Page 119 of Theirs to Crave

I glanced at Saytireka’s table, where Arvel nodded like a bobblehead on a taxi dash to everything our illustrious matriarch said, and rolled my eyes.

I was also curious on a practical level. In this heat and humidity, a body would start to decompose very quickly—and yet everyone had seemed unsurprised that the funeral wouldn’t be held for several days. The Teterayuh were very hygienic andhad sensitive noses, so there was probably something clever built into the ritual of thetchessevto replace a morgue fridge, and I really wanted to know what it was. Not that I wanted to need that knowledge. Ever.

Theerralaytuhemptied quickly as people left to finish final tasks before the looming storm broke. Soon, only three tables were occupied. Ours—with me, Revik, Litha, Mariano, Kurz, and Yin, who stared into the distance at something only xe could see. Saytireka’s—where she was joined by Zaf’s fathers and the brown-nosing toad, Arvel; and a final table where five elders sat, quietly talking amongst themselves.

“Walk home together?” Mariano asked. We’d gotten into the habit of taking a route between our houses, only splitting off for the last quarter or so of the journey.

“Sí,” I muttered, glancing up surreptitiously. Saytireka wasstillglaring. Jesus. “I’m ready to go as soon as Zaf gets back.”

“You and me both.”

“Abuele, can we help you back to your den?” I touched the back of Yin’s hand gently, and the translucent eyelids shuttered across xyr distant, silvery eyes.

“No, thank you child. I will sit with you a little longer and make my way on my own when you leave.”

“Are you sure?” I pressed. “I can—”

“I am sure.” Yin’s gaze sharpened as it fell on Saytireka’s table, xyr words gentle, but final.

I let out a sigh of relief when Zaf dropped from the trees and strode towards us. Smiling at the hand Revik offered, I leaned against him as we all rose to our feet.

“Healer Zafett,” called a quavery voice.

Zaf turned, bowing his head. “Elders,” he greeted the group of Teterayuh making their way towards us.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Saytireka stand and start this way also.Sigh. So much for the hope for a clean getaway.

“Do Arla and Sekan hold thetchessevalone?” a tall, slim woman asked, her sandy fur shot through with silver.

“Today, yes. Following tomorrow’s sunrise, they welcome any who wish to join.”

Approving murmurs met that announcement. A stooped man with purple ringing his tail laid a hand on Zaf’s arm. “Will you dance at the funeral? Sezan loved your dancing.”

“Of course,” Zaf said, bending to brush his forehead across the older man’s.

“Sezan was the best dancer in the village, when he was younger,” Litha told me quietly.

“As Zaf is now,” said Revik.

Zaf’s ears tipped back, and he turned a shy smile on Revik as the group of elders continued on. “There are others with more grace,” he demurred. “But I thank you. Would you dance with me,Lelesha, if I taught you the way?” Zaf asked, running his thumb over my cheek.

I opened my mouth to say yes, even though normally dancing was something I reserved for bars—and then only after several drinks—but Saytireka’s smooth voice interrupted me.

“I do not think that a good idea, my son.”

Zaf bristled. “And why is that, my mother?”

“It would be best if thetetevath’adid not join us for the funeral.”

He just blinked at her. After a stunned moment, Zaf sputtered, “Why? Does Sezan not deserve to have all voices raised in his honor?”

“Not the voices of his killers!” Saytireka snarled, her poise ripping away with a shocking suddenness.

“Mother! Sezan saw forty-three season cycles! He died peacefully in his sleep! How could you possibly think—” Zaf threw his hands into the air, frustration radiating from him like heat from a fire.

“Exactly!” Saytireka snapped. “Forty-three season cycles, and not a sign of illness. Thenshesits next to him,” Saytireka stabbed a long, clawed finger towards me, “and now his children have no father. I warned you—I warned you thetetevath’awould bring death with them, but you didn’t listen.”

I recoiled, backing into Revik, who cupped my shoulders with big, warm hands, his body vibrating with tension against my back.

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