Page 82 of Dark Elves of Ardani

“Got you.”

He sighed a little, but he couldn’t help but smile. This was her standard way of greeting him lately. She’d only accidentally cut him once. “You certainly did,” he replied.

Inaya dropped her fade and circled around to appear in front of him, grinning. She was a serious girl, usually. Except when she was hunting. Nero was alarmed to see that it was not a dagger she held, but an entire damned sword. Who gave a sword to a young child?

Zara took in a sharp breath. “There is another one,” she said.

It took Nero a few moments to realize what she meant: Another half-blood. Inaya was half-Varai as well. Nero could already tell she was going to be much prettier than he was, though. Her hair was darker, her skin bluer, her eyes brighter. There was a smattering of dark freckles across her nose, and he couldn’t tell which parent had contributed them—neither her mother nor father had them.

“I am sorry,” Zara said. “You are not freaks to be stared at. I did not mean it that way.”

He glanced up at her. Her cheeks were tinged pink with shame. Most people would have happily gawked at them without ever thinking about whether it was appropriate. As far as he could remember, no one had ever apologized to him for it. “I understand it’s not a common sight,” he said. He gestured to Inaya. “This is Crow and Vaara’s daughter.” He turned to the girl. “Where did you get that sword, Inaya?”

She smiled shyly. “Daddy gave it to me.”

“Of course he did. Perhaps you should put it away before someone gets nicked. Or beheaded.”

“I wouldn’t behead you, Nero. I’m only going to behead bad people.”

“That’s a relief.”

Inaya looked up at Zara, her smile fading as she reverted to her usual reserved manner. She stared with open confusion. “What’s she doing here?” she asked Nero.

“She’s a friend of mine.”

“Isn’t she a human?”

“Yes, she is.”

Inaya waited, as if expecting further explanation for Zara’s race. When none came, Inaya moved away, still watching Zara suspiciously.

“This is the one you mentioned before?” Zara asked. “The one who needed the boots?”

“That’s the one.”

“She is lovely.”

It wasn’t the reaction he’d expected. Many humans would find Varai children alarming.

Nero wasn’t particularly interested in children normally, but he cared about Inaya a great deal. He’d known her nearly since the day she was born. He felt a kinship with her.

“Zara?”Devana had looked up from his place beside Crow at the fire pit.

Zara looked surprised to see him.“Devana? What are you doing here?”She approached the fire pit, but didn’t get too close to them. Nero wondered whether it was because she felt out of place and didn’t want to intrude, or if she was still afraid the other Varai here might confront her.

Devana grinned.“Your friends took me in after we escaped the Paladins. I decided to stay. I like it here.”

“I’m glad.”

“Are you going to be staying here now, too?”

Zara hesitated.“For a while, I suppose.”

Nero’s mood instantly dipped. He hadn’t realized how much he’d wanted her to stay until that moment.

“What do you call this place?” Zara asked.

Nero shrugged. It hadn’t occurred to anyone to name it. Perhaps it should have. “We just call it home.”

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