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“I’d rather fight the Minotaur Trials again.”

Ria laughed. “Really?”

“I don’t see the appeal.”

She studied him for a moment. “You don’t seem like someone who enjoys being the center of attention.”

“I don’t.”

“Figures.”

“But…” He paused, glancing briefly toward Hektor and Zara, who were now bickering over whether he’d actually been in tune. “If it made the person happy…” He gave the smallest shrug. “then I suppose I understand it.”

He might dismiss the spectacle all he wanted, but she could hear it in his voice. She caught the faintest glint of amusement as he looked at the couple, and Ria kept watching him. Asterion noticed. His gaze shifted to hers, and for some reason, she didn’t immediately look away. Neither did he. Something stirred inside her. It wasn’t the flutter she had felt earlier when he’d helped her after she’d stumbled over a loose stone. It was more like the slow pull of curiosity mixed with a strange sense of comfort. Her pulse skipped. What…There was something comfortable about looking at him like this, which made absolutely no sense considering how often the man irritated her. For a second, she wondered whether he was thinking the same thing. Probably not. It was a look. People looked at each other all the time. She was not going to turn eye contact into some grand revelation just because Asterion had managed to smile without immediately arguing with her. Still, when she finally looked away and reached for her drink, her face felt warmer than it had a moment ago.

Across the room, Hektor clapped his hands together.

“Let’s begin!” he declared. “The karaoke machine has been waiting all evening.”

Asterion closed his eyes. “I knew this moment would come.”

Hektor grinned. “And yet, you failed to escape it.”

Ria couldn’t help smiling. Somehow, she had a feeling it was going to be a fun night.

A voice drifted in from the front hallway. “Where is everyone?”

Before anyone had a chance to answer, the rapid clatter of little hooves echoed across the hardwood floor.

“Uncle Astyyyyy!”

A blur of curls and tiny horns burst through the doorway as Korinnae launched herself across the living room. Asterion barely had time to brace himself before the youngling collided with him. He caught her with ease, one arm wrapping around her waist as she laughed, her hooves kicking a few inches off the floor.

“There you are!” she exclaimed. “Oh! Oh! I have to show you!”

She wriggled free and dropped to her knees beside him, dumping the contents of her bag onto the coffee table. “We went to the Harvest Fair!”

“I can see that.”

“I won this!” She held up a tiny stuffed griffin with oversized ears. “And this bracelet.” She slipped the braided leather onto his wrist. Tiny polished stones shimmered between the woven strands. “And look!”

One item after another came out of the bag: a hand-carved wooden fox, a packet of honey candies, a painted ceramic bird whistle, and finally a small bundle of dried wildflowers tied with twine.

“I made this one myself,” she said, holding up a slightly lopsided clay dragon.

Asterion accepted it as though she’d handed him a priceless treasure. “It’s impressive.”

“I know the wings are crooked.”

“I wasn’t going to mention it.”

“They’re supposed to be crooked.”

“Then it’s perfect.”

She beamed.

Ria smiled as she watched them. Asterion still didn’t know what to say to Korinnae, but at least he no longer gave up when he didn’t understand her. He leaned closer when she talked, asked questions, and listened even when the subject clearly meant nothing to him. He was trying. Ria could see that much. And judging by the way Korinnae kept talking to him, she could, too.