Chapter 34

Isaw both Sono and Oris look surprised when I lifted them off the ground to keep them from fighting. I knew they didn't know how I did it, but I discovered at a young age that I could lift things with a little heat. I hoped their burning buttholes made them get over themselves. Which was a shame because I really like that dip in their hips.

Esylle was bringing me back to where everyone was waiting for me. This was the first time we'd talked, and I was actually able to relax around her. Esylle still stared at me but it didn't bother me so much anymore. If that was what it was like to have a mother, then it wasn't so bad.

My nose was overwhelmed the closer we got to the clearing. There were so many people there. I could see Sono and Oris sitting away from everyone with their fathers and they both looked angry. Good. So was I. I hadn't spent that much time around Neptis, but at least he didn't fight. He also smelled really good.

I didn't know what was said after I left but I was a little tired of being the only one getting yelled at. I wasn't expecting Esylle to tell my other grandfather about the whole Senso thing but I couldn't expect her to know about our hearing. She didn't know about a lot of other things, and I hadn't exactly made a big deal about it.

What had they expected me to do, anyway? Go feral? Seriously, fuck them.

And the thing was, I did want to mate again. I really liked it. There just wasn't this overwhelming urge where I had no idea what was happening to me. I was drawn to Sono, but I also wanted to get to know Oris and Neptis better if they could get their head out of their arse long enough for us to get to know each other.

"You need to go out and let them see you. You know they've been waiting, and I've seen how they've reacted to you so far," Esylle told me gently when I hesitated before walking out.

I was still super uncomfortable the way they all fawned over me. It wasn't that long ago I was just some freak on Idric Island. It was honestly a lot. They all saw me when I let myself be seen. It was the kings that approached me instead of the princes.

"We both talked to our sons. I hope they didn't confuse you," Volaris said.

"Esylle explained to me why she thinks they were fighting. I still think most of it is because of who I am and not what I look like. I don't like it when you speak for me. You should let your sons speak for themselves."

"Child, you have the looks of a god reborn, as you should. You are of the marrying age, and we are going to have a hard time picking a husband for you. None of the princes will be happy with our decision except the one chosen for you."

Oh, fuck no. I'd resigned myself to never getting married, but that wasn't happening. I was trying really hard to control myself and not have to run, but I wasn't marrying someone I didn't even like.

"If I get married, it's going to be to someone I pick, not you."

"Calm yourself," Terros snapped

"You said Belisarus told you that you would bring change. Maybe that is one of them. Though if you choose, I don't think we can stop those three boys from fighting," Fluvis said.

I'd barely spent any time around Fluvis, but I liked him. He seemed to understand this was a lot for me. He reminded me a lot of the Tark version of Leodos with a lot less yelling.

"I don't see why they can't talk to me like a normal person. I'm still me no matter what I'm here to do."

"If you're done with your tantrum, everyone has been waiting to meet you," Terros snapped.

Terros was the polar opposite of Fluvis. He seemed mad at me just for being born. If it were up to me, I wouldn't be like this either, so I had more right to be pissed about this than he did. He was kind of an arse. I chose to just ignore him.

They led me out to the clearing, and I was surrounded by so many tribe members. The humans we had traveled with stood a little further back. Esylle and Joron came and stood by my side. I could feel all eyes on me, sizing me up. Some looked at me in awe, some in confusion that I was so fucking short. Seriously, I didn't realize how short I was until I met more than two people.

When Volaris announced we would be going to Inanos, everyone erupted. I could pick out people saying we shouldn't go there and people wondering if I could protect them. Volaris calmed them by saying it was me that suggested it and now that I was here, they should listen to me.

I didn't know what it was, much less that it would cause this much commotion when I mentioned that word. I only heard Belisarus weakly calling it out to me as I felt the fire growing too strong to hold on to anymore. If I'd known it was going to cause this much drama and had another solution, I might have suggested something else.

I usually hated when someone tried to speak for me, but I really didn't know enough about Inanos or these people to know what to say. I wasn't angry about it this time. I was angry Belisarus hadn't prepared me for giving speeches at all.

"It might be the only place we are safe," Volaris said

"She's back and we have to listen to her," Fluvis said.

Terros just glared at me like he expected me to do something magical and make everyone want to go there.

"We haven't been there for so long. Does anyone know how to get there?" one of the Tarks asked.

"We know it's by the sea, but hidden, so we are close. We will travel by foot with some of my tribe flying over trying to find the exact location. You will not fly," he said to me when he saw me open my mouth.

"If it's important to me, how do you know I'm not the only one who can find it if you say it is hidden?"

"You don't know how to use your gifts yet. You will be taught while we travel. We can't risk you in the air and you need to stay where you can be protected. I know you think you can protect yourself and I don't want to argue with you. You're staying with all of us until we get there! No more risking yourself. You're too important."

I didn't argue. I didn't think Belisarus would send his granddaughter somewhere I could be hurt, but at the same time, he had to know that my father would come looking for me. It was his fault my father died. If Belisarus knew he was dead, I wondered if my father ever made it to Idric to look for me, someone killed him, and that was how Belisarus knew for sure.

I doubled down on Inanos because I didn't know that for sure and I didn't really think he would hurt me. Also, everyone seemed to think he might have been the smartest person alive before he died. He probably knew exactly what was waiting for me there, even if he didn't feel the need to tell me or the Theran who he'd been studying and teaching history for.

If I died there, I was going to find his ghost in the afterlife and kick his arse.