“Sisters, stand down,” Kaede commanded, rolling his eyes. “Can’t you see your entrance has alarmed them?”
The five cloaked sisters removed their hoods, revealing their faces to us for the first time.
I squirmed out of Odelm’s arms and turned to face him. Standing on my toes, I grabbed both of his cheeks and looked deeply into his jade eyes.
“Are you all right?”
He nodded and hugged me tightly. Wrapping my arms around his neck, I held him tightly.
“I am fine, Selena. Do not worry about me. All is well.”
“But…”
“Now isn’t the time, Selena. We have guests. If it eases your mind, Xylo can check on me later, and we can have a discussion. Will that work?”
“Yes… I just wanted to make sure you know I’m sorry,” I breathed. “And I love you.”
“I love you too, Selena, my nestqueen,” he whispered. “Now, go welcome our guests.”
He let me go, and I backed away, making my way around my nestmates.
I glanced down at my cubs as I passed them by. They were hiding underneath Kaede’s cloak behind Z’fir’s legs, afraid of the new visitors. It warmed my heart to see them seek out Z’fir for comfort, accepting him so soon and trusting him to protect them.
Each cloaked woman was gorgeous in her own right.
All but one stood about the same height as Kaede—about a head taller than me—the one farthest from me only slightly taller. They all shared the same medium beige skin and angular faces. Yet each sister had unique characteristics which made it easy to tell them apart.
“Kaede. Are these your sisters? The Fab Five?” I asked, eyeing the newcomers.
The tallest one in the middle smiled at me and stepped forward, her black-gloved hand covering her heart. She reminded me of the Quaww, and I wondered if that was the species they spliced her with.
She had long, thick, jet-black hair with a crown of feathers starting from her eyes and the bridge of her nose and along her forehead. The plumage went from sapphire to emerald, and each feather’s tip was gold. Her eyes were a stunning bright blue that studied me quizzically.
“My name is Bryeca, but you can call me ‘B.’ I am the leader of the “Fab Five” and practically Kaede’s equal—”
“No one is my equal,” Kaede scoffed, crossing his arms.
“Anyway…My sisters and I have been waiting to meet both you and your clan.” B placed her hand out for me to accept. I hesitantly grabbed it, and she enclosed her gloved hand around mine and shook our hands—just like humans did in my studies!
She smiled at me and released my hand.
“I would like to introduce my crew to your clan if that is okay with you, Selena Darcaw ofDestima, Seedbearer of Second Prince Zirene Darcaw,” B asked gently.
“It seems likeAgentKaede forgot to tell you about my ‘No Titles’ rule,” I chuckled before giving Kaede a dirty look. He smirked back at me, and I rolled my eyes at his antics before addressing his sisters. “Please, refrain from using such things around me while we are alone—we would waste time, trying to be proper. I have two princes in my clan with a third I want nothing to do with for a while.”
“Kaede may be our leader, but he is definitely wrong,” mumbled the shorter sister. Her translucent hair flowed down to her waist, shimmering in the light. She had light blue scalessurrounding her pale pink eyes all the way to her ears, which were shaped like an elegant spiral shell.
“Don’t mind Kaica. She is shy. She is our group’s medic and tends to stick to her lab,” B explained, sending me an apologetic smile.
I felt for her. Xylo was the same way, always needing to study and preferring to be locked away from others.
“Name’s Aunya,” said the blonde woman standing next to Kaede with five bushy white-tipped golden tails that swayed back and forth. She smiled as her amber eyes met mine. “I am the team’s mechanic. Need somethin’ fixed or ‘vented? I can hook you up.”
“I am Nyx,” blurted a cheerful, bright green, short-haired woman as she grabbed both of my hands and shook them wildly, her fuchsia eyes alive. Behind her, four iridescent, clear wings buzzed as she jumped up and down with excitement. “I am the team’s pilot and have been longing to meet our new sister and her cubs. You are so pretty! I can’t wait to play with your cubs.”
“She didn’t say you could yet, Nyx,” Kaede scolded. “You got ahead of yourself once again.”
Nyx stopped jumping as her smile fell. The last sister rescued my hands from her saddened sister, shoving herself between us.
