“Seda did, and he refused to listen to the warning about males going to La Uma. He wishes to remain at her side,” Ael replied while sipping his coffee, his eyes frequently darting toward the door.
“He’s a damn fool just like you.” Roya glared at him.
He opened his mouth to speak, but Luelle interrupted him, saying to Praxis, “Why do you have to stay? Why can’t you go with them?”
“Because our king thinks you need help here,obviously,” he replied with a wink. “Besides, what if you get lonely? And what if Meir comes back with Neoma? You’ll need some actual strength around here.”
Luelle slammed her fork on the table and glared daggers at Praxis. “The only thing you’ll do is fuck her in the bushes! Even knowing what she did to you with that potion!”
Praxis shrugged. “As long as it’s outside the castle walls, I see no problem with that. I’ll be whoever she wants me to be.”
“Maybe La Uma doesn’t care about male animals. Maybe it’s justmen,” Askold said, bringing the conversation back to Elco, as he shoved pancakes into his mouth, the jam on top spilling past his lips and dripping down his chin.
Ferona narrowed her eyes at him, watching the mess he made on his shirt. “Why do you have to eat like a pig?”
He smirked at her, a chunk of pancake stuck to the syrup on his chin. “But don’t you remember, Ferona? You said all men are pigs. I’m just living up to the name.” He took another big bite and chewed with his mouth open, glancing over to make sure Ferona was watching.
“Besides,” he said before he took a big gulp of coffee. “We’re going on two separate missions, and who knows when I’ll get to eat something like this again? It could be weeks!”
Ferona let out an audible gag at his disgusting display, and Luelle chuckled as she stared at her.
“I agree. Menarepigs,” Luelle said with a reassuring nod and made sure to shoot Praxis one more glare.
Askold feigned mock shock before digging back into his plate.
The doors swung open, and Seda hesitantly stepped inside, shadowing the doorway and making the whole room fall silent. Askold gasped loudly.
She wore armor that accentuated her curves, but her wings… they had grown. Folded up, they were taller than she was, and glittering starlight pulsed with what appeared to be each of her heartbeats.
Roya’s mouth hung open, and she dropped her fork sharply on her plate. “They’re here...”
How had she grown her wings since seeing her? He was just upstairs with her—not even twenty minutes ago.
Her skin looked pale, as if she hadn’t slept in days. Whatever Kalon did to her… Ael’s anger surged. That fucker was going to pay.
Seda was carrying a cloak in her arm, and when she looked at Ael, she smiled at him and made her way toward the empty chair beside him. She struggled to sit down with her wings, but furrowed her brows and strained, slightly parting them so she could sit.
He could feel the tension radiate off her, and he wanted to reach out and touch her, but she looked like she had seen a ghost.
In a way… He supposed she had. This was all so new for her. What magical being had wings like that? Nothing in the library had shown anyone like this, not even that book he stole and read through countless times, always stopping and glaring at the image of a snake.
He looked down at her, expecting her to talk, but she reached for the honey cakes he had ordered and poured coffee into her cup, saying nothing.
“So…” he pried, glancing up at her beautiful feathers, refraining from reaching out and touching them.
The door opened once more, and the maid, Suza, walked in, wearing clothing made for a… journey, not her usual maid’s dress.
“What are y—” Ael began to ask Suza.
“She’s coming with us,” Seda replied as she took a large bite of her honey cake.
“Why?” Ael asked.
Everyone in the room fell silent, staring at the maid, their gazes slowly shifting to Seda.
“I have a lot to tell you all.” Seda swallowed and offered a strained smile.
Suza sat down at the table, hesitant to make a plate.
