Nerissa groaned. “Nava. Stop toying with them.”
“What? It’s fun.” Nava flicked her wings. “Besides, the male drakens here are practically begging to be humiliated. You were right, Mother; male drakens are ridiculous. Have they never seen a female before?” She looked around, but only spotted me. Her shoulders drooped, disappointed. “Hmm.”
My eyes narrowed at her. Kaida’s wings bristled, the only sign of her annoyance.
Every male in earshot snapped to attention at her criticism, posture instantly civil. The change was so fast evenIblinked.
Domik wandered into the clearing, nose buried in the book he had run off to fetch. “Benedict, have you seen this premise on bloodwards that?—”
He looked up—saw Vanca—and froze so violently he nearly gave himself whiplash.
Vanca’s eyes sparkled like the embers of a fire.
“Well, hello,” she purred, sauntering toward him with predatory interest.
Domik backed up a step. Then another. He tripped over a tree root and recovered, barely, clutching the book to his chest like a shield.
“Um,” he squeaked. “Hello. I—I didn’t—wasn’t—are you—who?”
She prowled around him in a slow circle. “You smell like ink and old paper. And … logic.” Her smile sharpened. “I like that.”
Domik swallowed the lump in his throat. “Most don’t.”
“I’m not most,” she said.
He made a strangled noise that might have been a plea for help.
I hid a snort. Kaida openly enjoyed the show. Benedict looked quietly relieved Vanca had found a target other than the local idiots.
“Well,” Benedict said, clearing his throat loudly enough to bring everyone’s attention back, “since it seems our guests will be staying awhile, perhaps we should use the leftover food from the celebration. We have a few uninhabited huts built just for females, so …”
Nerissa nodded. “Nothing welcomes family like a feast.”
Nava shot a sly grin. “Good. I’m starving. Travelling through storms makes me aggressive.”
“You’re always aggressive,” Vanca muttered.
“Exactly.”
One of the unmated males groaned. He was ignored.
Kaida grinned. “Welcome dinner it is!”
Enya emerged from the crowd, clapping her hands. “Good. Wren, you are not cooking. Or standing. Or doing anything except sitting.
“Fine,” I grit out, not disagreeing. I hated always being tired.
“We will take those performing the ritual to your treehouse, and plan while you sit and rest,” Kaida suggested.
I was so grateful for her.
Kieran and Benedict were instantly at my side, Kieran picking me up to carry me back to the treehouse to sit near the preparations.
The crowd softened; anxiety faded under the warm hum of preparation. Drakens, witches, and seawitches all moved with purpose: setting tables, lighting lanterns, preparing platters of roasted roots, salted fish, sweet-cooked berries, rice cakes, and fire-honey glaze.
The tension lifted as families reunited, and the young ones played in the grass.
I just hoped that whatever we planned, it worked.
