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“For the love of all the Gods, could you not make that fucking sound?” Ata snapped as he stepped beside her, throwing an arm around her shoulders. She shrugged away from him scoffing as she dug her fingers into her temples.

Dukovich ran his eyes over Pri and me, smirking to himself as he began whistling again even louder than before.

It was way too early for this.

Shadows shot from me, encasing him in a bubble and blocking out every sound he made. I could feel his fits beading against them, but I ignored it.

Ata smirked at me as Pri chuckled to herself. I took another sip of my coffee, pulling my coat tighter around my body as Wren, Andrues, Landers, and Asrai poured through the dining hall doors into the courtyard. From yards away I could already see the knowing smile creep onto Landers’s lips as he strode toward us.

“Do I want to know?” he asked, pressing his lips to my temple. I shook my head, pulling my shadows back as I poured the last of my coffee into my mouth.

“That was a bit unnecessary,” Dukovich grumbled as he straightened his tunic.

“Was it though?” Pri asked as her eyes narrowed on him.

“Why do the three of you look like crapulous teenagers?” Asrai asked, her shrill tone exacerbating the pounding behind my eyes.

Dukovich leaned closer to Ata, sniffing her. “Are you still drunk, love?”

Wren snickered at the comment as Pri slapped the back of her hand to his chest.

“Are we ready?” I asked, looking up at Landers.

He nodded. “Gimara will meet us when we arrive and show us where we will be staying for the time being. Take the day to settle in, this evening we will meet to discuss the events that will unfold over the next few days.” Landers paused, his gaze falling on Ata. “We are guests in Edvhir, there will be no bloodshed, violence, or fights.”

“Don’t worry my King, I’ll behave.” Ata deadpanned, tilting her head to the side as she smirked at him.

I smiled to myself as my eyes flickered to Dukovich and Andrues both eying her from where they stood, slowly inching closer to her side.

I shook my head at the three of them.

That was sure to end in disaster.

NithraandIlandedin Ithia on a grassy knoll just yards from where the rest of the group had tethered. Her claws dug into the ground as I slipped from her back and leaned against her front legs.

“I am going to go find out where we will be staying,” I said, brushing a hand over her scales.

I will find you, child. If you do not need me now, I will go find my sisters, she said down the fastening.

“Go, spend all the time with them you can.”

She brushed her snout against my back in response then strode to the mountain’s edge and dived off of it.

All I wanted was to dive after her, to feel the wind against my body. Instead, I strode over to everyone, swallowing the lump that had begun to form in my throat.

“Cin,” Mara greeted, a bright smile spreading onto her lips as she pressed a hand to her heart and dipped her head.

I mirrored her motions, smiling as I stepped to Landers’s side.

“Come, I’m sure you want to get settled,” she started, gesturing her hand toward the pathway leading to the small village behind her. “You will be staying here.” She turned, starting down the path as we followed behind her. “There are five homes we have been able to set aside for you. The larger of the five we have set up for any meetings you may need to have with room for Takaris to prepare for the ceremony tomorrow.”

Out of the corner of my eye I could see Ata glance at me with a small smile on her face and I slipped my hand into Landers’s, squeezing it as we walked the final few steps to the row of houses.

“Thank you for this, Mara. I hope we didn’t put anyone out,” I said, as she finally stopped and pulled the cream fabric from her head, letting it fall to her shoulders to meet her fiery hair.

“We always keep these empty; it’s been centuries since we have had any use of them,” she said as she pulled her eyes from the homes and turned to look at me. “It will be nice to have them full again. The Yaldrin are excited to be hosting Takaris for this ceremony, the village mothers have made all kinds of gifts for you.”

Landers bumped his shoulder to mine playfully as he grinned down at her. “We are honored.”