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“Okay, I have to admit it. Rothaway has an eye for sizes. Does this look all right?”

Tiera turned from side to side and took in the grey gown that set off her dark hair.

“You look lovely. The Wilder clothes suit you.”

Ziggy was behind her, wearing a dark rainbow version of the same gown.

“All the races have a different set of clothing?”

“Yup. Just like miners and caterers don’t use the same outfits at weddings.”

Ziggy started to fiddle with Tiera’s hair, and in three minutes, her hair was wearing a similar braided arrangement to Ziggy’s.

“What is that for?”

“You are being considered a member of Rothaway’s family, and as such, you have to dress the part.”

“I am part of the family?”

Tiera grinned. “I am pretty sure that I would have noticed a shifter at my last event.”

Ziggy smiled, “You are definitely one of my family, and so now, you are his family too.”

Tiera sighed and took in the complete image that she presented in the mirror. Gauzy sleeves flowed down in a grey that held a rich shimmer. Grey had always been her colour, and so, she turned from side to side once again. “Well, my brother-in-law chose well. This is a good dress.”

Ziggy laughed and gave her a quick hug.

Tiera and her friend left her quarters giggling. Rothaway was waiting in the hall. He had wanted them to enjoy absolute privacy when Ziggy explained the closures of the undergarments. It was very thoughtful of him.

“So, why is there a council dinner, and why do I have to be there?”

Tiera was walking to one side of Ziggy, and she asked the question out of the corner of her mouth.

Rothaway answered her. “The rest of the council is curious as to whether or not all Gaian females are as charming as Signy.”

Tiera winced, “They are going to be disappointed.”

Ziggy smiled, “You will be fine. I will be right there in case anything goes wrong.”

Tiera took a deep breath and centred herself. “I really hope so.”

Fate wasn’t kind, but it did have a sense of humour. Tiera was sitting as far away from Ziggy as it was possible to be. The only bright side was that Tonos was next to her on a chair that allowed his wings to extend behind him.

“I am glad to see you again, Miss Tiera.”

She smiled at the way he pronounced her name. He made it sound like Mysteera. It made her want to have him read the alphabet to her over and over.

“It is good to have a friendly face nearby, Tonos. This crowd looks to be a little on the hostile side.”

She smiled brightly at him as she spoke in low tones.

“I will protect you, no matter what happens.”

He reached out and touched her hand.

She watched the shiver ripple over his skin again and noted the darkening of his wings. “Should you be doing that?”

He looked up at her, his leafy green eyes innocent. “Doing what?”

“Touching me. I have heard it is not a common activity up here.”

A snide voice from across the table interrupted them. “It figures that a flitter would be trying to seduce one of the new race.”

Tiera snapped into a cold mode. She looked at the woman with the tree-bark-like skin. The man next to her spoke in liquid tones, and they laughed together.

Tonos was about to speak but she placed her hand on his.

“It is amazing how rude so-called evolved races can be. Speaking in the language of the Forest while everyone around you understands the language of the Nine or Gaian is exceptionally impolite. Were you raised in a field? Did no one guide you as you grew, or were you gestated on a dung heap?”

The female gasped and darkened in colour. Her male smiled slightly.

“You too, twig-man. You were the one to change language first. Know when someone is ill at ease.”

The woman leaned forward and hissed. “You are only here because your friend is whoring herself with a Wilder.”

That was the last straw. Tiera got to her feet, slammed her hands on the table and leaned forward. “Bring it, bitch.”

Ziggy was worried, but Rothaway tried to keep her calm.

“She will be fine, Signy. No one here will harm her.”

Ziggy placed her hand on the ordering pad and selected her meal. They had added several Gaian selections in the last two days, and she was relieved to see old favourites.

“It isn’t the harm. It is the insults. I am well aware that my addition here is mostly due to your position.”

“It is due to your skill, my heart.”

“Whatever. Many folks here consider us beneath them. I have been reading the news reports, Rothaway.”

He sipped at his beverage with a smile, “It is mainly the women. The fact that you can bond to one of us is shaking up a certain inbred smugness that many of the women have. They were used to having their pick of the men, and if their males can find a perfect match with a Gaian female, they will be a little upset.”

Ziggy grumped. “I still can’t understand while she is way down at the end of the table.”

“You took too long to get ready. They had seated most of the higher ranks and only held the positions for us. She is lucky to be near Tonos, at least he will talk to her.”

She was about to reply when she heard her friend’s strident tone.

“Bring it, bitch.”

Ziggy winced and looked down the table to where Tiera was standing and bristling with rage. The eye contact that she was engaging in meant only one thing, and when the Forest woman bowed her head and her mate followed suit, Ziggy giggled.

Tiera sighed, met Ziggy’s gaze from down the table and winked before she sat down.

Rothaway was cautious, “What was that?”

“I am not the only one with a talent, my dearest.”

Ziggy smiled as her meal appeared from within the table.

Suddenly, she was a lot more confident of Tiera’s ability to fit in.

“I beg your pardon? I have never seen Lady Thenotha bow her head to anyone, let alone a tagalong Gaian.”

Ziggy held her utensils and arranged her food to her liking. “Didn’t I mention that Tiera has the ability to make folks see things her way? Must have slipped my mind.”

Rothaway cupped her chin and turned her head. “She has a talent for . . .”

“Making sure that her way of thinking is accepted. If she is right, the change is permanent. If she is wrong, it wears off in a few hours. Either way, Tiera is in for a hostility-free evening.”

She grinned, gave him a peck on the lips and returned to her meal.

She gestured with her elbow. “Eat your dinner, it is getting cold.”

He laughed and followed her instructions. The rest of the gathering was talking in low tones, but no one said anything against Tiera, and so Ziggy simply enjoyed having a meal and discussing the politics of the Nine with those around her.

After dinner, she could find out what the hell Tiera had been thinking.

Tiera bristled with rage and sent her offence, confusion and distress to the woman across from her.

There was some overspill to the woman’s mate, but Tiera kept her cone of irritation aimed at the woman. When her target bowed her head, Tiera winked at Ziggy from across the room and resumed her seat.

Tonos took her hand, “Miss Tiera, what was that?”

She held up her finger against his palm as a plea for patience.

The woman across from her cleared her throat. “I apologise. I am Lady Thenotha of the Forest people, and this is my mate, Lord Arothian.”

“I am Tiera of Gaia. This is Tonos, my companion for the dinner.”

The males exchanged greetings, and Tonos explained to her how to order dinner.

A few heads turned their way while they were eating, but by the end of the meal, everyone seemed to have forgotten her little outburst.

As they sat back and laughed over dessert, one of the Rock Folk next to them told the dirtiest jokes in Gaian that Tiera had ever heard, but it was a good night all around.

The moment that the folks at the head of the table started to drift away, Tiera sighed. Her freaky evening had ended up being fun. Tonos had held her hand at every opportunity, and Warrock had kept them in stitches with his tall tales of sexual exploits.

When Rothaway and Ziggy came to retrieve her, she didn’t want to go, and to her shock, Tonos didn’t want to let her.