Page 95 of I Summon the Sea

She slaps it away, snarling. “Take that away from me. Do you think I’d accept anything from you? You’re a freak and a traitor, sucking it up to the fae!”

Her shrieks have everyone’s attention once more. Axwick is watching me but doesn’t say anything.

In fact, I realize he’s staring at me.

At my shoulder, to be precise.

“Would you look at that,” he breathes, half-standing up from his seat. “Is that…?”

The moth flutters into the air as I turn, the onyx wings flashing with shapes and colors. They flash like lights, like beacons.

“What… what is this?” Mera reaches out a hand, as if to touch. “Sleeping Gods, it’s so pretty!”

The buzzing of the moth’s wings changes, turning into a low, haunting tune. A melody.

“A Jaiet, a Death Moth,” people whisper, “a Death Moth!”

All of a sudden everyone is looking at me again, standing up and gathering around our table to gawk.

“Can I touch it?” Mera whispers, walking around the small table. “Will it let me?”

I’m not sure that’s a good idea, but she doesn’t wait for my acquiescence, reaching for it.

The moth doesn’t seem interested in getting caught, though. It spins, shedding a riot of colors and sparks.

The small crowd gathered around meoohsandahhs.

“That is… amazing,” Axwick whispers.

Of all the things they’ve seen on this hellish trip—the journey in those cages and the deadly trial that followed, the fae in their finery and arrogance, the dragons and magic, they are impressed by this moth?

Would you look at this? Jai’s moth is working better to deflect hostility from me than peace offerings from my plate.Without any effort at all, I have these humans here, standing around me dumbstruck and happy, forgetting their animosity toward me. Any moment now, they’ll start eating from my hand.

But somewhere overhead, draks screech, way too close, the shadow of their wings showing through the pavilion’s white fabric roof.

The humans all look up as if waking from a dream.

“You know what this moth means,” one of them says. “She’s cursed. Stamped with death.”

Oh… dear.There goes any goodwill the moth might have garnered me.

The humans back away from me.

At least, most of them do. Mera is still staring at the moth as it settles back on my shoulder.

I stare at it, too. Will it become a permanent fixture? Should I find out what to feed it? Should I wear black earrings to match?

I may be going crazy, because I want to laugh, and this situation is anything but funny. I should be eating, drinking, getting my strength up, and not worrying about weird moths and draks and humans snubbing me for being cursed or for teaming up with the fae.

So much for making friends and finding allies. I don’t know why I ever thought it would work out.

I lift the piece of cake I collected and take a bite. It has a tanginess to it, a meatiness. I’m not sure I want to know what it’s made of.

Truth is, I’m more worried than hungry. My mind is buzzing. My stomach is a knot under my ribs, but I need to fill it, so I chew and swallow anyway.

The humans are glaring and backing away from me, yet I refuse to skulk away, tail between my legs. I won’t give these people the satisfaction. How is it that we’re hunted by the sameenemy, and yet can’t be united in this struggle for survival? Sometimes, I wonder if humans are worth saving at all.

I’m in the middle of drinking down my glass of juice when the whispers rise in volume, and chairs screech on the paved floor.

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