We headed for the two empty benches at the far side of the fire. The only people who were willing to sit near us were Trivix, my father and brothers, and Zander with his younger sister. Zander was one season younger than us. His parents had died in the stiffness, leaving him to raise his sister on his own. I had played with him many times as a sietling and it was nice to see him again.
My brothers brought Kayla, and I bread topped with meat and vegetables while Trivix brought Taylor and Brexl their dinner.
My youngest brother, Zoru, reached out his hand and touched my arm.
Kayla smirked at him. “What are you doing?”
“I’m making sure he’s real.” Zoru was a few seasons younger than Sozu and Jax and his voice is still that of a sietlings. I found it strangely comforting that there was finally one aspect of my brother’s life I had not missed. I will get to hear his child-like voice at least one last time before it changes to the deep tenor of an adult male.
“I’m very real, my brother,” I ruffled his hair like I used to many seasons ago, and the action was achingly familiar.
Zoru swatted me away like he always did andtime seemed to stand still as we met each other’s eyes in remembrance of the life we once lived together. He broke the stillness of the moment by jabbing me in my ribs before quickly scooting away.
“I will get you for that later,” I laughed.
“How is your life in the other dekes?” Trivix asked Brexl.
“It is a good life. We are safe in the mountain.” His expression was neutral and his words were short.
“And Tarak is a good leader?” His grandfather tried again to speak to my friend. “He treats you well.”
“He treats me much better than a monster should be treated,” Brexl’s voice was barely above a whisper, just loud enough for myself and Trivix to hear.
The elder male wore a sour expression on his face. “You are no monster. You are my grandson, a kind male, a worthy male.”
“Was I so worthy for you to leave me behind?” Brexl bit back.
Trivix’s jaw snapped shut, and he looked away in shame.
“No whispering over there. I do not wish for you all to make plans for escape,” Dameron smiled at us as if he’d just thwarted some great plan of ours.
“In fact, I was thinking, once the full-moon has passed, your two females should stay in the valley while you two head back to your mountain. It’s not safe for females to walk such a long distance through the forest. I will keep them safe while you gather more males from your dekes to escort them home.”
The Savrix and Scaron shared a knowing look as if they’d discussed this plan in great detail already. I could not help the growl that rose up through my throat. The claws that accompanied my shifter form extended from my fingers, and I itched to shift the rest of the way. I wanted to protect Kayla, hide her from their sight.
“You put those claws, away you beast!” The Savrix pointed to my hand as if it were a damning piece of evidence.
“See! They are dangerous!” He looked at Scaron and his brutes. “Take them away,” he commanded.
Three hunters rose to their feet and started to approach us.
Kayla stood in between us and them and Taylor quickly joined her.
“Let us stay with our mates!” Kayla cried out and my heart squeezed. Her plea sounded as desperate as I felt.
“We want to go wherever they go,” Taylor added her plea as well.
“Why? So you can run away in the night?” Dameron looked us up and down. “No, I want to see you lumines for myself.”
“I will guard them.” A familiar voice sounded from the crowded group sitting near the fire. It was the soft, comforting voice of an elder female, one of the few we had left.
She stood and walked toward us in her black and white robes. The priestess.
Chapter 21
Kayla
An older sirret female stood among the group gathered around the fire. She wore a black tunic with a white hood and a purple rope tied around her waist.
