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By the time we reach Wintermoon’s waters, I’m about ready to drop out of the sky and swim the rest of the way to Aya. My father’s storm rolls in ahead of us and turns the clouds black over the lake. Everyone on the shore knows we’re coming long before they see us.

Kade, King Amir, and Angie are waiting at the water’s edge with a stack of clothes. I search the shoreline for Aya as I come down. Her scent isn’t anywhere. My dragon whines for her.

The Mer surface behind us until the lake fills up with them. Angie’s mouth falls open. She looks out at the water, then back at me. “Ezra. You said a pod.”

I shift and catch the pants Kade tosses over. My mother, my father, Dominic, and Sam change back on the sand, and Kade passes out clothes to them too. I yank mine on. “That is a pod.”

“That’s a damn ocean!” Angie snaps.

Sirena surfaces at Angie’s feet. “Hello, old one.”

Angie jabs a finger in her face. “Don’t start with me.”

King Amir walks down to the water and bows first. “Queen Tethys. Welcome to Wintermoon.” The queen presses a hand to her chest in return.

Angie rounds on Sirena. “Samara couldn’t make it, so y’all are stuck with me for now.”

“I know,” Sirena says. “I can feel Samara.” She tilts her head and looks Angie over. “We will make do with the old one.”

Angie lunges for the water. “Girl, I swear before Mother Fate⁠—”

Kade catches Angie by the arm and pulls her back. My dragon is having the time of his life.

Queen Tethys swims in behind her daughter. Her tail splits into legs as soon as she hits the shallows. Kade drops Angie’s arm, snatches a dress off the stack and wraps it around her before she’s fully out of the water. She steps up onto the sand without a word of thanks.

Angie at least remembers to lower her head to the queen, but Tethys doesn’t even notice. She’s too busy looking down at Angie’s legs, then Kade’s, then King Amir’s. Her nose wrinkles.

“Legs.” She says it like it’s a dirty word. “How do you stand on these all day?”

Angie’s mouth falls open. Kade snorts and turns away. King Amir coughs into his fist. I don’t dare look at my mother. If I do, I’m going to lose it.

My father comes to stand beside me, still buttoning his shirt. He hasn’t stopped smiling since we left the ridge.

Kade claps me on the shoulder and grins. “Not bad, Stormscale. Get some rest. That mop isn’t going to push itself.”

My dragon couldn’t care less. My wings are already out, and he’s pulling me toward home and Aya.

Kade can kill me tomorrow.

45

AYA

ASH CLAN—WHILE EZRA IS AWAY

The sour stink of pain rolls off our roof every time Dad swings that hammer. I stand at the bottom of the porch steps with a box of Ezra’s books on my hip, breathing it in until my wolf can’t take it anymore. She whines at me to go get him down. Over by the side door, Kane and Gabriel keep cutting their eyes up at their brother without saying a word. That’s House of Zorah for you. We’ll stand around and watch a wolf fall off a roof before we hurt his pride.

My mate has been out over the ocean with Claude, Tyrion, Dominic, and Sam for more than a week. The bond hasn’t quit dragging me toward the lake since his wings disappeared over the water. We barely got our bed up the stairs before he left. His smoke is almost gone from the sheets, so I’ve been sleeping in his shirts to keep my wolf from howling all night.

My father reaches for another shingle. He grabs the small of his back and squeezes his eyes shut.

“Dad, come down,” I yell up at him.

He waves the hammer at me without turning around. “I’m almost done with this side, baby.”

He’s been almost done with this side for days. I drop the box on the steps and take off into the trees. Gabriel hollers my name behind me, but I don’t stop. I run until the cabins of House of Zorah come into view at the end of the long dirt road.

Jacob is out front of his cabin splitting wood. He catches my scent before I clear the trees. The axe stops. “Niece. What’s wrong?”