Page 74 of Lana Pecherczyk
“IS THAT MY PRODIGAL SON TRYING TO SNEAK INTO THE BACK ENTRANCE?” The deep, booming voice scattered birds and glowing insects from the canopy.
A figure launched from a high platform, wings snapping out before spiraling down. Talo landed barefoot, shirt billowing open to reveal taut abs. He certainly kept himself fit for a fae his age.
“Hello again.” Blake waved.
“Heard some screeching.” Talo glanced between them with knowing eyes. “You newly nested work out your kinks?”
“Dad—” River started, but a whirlwind of flowing robes and tinkling glass vials cut him off. A female with blue-tipped wings landed beside them. A decorative scarf was wrapped around her blue hair. A painted shimmering tattoo stretched from her bottom lip down her chin and throat, where it morphed into an ornate collar, tribal and elegant.
Blake attempted a quick comb of her knotty hair, but gave it up when she almost dropped the plant. No makeup. No glimmer. A glance down at her clothes made her feel ill. She raised the eucalyptus slightly so it hid the sweat marks beneath her braless, saggy breasts.
“Sweet Well, look at these wounds!” The newcomer grabbed River’s chin, turning his face to inspect. Robes rippled. Glass beads and crystal pendulums chimed. “What kind of healer would I be if I let my son—” She stilled at the sight of Blake making her adjustments. No, at Blake’s glowing arm marks. “Oh! OH!Talo!” She patted his chest without looking. “Call everyone for an emergency observation on Well-blessed healing techniques!”
“Already on it, my treasure! Table’s almost set up.” Talo winked at Blake before bellowing upward, “EVENING OBSERVATION OF HEALING METHODS! PURELY EDUCATIONAL!”
“So you must be Blake.” River’s mother beamed. “I’m Ravi.”
“Um. G’day. I mean, hello.”
“Such a strong name.”
“Yeah, me parents thought I’d be another boy.”
“And you’re so beautiful too.” She elbowed River. “Isn’t she gorgeous?”
His gaze swept over Blake, lingering on her lips. “She puts the sun to shame.”
She hugged the plant self-consciously.
“No time to lose, my love. Let’s get you both sorted.”
“Ma,” River’s voice lowered. “We’re fine. We just need a wash and rest.”
“Nonsense! And you!” Ravi spun toward Blake, her outfit tinkling. “Your aura is completely destabilized. You need food, too. Not a shred of meat on those bones.” She whacked River as though it were his fault. “How do you expect her to see straight without the right nutrients?”
Two more figures dropped from above. The first landed with a dancer’s grace, electric-blue-and-black braid whipping. The second touched down more enthusiastically, dark curls escaping her messy bun.
“New sister!” The curvy one with a messy bun—Lark—bounced. “Perfect timing! We need a subject for UV-light analysis!”
“UV what?”
“It’s code for getting drunk,” River drawled.
“And a proper wardrobe update.” The sharper, blue-braided one—Sera—circled Blake. “No offense to those clothes, but they’re a bit … dull.”
“Filthy!” Ravi nodded, then shook her head at her son. “What have you put this poor human through?”
“Blame the kelpie,” he shot back. “And the moon-faced fuckers who ambushed us.”
“Oh, what’s this?” Ravi touched the potted plant. “Is that…? But it couldn’t be…”
“It’s an Australian eucalyptus.” Blake hugged it possessively. “A friend grew it for me.”
“From the old world?” Lark tugged a dark ringlet loose and twirled it around her finger. “Tell us everything! Did you really have little people trapped inside boxes until they told stories? And those metal carriages that carried?—”
“Later,” Sera cut in. “First, we need to get Blake cleaned up and properly dressed before the—” She caught herself. “Before the educational discussion.”
Blake looked to River for help, but he was busy batting away his mother’s hands as she inspected another “injury in his aura.”
