“Shifters,” Sera and Elyse corrected together.
“He’s a man that can transform into a wolf—how is that not a werewolf?” Manny challenged.
“He can transform into anything,” Elyse corrected.
“And he can do it on command,” Sera added, “not just during the full moon.”
Manny blinked a few times. “These sound like semantics to me.”
Killian grunted a laugh.
“Be respectful of our allies, Manny,” Sera chided him.
“Respectful?” he repeated. “They love me!” He waved with far too much enthusiasm at one of the passing cousins, nearly flinging sausage off his fork. “Tamar, how was your breakfast? Those eggs were divine, weren’t they?”
The cousin, Tamar, stopped and nodded. “Oh yes, everything was wonderful. Thank you so much for the hospitality.”
As Tamar retreated, Manny waggled his brows. “See?”
“They love everyone,” Elyse grumbled as she took a bite of bread.
“About that,” Killian said, lowering his voice. “Do they seem a bit… reverent to you?”
“Speak plainly, brother,” Manny uttered.
Killian sighed and leaned closer to his friends. “Why are they here? Why did they offer to make our plates for us?” he asked, hoping none of the shifters kept their wolf-hearing in their human forms. “If anything, we should be doting on them. They’re helping us.”
Elyse waved him off with a handful of bread. “They’re a very communal people. Through dozens of generations, they’ve been raised to believe in helping each other, and putting others’ needs before their own.”
“Even strangers?” Killian pressed.
“To them, we’re not strangers,” Elyse explained, setting down her bread. “We’re Zubir’s friends, which makes us their friends as well. And we’re all part of a bigger community—society. Citizens of the realm. When we need help, they want to answer the call.”
“That sounds like an oversimplification of an entire group of people,” Manny said.
Sera scoffed. “I once heard you say that everyone from Bendsworth is boring,” she accused.
“Well, they are!” Manny defended. “Have you ever heard a single one of them laugh?”
“Maybe they don’t think your jokes are funny,” Killian chimed in.
Manny pointed a finger at him. “Don’t you dare, Southwick.”
“Regardless, culture is still a thing,” Elyse noted. “The shifters tend to be selfless and thoughtful. And maybe people from Bendsworth have a more refined sense of humor.”
Manny shot Elyse a glare, which only made her smirk triumphantly.
“Elyse is right, though,” Sera said. “Values change across all cultures, but they’re especially strong among supernatural beings. Seers are raised to be more open-minded, less judgmental than most people. We’re taught that everyone has a story and a reason for their choices.”
“That explains why she likes you, mate,” Killian taunted, pointing his fork at Manny.
“Anyway,” Sera said, pointedly changing the subject, “we’re having a going away dinner tonight.” She clapped her hands together—something Killian hadn’t seen her do in some time. He smiled at her excitement.
“It will be a formal event, and I’ve already picked out your outfits. They’ll be delivered to your room today,” she went on. In a very unladylike fashion, she shoveled the last of her eggs in her mouth. Then she rose from her seat and, towering over Killian and Elyse, gave them each a piercing stare. “Be in the dining room at a quarter to seven. Do. Not. Be. Late.”
“Yes, ma’am,” Killian answered, a little afraid of what sort of creative punishment Sera was capable of.
“I suppose I can find time in my busy schedule,” Elyse sighed as she smirked.
