Elyse nearly tripped. Her eyes scoured the group as her heart began to sing. It took a moment to spot him, seeing as he was several inches shorter than most of his clan. Then, she saw a man with three ponytails protruding from the top of his head. Even away from his island, away from his treasures and piles of books, and his ridiculous protections, she knew unmistakably who he was.
“Zubir!” she screamed. Her boots were pounding on the dirt. She hadn’t realized she was running, but she was, arms pumping furiously as she caught up to Killian, then passed him. She heard him laugh—devil’s rosy cheeks, the sound was brilliant—followed by the slam of his footsteps as he picked up his pace. Soon he was running beside her, a brightness in his eyes that invigorated her. “Zubir!” she cried again.
Zubir finally heard their shouts and turned around. His meek smile was an embrace to Elyse’s shattered heart. It was more than that. It was a drop of hope in a churning ocean of uncertainty. He had come, and he had brought others.
“Oh, hello!” he said as Elyse finally reached him. He spoke with a casual deference, as if they’d merely bumped into one another at the market.
“What are you doing here?” she asked, a bit breathless. Her heart was beating relentlessly, more from the excitement than from sprinting. “And who are all these people?”
The rest of Zubir’s group was slowly gathering around them. They watched Elyse with as much curiosity as she regarded them.
“My cousins,” Zubir answered, ignoring her first question. He didn’t need to answer it though; the look of pride and determination in his stormy gray eyes said enough.
Killian tilted his head, his confusion plain on his face—a rather endearing look for him. Corin and Nina caught up to the group but were forced to remain on the outskirts of the crowd. Nearly all of the cousins had gathered around them, creating a small hoard in the middle of the road.
“It’s good to see you, friend,” Killian said to Zubir, who responded with an awkward nod. “How did you know where we’d be?”
Zubir gave a sheepish smile. “We have our ways” was the only explanation he provided.
“Let me introduce you to my friends,” Elyse said as she pulled Corin and Nina into the throng of people. She introduced them as esteemed healers, which prompted one of the cousins to lift his shirt and inquire about a stubborn ingrown hair that he wanted assistance in removing.
“Cousin,” Zubir chided with tempered exasperation before turning to Elyse. “My apologies—none of us have had much interaction outside of our chosen circles. But what we lack in social skills, we make up for in fight!”
The cousins all nodded vigorously, and Elyse felt her heart swell in her chest.
“What exactly is it that you do?” Killian asked awkwardly. Elyse tried not to laugh. Zubir looked the furthest thing from a warrior with his small frame and awkward composure. At least his cousins appeared somewhat stronger. Though they were allsmall in stature, their muscles were prominent, and they stood with a grace that spoke of physical prowess.
“You’ll have to wait and see,” Zubir said, leaning forward a bit and throwing glances over his shoulder. “We must be away from prying eyes.”
Though there was no one else on the road and the nearest house was almost a mile away, Elyse understood. She tucked her arm through Zubir’s and proceeded to escort him to the estate.
Zubir spent the remainder of the walk introducing Elyse to his cousins—all fourteen of them. She tried her best to remember their names, though they all looked so similar to one another that it was difficult to keep track. Each of them was polite and eager to meet her, though she detected an undercurrent of wariness in each of their greetings. Elyse wondered how much Zubir had told them about the sort of help she needed. He didn’t exactly know very much himself.
They finally arrived at the estate and strolled down the long, manicured walkway. The cousins all whispered excitedly at the wealth, though some of their eyes darted about, as if assessing potential threats. Elyse went first through the front door and immediately sought out Dah, who was arranging a bouquet in the dining room.
“Hi, Dah,” Elyse said, trying to sound natural. She wished Sera had returned with them—then she could be the one to explain who the fifteen newcomers were.
Killian, Zubir, and the cousins had gathered in the open doorway behind her, waiting awkwardly for acknowledgement. Dah looked up from her flowers and blinked a few times at the crowd gathered in her hallway.
“Um, these are our friends,” Elyse quickly explained. “Zubir, and Claydon, and Suzanne.”
“Sudana,” Killian corrected under his breath.
Elyse went on. “And they’re going to be attending the Sammerhan Games with us. We ran into each other and—”
“Well, how wonderful to have everyone here!” Dah exclaimed. She hurried to the doorway and began assessing the group. “Where are you staying? At the inn downtown? That won’t do, youmuststay with us. We might have to bunk three or four to a room, but we’ll make it work.”
Elyse breathed a sigh of relief at Dah’s earnest acceptance. She wouldn’t have known how to answer if Dah had asked too many questions.
It turned out the clan had brought tents and were more than happy to set up camp out on the lawn. She guessed they’d feel more comfortable there anyway, rather than inside a stranger’s home.
As Dah led the group out to the lawn and offered any provisions they might need, Elyse grabbed Killian’s hand and signaled for Zubir to follow. They said nothing until she’d led them upstairs and into the study, then closed and locked the door behind them.
“Zubir, I don’t know what to say,” Elyse breathed as she leaned against the door.
“Then let me speak instead,” Zubir answered. He took a deep breath and squared his shoulders. His chin was high as he peered up at Elyse and Killian, though it gave the slightest tremble. “Thank you for being honest with me. You were right. I have been hiding—both from the world and from my past. Andit has been lonely. My kind is not meant to live a solitary life.” He looked toward the window, as though he could see through the curtains and out to his cousins on the lawn. His expression softened and he added, “They were not angry with me, as I had feared. They welcomed me home.”
“And where is home?” Killian asked. He leaned casually on the table, like he was trying to make Zubir feel at ease. Despite his demeanor, Elyse could see the desire to know more burning in his eyes.
