The Lords escorted them back to the faire and the last of the daylight fled behind the mountains, and that was when all the real foolery began. Hrutha appeared with Serephone at his side and beckoned to his brother and father, his expression serious for once.

Maddugh frowned and glanced at Kailigh. “I doubled my men in the crowd. You’re still free to wander, but be even more vigilant, mistress.”

He was awfully calm, almost as if he’d been expecting trouble. It wasn’t that Kailigh didn’t understand, in theory, how to relax and have a good time—but there were too many faces she didn’t recognize, most of them male. It struck her, the inequity between the male and female dragon Dwyrkin. There was three men for every woman. That never boded well. Some foolish females might think it meant they had their pick of mates, but they would soon be disabused of that notion when subjected to the not-quite-friendly advances of desperate males. At least that’s how it worked among the humans, and women who migrated to the mining town looking for easy husbands soon fled if they didn’t learn how to handle themselves.

Still, despite the revelry—and there was plenty—the Dwyrkin did seem a bit better behaved. A bit. They were just as roguish—Kailigh gave a gimlet eye to a few dozen men who dared her crossed-armed company—but didn’t press their attention once rebuffed. It made her like them, and their Lord, a bit better. And well into the evening, when she still had not seen hide nor hair of the troublesome deal-striking man, she managed to relax.

Cinvarra was having a bonny time. She’d slipped Kailigh three times before Amnan shook his head.

“I’ll shadow her, mistress. The more you try to cage her, the more she will slip your leash.”

He walked away before she could blast him for the word ‘cage.’ She wasn’t trying to cage her daughters. She just wanted to see them properly wedded before they did any bedding, and for purely practical reasons. It was hard raising a child alone, and she didn’t want that for her girls.

But she relented, knowing that if the princeling himself couldn’t keep rogues away, then there was no hope for them anyway.

Serephone finally wondered off as well, towards a band of musicians, betraying her intrigue by the tilt of her head and lack of scowl. Young men and a woman with dark hair and electric instruments. The noise they played seemed to please the younger folk, and Kai could somewhat understand the appeal of the caterwauling music. It was all broody and about being misunderstood by the universe. Perfect music for young people with no mouths to feed.

She snorted and moved away, strolling a block before she stopped in front of a small herbalist shop, wondering if she should inquire about the kinds of herbs that helped regulate the monthly flow—and make prevention of accidental pregnancy easier. A woman sat on the poured concrete porch, sipping a brown bottle of brew. She noticed Kailigh and waved her over.

Kai raised a brow at the casual friendliness, but approached. A close look told Kai she was likely human.

“Sit,” the woman said. “I’m Lucide. You’re one of the hybrid girls the Lord put word out about.”

Kailigh sat, realizing as she did that it was highly out of character for her. But the woman’s frank look and casual demeanor was badly threatening.

“Word got out quick,” Kai said. Hybrid?

“Small town.”

Kai snorted. “Lots of people for a small town.”

“He let in the humans, which he doesn’t normally do.” They both knew who the he was. “And the mountain folk always come down where there’s free beer.”

“I imagine.” Kai studied the woman’s attire out of the corner of her eye. Dark washed denim pants, a deep-blue oversized shirt with blousy sleeves and multi-stranded beads around her wrists and neck. “You’re a Traveler.”

“I was.” She jerked a shoulder at the shop. “Been settled here for a while. But I am Traveler enough still.”

The way the woman said those words caused Kailigh’s back to stiffen, just a bit. The casual tone had lifted, enough to indicate this wasn’t a chance meeting.

“Your aura is an interesting one,” the Traveler said.

“I don’t have any gold to cross your palm, Lucide,” Kai said.

Lucide shook her head. “I don’t need your money. I like auras. They’re mostly the same around here. Dwyrkin are frenetic, and all of them think they have a grand destiny awaiting—the Fae are even worse. All that pent up noble blood withering away in their veins. They dream of the day when they can be useless again.” Lucide eyed her. “You’ve got that look about you. Grandparent?”

Kai watched the street, thoughtful. “Don’t know, never knew my grandparents, or my father, for that. It’s true then? The stories that they were stranded here from their home world.”

