Page 221 of Phoenix's Fire

"And you need this," Zasen said as he rounded the corner with Taris on his hip, but like Kanik, he stopped hard and froze in the way only the tailed could.

"See?" Kanik asked, snapping Zasen out of it.

"Wow," Zasen said as he finally passed me a roll of their paper money. "You left your hair down."

"I braided the top back," I said, turning to show what I meant. "But a lot of people wear it down, so I thought that would be okay?"

"It's pretty," Saveah said, leaning between the guys to grab my arm. "I think the guys simply forgot their roommate is a girl."

"Something like that," Zasen said.

But Kanik reached out to touch my arm. "You look beautiful, Ayla. Have a good night out, okay?"

"Okay," I said, but for some strange reason I couldn't quite look at him. "Take care of my dog?"

Tamin, Zasen, and Kanik all waved to us as Saveah pulled me towards the door, but when we made it outside, I was still smiling. Of course my sister noticed.

"I think you impressed those guys," she teased. "You do look pretty tonight, Ayla. Almost like you were born here, with the cropped tank and almost-short skirt. But where's Rymar?"

"He went out with a friend," I told her.

"Ah." She nodded like that made perfect sense to her.

It didn't to me. Rymar had been spending a lot of time with his friends lately. Zasen and Kanik acted like it was okay, but the other day, I'd caught him coming home early in the morning. It made me wonder if he was angry at the guys, but everyone seemed happy when they were around each other.

Soon enough, we made it to the cafe where Jeera had taken me after my marriage had been annulled. The sun was setting this time, which made the lamps inside cast a soft glow through the windows on the door. When we entered, there was a set of stairs that led down to the partially underground floor.

"Table?" a woman asked fromthe side.

"For two," Saveah told her. "Near the wall, if you have it?"

"I do!" the woman promised.

She was little, but not young. Maybe my age? I couldn't be sure, but her scales were an interesting grey color that leaned almost toward red. It reminded me of the morning sky, and she was at least a few inches shorter than me. Still, Saveah followed her through the crowd, and I followed my sister until we ended up at a table.

"Should I tell Rymar you're here?" she asked, looking between me and Saveah.

"He's here?" Saveah asked.

"Mhm!" the girl said, gesturing to an area beside the bar. "Qavan's friends came in for some drinks."

I turned to look where she was pointing and easily spotted Rymar's vivid yellow, orange, red, and turquoise color. He had his back leaned up against the bar and another man was standing before him, leaning into him. That man's scales were red, and he had pale cream patches across his shoulders and down his tail.

"I think we're fine," Saveah told the girl, gesturing for me to take a seat. "My sister and I will have tea to drink."

"Can do," the tailed girl said before turning away.

"Is everything okay?" I asked, leaning so I could see Rymar better.

Saveah reached over to clasp my wrist, making me look at her. "Ayla, he's on a date. I didn't realize he'd be here or I would've picked somewhere else."

"A date?" For some reason, I couldn't quite wrap my mind around that. "With who?"

"With Qavan, the red guy."

The guy I swore I'd seen before. Maybe in the market? Or was he a member of the militia? I couldn't remember where, but his coloration was definitely one I'd seen. And while I looked, trying to place him, the man leaned in, catching Rymar's mouth with his - and kissing him!

I sucked in a little breath, which made Saveah turn to see what was going on. "Okay, so it seems that's working out," she said, turning to face me again. "Ayla, please don't embarrass him?"

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