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“Elsie grew up on Earth.”I don’t want to tell this woman my mate’s whole history.It’s too personal.However, I want her to understand because I sensed Elsie’s hurt when Sandy accused her of having ulterior motives for bringing them to Lona.“She only found out she’s an Alit herself recently.”

Sandy’s mouth pulls into an O.

“Next time, don’t be so quick to judge.”My tone is cold.“Wait until you know the facts.”

“I’m sorry,” she sputters.

I turn around, indicating the matter is closed for discussion, and head back toward the rooms.

“Wait.”Sandy runs to catch up with me.“What about sending us home?”

I stop.“Believe me, we want you gone from here just as badly as you want to leave.”

When Sandy and I step back into the quarters, Elsie is talking to Eucabeth.Elsie is frowning as she speaks while the latter is listening with averted eyes and flushed cheeks.They hug briefly, and then Eucabeth hurries away, pretending to be busy with folding clothes and packing them into trunks.

“Ready?”I ask Elsie.

She follows me outside wordlessly.

“What was that about?”I ask when I’ve sealed the archway.“The conversation between you and Eucabeth seemed serious.”

“Nothing,” she says, sounding distracted.

“I know when you lie to me, mate.”

She opens her mouth, but a portal appears in front of us, and Gaia steps out of it.

“There you are,” my sister says.“Mother is looking for you.”Only, instead of facing me, she’s facing Elsie.“I thought I might find you here.”

“She wants to see Elsie?”I ask.

Gaia smiles.“Both of you, actually.”

Turning on her heel, she bounces down the steps.“You’d better not make her wait.There’s a lot to do before the banquet.”

Concern shifts through Elsie’s eyes.I can’t say I’m not worried too.Being summoned by my mother usually means nothing good.

I wrap my fingers around Elsie’s hand, offering her a measure of comfort as we walk to the queen’s quarters.

My mother is seated on her thronelike chair in her reception room, flanked by Tarix and my father.The backrest of the chair is a dragon sculpted from yellow stone, its wings expanding from the sides.Its paws serve as the feet of the chair, and its tail is coiled around the bottom.My mother sits with a stiff back on the padded seat, her hands folded in her lap.

“Elsie,” she says in a jovial tone, waving her closer.“How are you feeling?”

“I’m fine, thanks,” Elsie mumbles.

My mother adjusts the silver ring on her finger, turning the heavy opal stone that has twisted sideways back up.“You had a great scare this morning.”

Elsie glances at me.“We all had a scare.”

I smile at Elsie, reaching through our bond to soothe her even as I keep one eye on my family.I have no idea why my mother has requested our presence, and I don’t like surprises.

My mother addresses Elsie.“You’ve been very courageous, not only this morning but also during the rockslides.”

Elsie frowns, no doubt surprised by my mother’s compliment.“Um, thank you?”

“Thanks to you, many families in the village were saved.”Emotions flicker in my mother’s eyes.Her chest rises with a deep breath as she clearly struggles to compose herself.It takes a moment before she can speak again.“And this morning, you saved the humans’ and my youngest son’s lives.”

Elsie shifts her weight.“Vitai repaired the bridge.”