Alstair was far from the androgynous figures I’d previously observed from the water world. And while his skin had a slight blue tinge to it, it was without the translucence of his brethren. His hair was my favorite part, though, a tangle of green and blue curls that sprang across his head. They matched his eyes, which were almost completely aqua, the smallest pupil dot in the center.
“I’m a warrior of my kind,” Alstair said softly, and once again the simple act of him speaking was calming. “A rare race who is born into their position, tasked with keeping our people safe.”
Friend three: Alstair, the water warrior.
The cool and calm in this hotheaded group.
“It’s very nice to meet you,” I said softly, adopting his manner unconsciously.
“And you,” he returned before he walked back to take his seat near Len. Reece hadn’t returned to the seats yet, and instead remained at Shadow’s side, the two giants in the room standing at my back, making sure I at no point felt completely relaxed.
I could feel Shadow’s eyes on me, watching and assessing as each one of his powerful friends approached me. It made sense that these would be his trusted friends, each of them strong and powerful. His equals… or almost.
The second-to-last was definitely from Honor Meadows, and his appearance answered my question about whether there were male figures there. And just like the females of his world, this male was a sight to behold.
Pure gold wings on his back, he wore a simple pair of black trousers, leaving the rest of his golden skin on show. His long, honey brown hair was braided in a thick and complexly interwoven style that no human could have achieved. And his eyes were so dark, it almost looked like his iris and pupil were one.
I’m Galleli.
Those two words landed in my head as I looked around frantically, trying to figure out what the hell was happening.
“Galli never speaks out loud,” Len called out, the unofficial MC for this meet and greet. “You’ll get used to him being in your head.”
I gulped. “Can you read my thoughts?”
He shook his head.Not unless you allow me access to your mind. This is simply me sending my words in the manner most comfortable for me.
Not sure if it was comfortable forme, but I wasn’t about to tell him that.
“What’re your special skills in Honor Meadows?”
It seemed all of Shadow’s friends held positions of power and worship in their worlds, and I was sure this dude was no different.
I am one of the Chosen. We are gifted with extra power and skills and are considered to be oracles of a sort. Images from the future and past will come randomly to us.
“Like a psychic?”
Those black eyes bore into me.Nothing at all like a psychic.
Okay, then.
Friend four: Galleli—not a psychic.
He turned abruptly and walked away, and he was now slotted firmly into the spot of reticent talker. In more ways than one.
And as spectacular as he was to look at, he also made me feel uneasy in a way the others who’d come before him hadn’t. There was a repressed fury simmering below the surface that could erupt at any time, and I decided then and there to keep my distance from that one in particular.
The final of the friend group approached, and when he stepped closer, I was surprised to see he was the most classically human in his beauty. Bronze skin, striking green eyes, tousled blond hair shorter on the sides with a little more length on top. But while he looked like a genetically blessed human, his energy was far from normal.
“I’m Lucien.”
The moment he touched my hand, a jolt of icy electricity hit me, and I gasped. This made him smile, and I caught a glimpse of sharp incisors before they disappeared from view again.
“Valdor,” I guessed.
He nodded. “Why, yes. Nice to see you’re both clever and stunningly beautiful.” He leaned in closer. “I’m a vampire master from Valdor, and I think you should ditch the grumpy beast and run away with me. I would shower you with jewels and more treasures than you could ever need.”
Friend five: Lucien, master vampire.
