Tears welled in my eyes. The babies were here, but my mates still watched me as though I were the most precious thing.
I wasn’t forgotten.
I wasn’t cast aside.
I had a purpose, and a place.
Kaida waved both arms wildly. Nasi gave a respectful bow. Domik lifted a still-blushing Vanca into the air like she weighed nothing. Nerissa and Canavar stood at the front, Enya supported between them, one leg wrapped in heavy bandages. Wyrren stood at her side, smirking.
Had they mated?!
And Veskor?—
Veskor stood a little apart, Mara and Yazmine flankinghim like proud mothers, Perri perched on his shoulder like an overexcited seabird. He actually looked clean. Terrified, but clean.
Kaida shouted up at me, “HURRY! WE STARTED WITHOUT YOU!”
“Started what?” I called back.
“The feast!” a dozen voices answered at once.
My stomach growled loudly enough for everyone near me to hear.
Ronan snorted, stroking my hair. “Good. You need it. You must eat to recover.”
I rolled my eyes but didn’t protest.
We made our way down together, and the crowd parted with reverence and excitement.
Long, overflowing, mismatched tables covered the clearing. Earth-witches had conjured warm fires and heated stones. Seawitches brought baskets of shellfish and cooked kelp wraps. Draklings dashed underfoot with sticky fingers and berry juice smeared on their faces.
It was chaotic. Loud. Messy. Perfect.
Benedict guided me to a cushioned seat, fussing, while Kieran shoved food into my hands. Ronan corrected both of them about my recommended nutritional recovery amounts, earning groans from everyone.
“I have named them,” I announced to no one in particular, yet everyone went silent, breath bated, waiting. I held up Kiarra in one arm. “Kiarra.”
Cheers went out, louder than before.
I lifted the other baby. “Baila!”
Benedict twitched, tears gathering in his eyes.
“If it’s all right,” I whispered.
He kissed me.
The music started, all drums, reed flutes, and some kindof sea-horn the seawitches had brought. The feast burst fully alive.
Kaida bounced over first, scooping up Kiarra with a delighted squeal. “Auntie Kaida demands her turn!”
Nasi politely took Baila, holding her with surprising gentleness. Then the entire island passed the twins around like prized treasure. The recluse females took turns cooing over them. Even Meruse looked charmed, though she tried to hide it.
Perri tugged Veskor toward us, dragging him by the wrist. He looked much recovered, his bony stature filling out. His wings now matched Canavar’s bandaged ones, though his were much more heavily bandaged. I’d have to get the story on what had happened in the lava tubes eventually.
“Tell them the funny story!” Perri said.
Veskor stiffened. “There are no funny stories.”
