Page 93 of Wilds of Wonder
“This is the weirdest shit I have ever seen.” Driscoll stared at the scene, wide-eyed.
“Annalee, what are you doing?” Maverick asked, standing over her.
She glanced up at him, her brows folding into a scowl. “Well, at least sit down. You’re being rude.”
Aron’s gaze swept the area, then he stepped forward and sat down next to Annalee. So matter of fact, as always. El’s face had softened as she stared at Maverick’s little sister, and I wondered what was going through her mind.
Annalee gave Aron an approving look and offered him a cup, then grabbed the teapot and tipped the tea into it. “Welcome,” she said brightly.
Maverick crossed his arms, boot tapping on the ground.
Driscoll shrugged. “Whatever. When in Arathia. Or, in this case, the Wilds.” He sat next to Aron, and Annalee reached over and handed him a cup.
El huffed, then sank down, her red dress floating around her. I followed suit, sitting next to her while Maverick stayed standing.
“Annalee, this place is dangerous.” He crouched next to her. “What are you doing in the middle of the Wilds? Have you been hurt?”
She raised her pert nose, offering tea to both me and El. We accepted while Maverick ran a hand over his head. My lips twitched. I imagined his sister tested his patience quite often, and it was entertaining to watch.
“This tea is actually really good,” Driscoll murmured, taking another sip while the bugs continued their melody.
“How did you get the blood beetles to play this music?” Aron asked Annalee.
She tugged on one of her braids, all of them spilling over her shoulder as she leaned forward. “Oh, that’s easy. They like parties.”
Driscoll’s cup froze inches from his mouth. “Parties?” he echoed. “The bugs like to party?”
She nodded eagerly. “Any chance for them to play some music instead of making that awful buzzing noise. They only make it when threatened.”
She gave us a pointed stare.
The hat flipped back over, bouncing next to her. “Hatter, where are your manners?” She tsked at it.
Aron stilled. “Hatter? As in the Mad Hatter?”
“Who is the Mad Hatter?” Driscoll asked, voice resigned.
“Don’t let the hat anywhere near your head,” Aron said quietly. “It’s known to make people who wear it go mad.”
The hat jumped higher, and Annalee shot Aron a glare. “Don’t be rude. Mad Hatter is behaving and drinking his tea.”
El sighed heavily.
“Enough,” Maverick said, grabbing Annalee’s arm and pulling her to her feet. The tea she held splashed out of her cup.
“Mav,” Annalee protested as her brother hauled her upright. “You’re ruining a perfectly nice tea party.”
“Annalee, this is serious,” Maverick said. “Do you understand how much danger we’re in? How many times we’ve almost died trying to get to you?”
Her eyes widened, the exact same shade of copper brown as Maverick’s. “Did you not listen to all my stories over the years? I thought when you came, you’d be prepared.”
“Bloody fire,” Maverick muttered.
“I didn’t mean to lead you into danger.” Tears filled her eyes. “I figured you’d follow me here, and I could finally prove this place was real. That I haven’t been making it up.”
Maverick stared at her for a long minute before yanking her into a tight hug. She buried her face into his chest, and I looked away, wanting to give them this moment of privacy.
“I knew you’d come for me,” she whispered.
