I force a smile on my face. “Of course. Enjoy.”
She smiles but doesn’t say anything more as I return to my house and walk inside.
I look around the room at the brightly textured fabrics and sit down.
Ra’Sa’s mother. It’s such a quotidian, mundane thing to see a mother outside her house, picking mushrooms. She was… kind to me.
That unsettles me deeply.
After another hour passes, staring up at the roof of my new home and memorizing the strange, gleaming material, I close my eyes and relax into the soft cushions.
Chapter 7
RA’SA
At the age of sixteen, Enduares are sent deep into the caverns to perform a ceremony called thedual’moraan, which means “joining of stone.”
For us, it’s a rite of passage that marks our first days as an adult. Usually, at this time, our powers are set free. Some people will even find magic awakens in their bones—as it was for me.
Some Enduares will be given the gift of song and healing. A few will be given the gift of prophecy, like our queen and Mother Liana. Others will find themselves gifted with metal bending, as Svanna was. Even fewer will learn to bend their very bones.
Stone bending, my magic, is the most common gift, yet it has proven the most valuable time and time again. Our king, Teo, has a potent version of this magic that has kept us safe.
Thus far, few humans have exhibited magical powers, but today, all of the women we brought back from Zlosa will descend into the mountain and complete the ritual.
Though the air is charged with humans and Enduares rushing through the city, it’s a bittersweet time for me.
The entire city will gather to honor these new creatures. But half a decade ago, I was the first in Enduvida to perform the ceremony.
Shortly after the volcano erupted, I had descended entirely alone.
After, Mother Liana had joined the stone to my chest, and then my mother congratulated me. Sure, there was a small feast, but everyone was still grieving.
Today, I envy these humans for the celebration I never received. I was prepared to dwell on my displeasure for the rest of the day.
That is, until a stone bender came to my home and summoned me to a meeting with King Ma’Teo. This is not a political meeting; it’s also not meant to discuss strategy for another attack on the giants.
No, we are being corralled by Teo like small boys.
He lectures us on the importance of leaving the human women alone, and I tune him out, leaning against one of the walls and staring at the ceiling.
My mind has much better things to occupy my time.
“Would it please you if I was interested?”Melisa had said.
Why? Why would she care for me without a matehood?
Surely she would find Enduares strange and unattractive, just as I find her small, too soft, and...
My skin heats at the ghost of her touch. Black hair glimmering and coated in the glowing water. I see her splayed out against the other side of the pool, umber gold body floating in the water. Her breasts were round, firm, with dark brown nipples.
I’d never seen anything like it, but gods on their stony thrones, it had done something to my cock. I wanted to grab them, to draw them into my?—
One of the men shifts next to me, and I straighten, discreetly adjusting the pressure in my breeches. I shouldn’t think of her. Not in that manner.
Not at all,I correct. She’s some other man’s mate.
“I am serious as death. Do not speak to them unless they speak to you. And if, by some miracle, they come to you, do not snatch them away like common beasts,” Teo admonishes.