Page 331 of Primal Bonds

“I didn’t even know there was such a thing as a pink diamond,” Rosana remarked.

“Right? She liked that necklace I made for Cleia, so she brought me this pink diamond, told me to see what I came up with.” Jenny unfolded the cloth to reveal a thumbnail-size diamond set off-center in a hammered gold sun with wavy rays.

“Wow.” Rosana’s eyes widened. “Just wow.”

“Genius,” Merry breathed at the same time.

Jenny beamed. “I just hope Lady Olivia thinks so.”

“She’ll love it. Even Lady Olivia can’t find any fault with this. May I?” Rosana stretched out a hand, and when Jenny nodded, fingered the pendant.

“You know,” her friend said, “Cleia would give you a pink diamond—you just have to ask. Or any gemstone. And I’d make you a pendant for free. You’d just have to pay for the materials.”

Rosana hesitated, tempted, and then resolutely shook her head. “I know she would, but I’m trying to be more independent, and that means earning my own way. But thank you—that’s really sweet of you to offer.”

Her friend nodded. “If you change your mind, let me know.”

“You know I will.”

Jenny rewrapped the pendant, and they returned to the sala for snacks and girl talk. It was exactly what Rosana needed. For the next hour she didn’t even think about Adric—at least, not more than once every ten minutes or so.

Then Chico returned and pulled his mate into a kiss that made her heart constrict with envy.

She was happy for them, she was. Really.

She just wanted what they had.

Chico released Jenny, and they all chatted for a few more minutes until Rosana rose to her feet, saying she had to go. “I promised to meet Isa for dinner.”

Merry jumped up as well. “I’ll walk you to your quarters.”

Rosana blinked. Her apartment was on the base’s opposite side, while the do Mar’s apartment was just a few minutes away.

But she waited until they were alone before slanting Merry a look. “Something wrong?”

“Not here,” the teenager said. They were in a large, well-traveled hallway filled with people on their way to the dining room. Taking Rosana’s hand, she pulled her into a side corridor. “I want to know what’s up. Something’s wrong, I know it is. They barely let me outside these days—and my papai won’t tell me anything.”

Rosana hesitated. “I’m sure they have their reasons.”

Merry folded her arms over her narrow chest, but her lower lip trembled. “Don’t you treat me like a baby, too. You’re the only one I can ask. My mom and dad just tell me not to worry, they’re handling it. Even Uncle Jace won’t tell me anything.”

“Oh, querida.” Rosana’s heart contracted. “You know it’s for your own safety.”

Merry had been born during the Darktime to an earth fada mother and Prince Langdon’s half-human son. She’d spent her early life on the run from both the earth fada and the night fae. After her parents had died, she’d been adopted by Dion’s second, Rui do Mar, and his mate Valeria—until Adric and her uncle Jace had discovered where she was and tried to kidnap her back. That had been sorted out, with the earth fada agreeing to let her remain with Rui and Valeria while Jace received visitation rights.

But now she had to hide again, this time from her own grandfather. It didn’t make sense. Langdon had never formally acknowledged his mixed-blood granddaughter. No one had expected him to suddenly start asking about her.

“Well, I don’t like it,” Merry said. “All Mama will tell me is that it’s better if the night fae believe I’m dead.” She dropped her head, stared at her feet. “Why do they hate me so much?”

“They don’t hate you, sweetheart.” Rosana reached for her. Merry needed to be held. If she had a vision, so be it, although she was careful to touch only Merry’s clothing.

Merry burrowed into her. “Yes, they do,” she returned in a sad little voice. “Because I’m a mixed-blood. I don’t really belong here. Or with the earth fada, either. And the night fae just want to kill me.”

“Hey. You do belong here. Dion adopted you into the clan. Did someone say different?” Rosana pulled back, scowling. “Because if they did, I’ll—"

“No.” She hitched a shoulder. “Not really. But I’m a jaguar. I like to swim, but I can’t spend hours in the water like the rest of you. I can’t even enter through the water entrances—they’re too deep for me.”

“So? Neither can Jenny, and that doesn’t mean she’s not clan. And you have friends. What about Trina and Marco?”

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