“Tomorrow, we have the Armada Social during the day and at night…well that’s a surprise,” Zaro tells us with a cheeky grin that has me excited.
“What’s the Armada Social?” Zane asks.
“We position our fleet just outside of Zentria and guests gather on the ships dressed in the designated color. When Danielle and I married, everyone dressed in white. Zaro’s color is gold, so that is what everyone will be wearing. We already have outfits for each of you,” Ion says before taking a gulp of red wine.
“How exciting!” Amaya squeals next to me.
“Oh, there’s also the tattoo ritual,” Danielle adds. “Zaro and Anthony will get the sacred tattoos of the moon and sea.”
“I’ll get the sea and he’ll get the moon. It’s custom when getting married here. The tattoos represent the eternal tie of our two souls. Like the moon’s pull of the tides, our souls will be forever connected, even beyond death.”
“That’s beautiful.” Amaya and I say it at the same time and the others laugh.
“You two really are like sisters!” Danielle chimes.
“We have our moments.” I nudge Amaya with my elbow. “Do you guys have the tattoos?”
Danielle nods. “Ion has the waves over his heart, and I have the full moon just above my hip.”
“How is it decided who gets what?” Damien asks his sister.
“Usually, the pursuer of the relationship gets the waves.”
“So, you were the pursuer, Zaro?” Ryder sits up a little.
“Sure was,” he says with a chuckle. “And boy did he make me work for it.”
“How did you guys meet?” I ask.
“He’s a very talented threader. We hired him years ago to design our robes. For a long time, the two of us despised each other. We would butt heads on what looked best or how the robes should fit. I hated it, but he was always right. Not that I ever gave him the satisfaction of knowing it. One night we were alone, and he was tailoring me. We got into an argument, and he pricked me with a needle in retaliation. I was going to yell at him for it, but his lips met mine and everything changed. After that, I was lovesick. I couldn’t get enough of him. When we weren’t together it was like the world was ending. Anthony was hesitant, though. I was his leader and the dynamic of that scared him. Eventually, I was able to win him over, though.”
It's hard not to compare his story to mine and Ryder’s. Different for sure, but still, there are stark similarities. Ryder must be thinking the same thing because I can feel his eyes watching me.
The rest of the dinner conversation is lighter. We laugh and drink and joke as if we have all been friends for years. Our two worlds seem to blend effortlessly together. Last time we were here, our agenda was to become allies. Looking around the table now, I’ve realized we’ve become so much more.
Still, I’m hiding who I am from them, and I don’t want to do it anymore.
“Wait.” I stop them before they have a chance to disperse for the night. “There’s something I want to show you guys.”
“What is it?” Danielle asks softly, reading the seriousness written all over my face.
“Let’s go out on the balcony.”
As they follow me out, Ryder reaches for my hand. He gives it a little squeeze and then lets go. A simple reassuring gesture that instantly eases my nerves.
“Alright, what do you have to show us?” Nio is already beaming with anticipation.
I think about making some sort of speech before, but this is one of those things that is just better seen. I start to climb onto the balcony railing that would’ve sent my heart plummeting months ago. Nio reaches for me, but I wave him off as I stand.
“It’s okay,” Ryder tells the others. “Just wait.”
Even with his reassurance, they all look at me with worry as I carefully stand up. I exhale one final breath and close my eyes before falling backwards off the ledge. I hear the others gasp right before I shoot up into the sky in my full phoenix. Yellow and orange flames lick me from head to toe as my wings flare open behind me.
“It’s not possible.”
“She can’t be…”
“Remarkable!”
