With a snicker, Zef tipped their cup back and took a drink. “Yes. First the fear. Then the food. Then the dancing.”
“Dancing? Oh Lord, I got two left feet.”
“I have never noticed that abnormality,” they said with a frown, and he swallowed his laugh.
“No, I mean that I can’t dance. Bull in a china shop, remember?”
“Ah. Well then,” they said as they clinked their glass against his, something playful and maybe even a little dangerous flashing in their eyes, “I suggest you follow my lead.”
Chapter fifteen
Wholly Wonderful
Zef
As the feast commenced,Zef added food to Bryce’s plate, explaining what it was and how it had been prepared. Little by the little, the color was returning to his face as he sipped his wine and tasted each dish curiously. They felt a little guilty for throwing Bryce into the deep end with no warning, but they had wanted him to experience the ritual without his defenses up.
Perhaps they had acted rashly, because the human had been rather shaken at the end. They would apologize more profusely later.
“After we eat, there is music and singing,” Zef informed him as he tried the roastedqyro. “And then the dancing.”
“You Mantodeas sure know how to party,” he said around his bite.
“We may not be as rambunctious as other species, but we do know how to have fun,” they said loftily, sipping their wine.
Their conversation was interrupted by the scrape of the chair beside Bryce as it was taken by the only ex-partner Zef possessed. Unless theycounted Denys, thoughtheydid not, regardless of how Denys had misconstrued their relationship.
“Forgive my interruption, Zefryn, but I had to come say hello,” Don said as they dipped their chin in Zef’s direction.
“No apology necessary, Don. It is good to see you,” Zef said, inclining their own head. “Bryce, this is Don, my…”
At Zef’s faltering, Don’s antennas danced in amusement. “We go way back,” they said, cocking their head at Bryce. “How interesting to have a human here. Welcome.”
Wiping his mouth with his napkin, Bryce swallowed his bite quickly. “Thank you. It’s nice to meet you, Don.”
“What did you think of the ritual?”
“Terrifying,” Bryce answered honestly, “but really cool and powerful. I feel lucky to have seen it.”
Don hummed and propped their dark green chin on their equally dark green hand. “And what brought you to the Pentagram?”
“He is an animal healer,” Zef said proudly. “He is studying the animals here in the Pentagram for a year.”
“Animal healer? How fascinating. And how did you meet Zef?”
“Well, they work with Oliver, and Oliver and I went to high school together. Technically, we weren’t really friends back then. I was in the science club and he was a jock, but he was good buddies with my brother. Anyway, that’s not important,” he said when Don’s brow furrowed, clearly not understanding the vernacular Bryce was using. “I asked Oliver if he knew of a place I could stay while I was studying, and he said Zef was looking for a roommate.”
“What happened to Denys?” Don asked Zef, and their wings buzzed in discomfort.
“They moved out,” they said simply.
“Interesting.” To Bryce, Don said, “We do not see many humans in our colony. I imagine you have received much attention.”
“Everyone’s been real nice,” Bryce said diplomatically.
“Yes, well, Zef is not known for their socializing, so when they bring a different…friendtwo years in a row, it is cause for gossip. Even I am not above indulging curiosity.”
Heat rose in Zef’s cheeks, but they kept their tone even as they said, “Do not be rude in front of my guest.”
