Page 125 of Night Fae

Malik found himself growing increasingly fond of her, especially as he watched Lyrian's ongoing embarrassment. At one point, she launched into a story about how Lyrian had once tried to charm a school of special fish to perform synchronized swimming patterns and instead caused them to beach themselves in formation.

"He cried for three days straight," she concluded, as Lyrian sank lower in his seat. "Wouldn't eat seafood for a year!"

As the evening wore on, the crowd began to thin. Soon, only the core group remained.

Malik noticed Zev growing increasingly pensive, his gaze distant. Through their bond, Malik sensed not distress but contemplation, as if Zev were turning over possibilities in his mind.

"What is it?" Malik asked softly.

Zev's eyes refocused on him. "I was thinking we should go to bed soon."

"Oh, did you?" Malik shot him a smile.

Before Zev could answer, one of the tall doors to the hall swung open. Leon stood there, but not as Malik had last seen him. Something about him had changed fundamentally. His posture was straighter, more confident, and faint silver light seemed to shimmer around him.

But his companions drew even more attention than he did. Trailing him were two striking Veridian men, a tall one with blue skin and bioluminescent markings that pulsed softly along his forearms while his tail coiled around his own leg, and a leaner one with pale skin, amber eyes, and the pointed ears that marked him as fae.

And between them, Jamie.

Daniel shot to his feet. "Jamie?" His voice cracked with emotion.

Jamie grinned and spread his arms wide. "Surprise?"

Daniel rushed across the hall and crashed into his brother, nearly knocking him over with the force of his embrace. "I thought—we couldn't find you—how did you?—"

"Get here? Meet them?" Jamie gestured to the Veridians flanking him. "It's a long story. Let's just say I found my bookstore in an unusual spot. And they were inside."

The blue-skinned man stepped forward with a formal bow. "Azelon of the Tideborn."

The smaller man inclined his head. "Corin."

Daniel smiled warmly at the two Veridians. "Thank you so much for taking care of my brother."

"Oh no," Corin said. "He's the one who took care of us." A small grin lifted the corner of his lips. "Your brother is quite remarkable."

"Quite so," Azelon agreed.

"You two…" Jamie shook his head slightly.

Daniel stared between the three of them, understanding slowly dawning on his face. "Wait… are you…?"

Jamie shrugged. "I made myself part of the community I was thrust into."

Daniel's eyebrows rose. "Part of the community?"

Corin slung an arm around Jamie's waist and drew him close while Azelon's tail abandoned his own leg to coil around Jamie's.

The message was fairly clear, even from where Malik was sitting.

Beside him, Nyrissa cackled. "This human sure found himself interesting company. You would notbelievewhat the Tideborn can do with their tails."

Malik blinked and tried very hard not to imagine what the old siren was implying.

Fortunately, Leon stepped forward, drawing attention back to himself. The silver glow around him had intensified slightly. "I found him," he explained. "With... I'm not sure what to call it. The awareness that came with Yuri's power. I could sense Jamie's presence in Veridia."

"You went after him alone?" Adrian asked, concerned.

"I traveled the shadow paths," Leon said simply. "It was easy."