“What in the gods’ names is going on up here?” Micael’s voice boomed through the clearing. “Are you trying to bring the king down on us all?”
Jorge’s hand dropped immediately, and Jacinta fell back. Delio looked anywhere except at Micael.
Micael stood at the top of the cenote, shaky from his ascent. A second later, Clarita and Flor came running up the stairs behind him, both ready for a fight. Flor only relaxed minutely after she saw Sofia standing across the way. Clarita glared at Jorge, as though she already knew what had happened.
“Everything is fine,” Sofia said, the words like sand in her throat. “But I think it’s best if I’m the only one to talk to Chalia directly from now on.”
Micael didn’t speak for a minute, his gaze appraising. He nodded. “That sounds like a solid plan.”
Clarita’s face was pinched, but she nodded. Though the way she was glaring at Jorge, Sofia wondered if the man would get away so lightly.
“Well, go on,” Micael said, waving at the three of them. “You’re done up here.”
Jacinta, Delio, and Jorge slunk away, though Sofia saw the glare the shapeshifter threw over his shoulder at her. Clarita slapped him across the shoulder as she followed him back down the stairs.
“Are you and Chalia okay?” Micael asked, his shoulders slumping now that the others were gone.
“We’re okay,” she said, looking at Chalia, who had gone back to relaxing on the ground, though her tail snapped back and forth in irritation. “We’re good.”
Micael gave a grim nod and turned back to the cenote. “Make her some food or tea,” he said to Flor. “I’ll ensure no one else makes an unplanned trip up here tonight.”
He disappeared, and Flor turned back to Sofia, lips pinchedtightly.
“Are you actually okay?”
Sofia nodded, then shrugged. Her heart was still pounding in her chest, but a part of her also knew Chalia wouldn’t have let anything happen.
“I’m sorry,”Sofia said, looking at Chalia.
“You don’t need to be. I can hold my own.”The dragon bared her teeth again, as if to reassure her.“Go rest and take care of yourself. I’ll be okay.”
Sofia pressed a kiss against Chalia’s nose before following Flor down the stairs into the cenote. The main chamber was empty, though Sofia could just hear Micael berating Jacinta and Delio in the back rooms. They went to the kitchens, Sofia turning down a cup of tea, but allowing Flor to set a plate of meats and nuts in front of her.
There were a few more rations tucked on the shelves now that Clarita had moved her people in with them. Their numbers still amounted to a meager twenty, but the cenote felt more alive with the newcomers.
Lastly, Flor placed a small pouch in front of Sofia’s plate.
“What’s that?”
“Your monthly tonic herbs,” she said with a grin. “Clarita helped get the supplies.”
Sofia blinked, looking between Flor’s sparkling eyes and the pouch.
“I don’t need that.”
“Yes, you do,” Flor said.
“We’re in the middle of a war.”
“And you’re not an idiot. We don’t need you accidently getting pregnant. There is enough in there for the next sun cycle. Take it.” She pushed it closer to Sofia.
She was tempted to throw it back at Flor. She knew exactly what the other woman was thinking—who she was thinking of—when she handed Sofia the herbs. Instead, she bit the inside of her cheek and slipped the pouch into her pocket. She took a bite of food to avoid looking Flor in the eyes.
“What happened out there?” Flor asked after a beat.
“Jacinta, Delio, and Jorge apparently thought they could get Chalia to tell them where the dragons are.”
“I take it they didn’t ask nicely?”