Dinnertime came and Niva still hadn’t come down from her high after riding Zayd in his Draqon form. She floated through the air even though both feet were solidly on the ground.

As she made her way to the evening meal, everyone she encountered seemed to be affected by the same euphoria. They all had a bright smile and welcoming word for her as she passed. She still wasn’t one of them, but the aloofness she had grown accustomed to during her time there disappeared in the light of Zayd having let her ride him. And like a cherry on top of a delicious sundae, on the menu for dinner was the Skax she had fought. Someone must’ve gone back and retrieved the bird Zayd had killed.

After taking an extra-large helping of meat—she figured she deserved it—she turned to look at the seating area full of people. Draqons sat around tables and stood together in groups, milling from table to table. They never seemed to sit still, always socializing and interacting with everyone else. Even those who were technically on meal duty made a point to sit for a while and socialize; if something needed doing, someone else would step up and take care of it.

Grace waved to catch her attention and called her over to one of the larger tables where most of the women, mated and unmated, sat. Niva’s breath caught with a sudden flare of nerves. It was the first time she had been actively invited to sit with anyone. Even though she and Grace got along well, Niva tended to sit on the outskirts of the chaos that was Draqon mealtime.

She waded her way over to the older woman and cleared a place to sit.

“What were you doing out there hunting Skax alone?” Grace asked almost immediately, the wrinkles fanning out around her eyes deepening as she squinted at Niva. It was a look she’d often give Niva when she made a silly mistake during training. “No one should be out hunting those things alone. It’s a miracle you weren’t gobbled up yourself.”

Niva lowered her eyes to the table and picked at the food. She took a sip of her drink, relishing the burn of the spicy liquid. “I went out with a group of other women, but I got turned around.”

From the corner of her eye, she saw the other unmated women stare down at their plates, faces red with shame.

Thankfully, Grace gave Niva a subtle smile but didn’t press the issue. The women settled into their meals, picking up with their chatter like Niva was part of them. Bowing her head over her bowl, she settled into her food and tried to hide her small smile of happiness at simply being included. It felt nice. It felt right.

A plate slammed down directly across from her.

She looked up to find Kinyi straddling the bench and scowling directly at her. Around them, the other women went quiet.

“You’re all anyone can talk about around here tonight.” Kinyi scowled, her mouth mangling a weak attempt at a smile. “It was so horrible that you got separated from us. We tried to find you. It’s amazing Zayd got to you in time.”

“I’m a little surprised to be here myself,” Niva said, holding Kinyi’s eyes.

The Draqon’s attempt at a smile fell away. “Are you implying something?”

“No.” Niva shook her head, aware that everyone was listening to their conversation. She didn’t want to overtly blame Kinyi, but she also needed to stand up for herself. “We both know what happened out there. I don’t have to imply anything.”

Kinyi stood again, holding her arms out and drawing as much attention to herself as possible. “One has to wonder how it is that a helpless human gets herself lost out in the woods. I thought you’d be smart enough to stick with those who have more experience.”

“One has to wonder how someone with so much experience could lose a helpless, shouting human.”

“I bet you wandered away on purpose, leaving a trail of breadcrumbs for Zayd to swoop in and rescue you like the useless weakling you are. That’s the only way our great leader could’ve possibly demeaned himself by allowing a human to ride on him.”

Anger flared like hot spices across Niva’s tongue. “He did not demean himself. I may be a human, but I’m not a weakling.”

Kinyi scoffed, “Maybe I should have just played the damsel this whole time. That must be the way to Zayd’s heart. All he’s wanted all along is a weak little human to rescue.”

Niva stared at Kinyi, waiting for her to finish ranting. When she finally fell silent and the Draqons around them rustled nervously in their seats, she said, “I am not weak, and I didn’t need rescuing. I’m thankful for Zayd’s help, but if he hadn’t come, I would have been just fine.”

Kinyi sneered, and she moved around the table, grabbing Niva by the shoulder and pulling her up to standing. Before Niva could find her footing, Kinyi pushed her, causing her to stumble backward.

“See? See how weak you are? You’re nothing.”

Grace began to stand, but Niva held out a hand. “It’s fine, Grace. Kinyi doesn’t mean anything by it.”

“Like fuck I don’t mean anything by it,” Kinyi raged. “You think you aren’t a weak human? Show me. Show everyone. Right here, right now. Let everyone in the hive see just how pathetic you really are.”

Kinyi’s eyes swam with pain, and Niva bit back the nasty remark that sat on the end of her tongue. What must it have been like for Kinyi to see the man she so clearly mooned over with another woman as his rider? It was likely worse than catching him having sex with someone else because, to the Draqons, riding was more intimate. More meaningful. “I’m not going to fight you. I understand you’re upset—”

“Upset? Why the fuck would I be upset? You’re the one who can’t handle a simple hunt so basic even our children are allowed to accompany us. I didn’t get lost in the woods and need our leader to waste his time saving me. There’s nothing for me to be upset about.”

Niva leaned forward. “Because you’re in love with him.”

The Draqons around her whispered, and the flapping of wings could be heard in the air as Kinyi stepped back, reeling from her words.

“What the fuck do you know?” Kinyi’s eyes blazed, and if Niva hadn’t known better, she would have sworn she saw a spark of fire in her eyes. Before she realized what was happening, Kinyi had stepped forward and slapped her across the face.

Niva hissed in pain, her hand pressing against her flaming hot cheek. Her eyes cut back to Kinyi, and she glared at the female.

“You think you know me? You don’t know shit. You’re nothing.” Kinyi advanced, ready to fight, but the other Draqons around them jumped to their feet, scales rattling. A few stepped forward as if to defend Niva, but she didn’t need other people protecting her. Kinyi wasn’t more than she could handle.

“I understand what you’re feeling. I felt it once. I’m not going to fight you over a man. It won’t make you feel better, and it won’t change a damn thing.”

Kinyi snarled and launched at Niva. “You fucking bitch—”

Zayd appeared, placing a large, strong hand on Kinyi’s shoulder and pulling her back from her lunge. “Don’t say another word,” he said between clenched teeth. The Draqons around them backed up, giving their leader space. “If you do, you will regret every single one.”

Kinyi looked up at Zayd, her face red but her lip quivering. “She’s weak. She’s nothing. She doesn’t deserve you.”

He lowered his voice so only Kinyi and Niva could hear. “Pull yourself together. Get some food. Get some sleep. Do whatever it takes to get past this.”

“Zayd—”

He growled. It built from deep within his chest, smoky, raspy. His scales rattled from the sound. It was so much more terrifying than the Vilkas’ wolfish noises that even Niva felt a prickle of fear. Kinyi’s eyes flared wide, and she stumbled back, hurrying away with her head bowed in shame.

Then Zayd’s eyes landed on Niva.

The feeling of his gaze directly on her after their flight set off a chain reaction in her gut, spreading warmth and the tingle of desire through her body. His face softened momentarily before he closed himself off again and looked at the Draqons who busily pretended they hadn’t been watching the entire disturbance.

Without looking at her, he commanded, “Come with me.”

He strode away from the tables, and while Niva was no longer interested in following anyone, they needed to talk.

As she walked, she turned her gaze toward the darkness into which Kinyi had disappeared. She seriously disliked the brutal, beautiful Draqon female, but Niva couldn’t hate her. If there was one thing she understood, it was heartbreak.