“Wait, you are stopping her?”
“I have asked her not bring you the birds for a year, and then, I showed her the birds on the residence step again.” Moira stood slowly. “She understands, but she’s not impressed. She wanted to cuddle with your babies again.”
“She can still bring her little ones to mine.”
Moira passed along the image of Missus lying next to the babies with Penina pulling on her tail.
Missus got up and rubbed against Ven.
Ven paused and then smiled. “She’s going to bring her next babies to us and play with the littles. Thanks for negotiating. I couldn’t get through to her.”
“You are welcome. As long as I am in the islands, I am willing to translate.”
Rache came over. “Come on, the food is good, and they keep muttering that you have been asked to sing. You sing?”
“Uh, yeah. It’s the only time I sit still.” She went, got a plate, and joked with the band Emerald Shiver. They were all guarding their pregnant mate with cheerful fanaticism. “Why don’t you guys sing?”
Key grinned. “We have retired. You are up, Mimi.”
“I hate you so much, fire brain.”
“I accept that, now finish your plate and entertain us.”
She ate, walked to the shore, washed her hands, and then walked back to take the guitar. After she settled on a rock, she started to pluck and strum the strings as she played island lullabies, some pop music, and one of Emerald Shiver’s number one songs.
When she was done, she belched and walked over to Reynaldo, looking at his stunned face. She curtsied and handed the instrument over.
Rache and Eden grinned and started applauding. The villagers applauded, and Syar whistled.
Moira bowed and then went to get more food. Not collapsing in a heap when everyone was looking at her took a lot of energy.
The sleep in the guestrooms made her wish her hearing wasn’t as sharp as it was. The royal triad was enthusiastic in their appreciation of each other until about three in the morning.
Moira yawned over breakfast. Syar sat next to her. “So, your family is happy you are coming home.”
“Yes, but they are going to have to go over to Wonder to visit, or I will take a ferry back here for a day or two.”
“You don’t want to stay on Emerald?”
“Being this close to my family can be a bit much.”
Syar looked at her and nodded.
Ven came in with Reynaldo. “Why aren’t you a professional singer?”
Moira looked at her two new friends and said, “I have a fear of crowds. I was playing as a teen and—”
Syar gasped. “I forgot about that. An alpha grabbed her and simply tried to haul her off.”
“No one did anything; they thought it was part of the performance. I had to trash my guitar to get him to let me go.”
Syar winced. “Right. He was apologetic.”
“Sure. Once he got stitches and a cold compress,” Moira muttered. “At least I am far less portable now.”
Syar looked at her. “That is a fascinating observation.”
She looked down at herself. “Do you think that is why I can’t shrink?”
