kyren were in the mix.
As far as she was concerned anything involving the mythologicals was on a need-to-know basis, and the clan leaders didn't need to know.
If they had a problem with that, they were welcome to find some other valley to poke their noses into.
Buck nudged Witt with his elbow. "Lookie there. Does that expression remind you of anyone?"
Witt grunted, not bothering with words as he chewed on a piece of grass.
"Shea." Buck slapped his hand against his thigh. "She gets that exact same expression."
"I see it too." Ghost gestured toward his face. "It's in the eyes. They have a way of looking at you like you're too dumb to live and they're considering whether they should do the world a favor and remove you from existence."
Eva ignored them, knowing if she let herself get drawn into the conversation it would end nowhere good.
Are these the people you insisted we get to know? I fail to see why,Theo said with a look of distaste.
"Give it time. They grow on you." Eva paused to consider. "Some of them anyway."
Those Trateri new to the valley drew back, the air growing hushed and tense as Eva slowly became the focus of attention. Each gaze falling on her like an inescapable weight, dragging her down.
She knew they looked at her like a monster that might someday become a threat.
Sebastian shifted closer to her, sensing the change in atmosphere. Caia tossed her head, blowing out a harsh snort as she hovered protectively over Eva's shoulder.
The mice are still the same. A whiff of someone different and they puff up like angry porcupines. These are the people you advocate for?Theo asked scornfully.
Eva's hands slowly curled into fists as the Kyren's words exposed her biggest fear.
This. This right here was what she didn't want. The acrid stench of suspicion and doubt so thick and cloying she could practically taste it.
The way some of the Trateri watched her was the same way they might look at a mythological—or a beast.
People didn't like different. Eva knew that. It was why her sister used to tell her, "Don't let people see your crazy."
Over and over again until it became a motto.
"You really can hear their thoughts," the healer said, interrupting the stillness that had fallen.
The aloofness that held him apart from the rest faded. There was interest in his gaze. Understanding that helped Eva find her balance again.
