Page 8 of Redeeming the Angel

Kerainne crouched and seemed to speak to the rocks.“Come out now, little friends.I’d love to introduce you to someone.”

Suddenly, little green things skittered up to the nearest rock.I leaned down to peer closer and gasped.“Theydolook like little wingless dragons!”

A slightly larger lizard ascended the rock, surveying its younglings before cautiously moving closer.The little ones climbed all over Kerainne’s hand and arm.

“Hold out your hand,” she instructed.

Then the four tiny lizards crawled onto my fingers and wrist.The sensation of their little scaley feet tickled, but the experience was a wonder.

“So these are lizards?”I breathed, tentatively petting one with a fingertip.

“One kind, yes.”Kerainne pet another one, her fingertip so close to my palm that I sucked in a breath.“These are anoles.There are both smaller and larger lizards.Some of them, called chameleons, can change color to blend in their surroundings!”

“Amazing.”I would have to tell my clan about these creatures.

Kerainne took the baby anoles back and returned them to the rock and their waiting mother or father.“They need to warm themselves in the sun, then hunt insects for their supper.Would you like to meet a bear family?”

She showed me a variety of creatures not yet found in Luminista.Squirrels, skunks, wolverines, raccoons, and so many varieties of bird.It was fascinating how the young gravitated to her first, then the adult creature would come to her next.Some allowed me to touch the babies, others bared sharp teeth or hissed with pointed beaks.

It wasn’t until sunset, when we returned to the city that I discovered the reasons behind the phenomenon.Young luminites flocked to Kerainne as we passed through the city roads.They hugged her and eagerly tugged on her skirts to tell her about a new thing they’d seen, or something they’d learned to create.

Most luminites have a bond with one type of creature.Mine was wolves, like our family namesake, which made my mother and great aunt proud.Kerainne, however, bonded with children ofallspecies.The anomaly confounded me, and though I was certain such an ability could be used in ahugelybeneficial matter, I couldn’t wrap my mind on precisely how.

When we stopped at the cart of the vendor who had those berry drinks, I discovered I’d made a mistake.

“I can’t believe they didn’t want payment for the drink.”

Kerainne raised a brow.“Of course they’ll want payment.”

“No.I tried to offer gold, but they didn’t take it and handed me the drink.”

She stared at me in stunned silence, then laughed.“We don’t take gold from other luminites.Instead, we trade.Usually a creation, but we also accept items acquired in trade.A pretty stone, medicine, a song we learned, things like that.”

The drink vendor smirked at my ignorance.Red-faced, I rummaged through my bottomless pouch and pulled out a stone.“A river rock from the Jagwolfe clan lands in Luminista.”

The vendor grinned and handed over two drinks.My shoulders relaxed.Thefaux pasforgiven.

When we returned to the palace, Kerainne instructed a servant to show me to the chambers reserved for diplomatic guests.“When you’ve changed, come down for supper.I’ll introduce you to my parents.”

A nervous lump settled in my stomach.I’d been out frolicking and exploring Medicia with the princess before meeting the actual rulers of Medicia.Would they be angry about that?Quickly, I bathed and dressed in one of my outfits meant for royal functions.Black velvet trousers, a dark blue velvet jacket embroidered with silver, and a silver undershirt.

When a servant led me down a long staircase to a massive dining room, my stomach dropped further as I was placed at the Queen’s left side at the end of the long, elaborately carved table.Queen Natalya had the same golden hair as her daughter, but her eyes were a striking shade of copper.King Kiernen’s shoulder-length hair of metallic bronze and copper had the waves that Kerainne’s had when I first met her.And he had the same peridot green eyes.The monarchs eyed me with cool interest and the soup and appetizers were served.

Kerainne cheerfully told them about showing Lucian around, seemingly oblivious to her parents’ stoney blank faces.But an impish glint in her eyes when she looked at me made me fairly certain this was her revenge for that unfortunate tea at my mother’s home.

I took a deep breath, resolving to not be humiliated.First, I apologized profusely for not presenting myself to the Queen before going off with her daughter.Then I used every bit of courtly training instilled in me to charm them.

By the time the next course was served, Queen Natalya seemed to be at ease with my presence, even going so far as to say I could visit for as long as Kerainne wished me to be here.King Consort Kiernen remained unreadable, though at least the glint of suspicion no longer shone in his eyes.

Then I looked at the main course on the platter and gasped.

“You eat meat?”

Kerainne nodded.“Sometimes.The half luminites can hunt.And the faelin and humans who come to trade often bring us meat in exchange for our herbs and produce.”She gave him a warm smile.“This is moose, provided by the Tolonquan tribes.You don’t have to try it if you don’t want to, and if you do like it, don’t eat much, or you’ll get a stomachache.”

I eyed the dark meat, glistening with butter and encrusted with herbs.What little trepidation I’d had at such an unorthodox thing in my household fled in the face of my curiosity.Wolves were my clan’s namesake.And wolves ate meat.

I placed a small portion on my plate.It fell apart at the touch of my fork.When I took a bite of that first small morsel, I had to hold back a groan of pleasure.I didn’t know what a moose was, but it tasted like my favorite mushrooms, only heavier, more substantial.

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