“Same world, different dimension. It’s true. I had a cousin whose brother-in-law had a grandmother who went over before all the gates crashed closed.”

“Hmm.”

“Your aura, though—it’s closed. And you know what they say. Closed mouths, and all that.”

“I eat from my own hand.”

Lucide shrugged. “I’m sure you’ve done well. But if you relax a bit, you’ll find life goes a bit easier. Sometimes the universe awaits us to be ready to receive help. Stay here, I’ll be right back.”

Kailigh did the woman the courtesy of not walking away, and remained seated. She was curious anyway. Lucide returned with a necklace in her hand, a thin strip of leather with a polished stone hung on the edge.

She sat down again. “Here, take this, a gift.”

“What is it?” Kai wouldn’t be taking any hedge witch’s offerings, thank you very much.

Lucide’s knowing eyes speared her, an amused sidelong glance. “It’s an energy stone. It will suck up all your negative energy and let you be yourself. Don’t worry—it only holds so much and then the charm goes dead and you’re on your own again.”

Lucide held it out, the necklace dangling from her fingers. Kailigh stared at it like it was a snake.

“Go on, take it. I promise, with the amount of negative energy you’re putting off right now, it will only last the evening. But it should let you enjoy the festivities, at least.”

Kailigh took it and looped it over her head. For some reason, suddenly, the idea of actually enjoying the evening rather than worrying about what could go wrong appealed. Maybe she should just have a beer, eat the free food, listen to the entertainment, and relax. Let the girls enjoy themselves and not worry about traffickers or rowdy miners. Just have fun.

“Thanks,” Kailigh said, and rose. “Hope to return the favor one day.”

Lucide grinned. “Yeah? That’s good then. I like favors.”

* * *

As Kailigh strolled back in the general direction of where she’d left her daughters, she heard a very familiar sound. Freezing for a split second, she burst into a run. She knew the difference between raucous music and a bar fight—she’d seen, and even participated in a few in her day. And had started many once the twins had passed into the legal drinking age and thought themselves ready for the entertainment available in the local tavern. Kai had accompanied them, even if she’d lurked in a darkened corner.

She shoved her way through the crowd, cursing the fact she was unarmed, when a tall, pale-haired man she recognized stepped in front of her.

“This way, mistress,” the Lord’s son said. “I fear the scary one is indulging my father’s hospitality.”

He sounded half-amused, but Kailigh cursed. There was only one reason Serephone would start a fight—either to protect herself or Persia.

They barreled through the crowd until they reached the cleared center of the tent erected over the beer garden. Serephone stood, a bloody blade in her hand. A man stood with friends several feet away, glaring while being consoled.

“Goddamnit,” Kailigh swore. “I thought you said your males were civilized!”

Sere turned at the approach of her mother. “Mother.” She hesitated. “I may have overreacted this time.”

Kai grimaced. She’d been afraid of that. Serephone was touchy even when comfortable in familiar surroundings. She turned to Hrutha. “Where is your brother? Isn’t he supposed to be watching her? Sere has delicate nerves.”

Hrutha laughed. “So I see. Perhaps we can talk the poor fellow into forgoing bloodgilt since she is a guest of the Lord.”

He strolled to the man, lifting a hand in a jaunty wave, and spoke in a low, rapid tone when the man started, bowing.

She approached her daughter, keeping an eye on Hrutha. “Put the blade away, girl.”

It disappeared in Serephone’s skirt. “These men are odd.”

Sere fell silent and soon Persia joined them, breathing fast. “I came as soon as I heard there was a fight. What the hell, Sere?”

The elder twin shrugged, and said nothing.

“Where’s Cin?”

“Left her with Amnan. Candy apples or something. Her hair is all wet. No dignity.”

At least one child was giving a good impression of being normal. Kai watched as the injured man gesticulated wildly, his voice rising. Hrutha crossed his arms, tossing his head so the long, pretty locks of his hair fell over his shoulder.

“He’s interesting, isn’t he, Mother?” Persia asked. “Different.”

Kai glanced at her daughter. “I wouldn’t, if I were you. You want a simple man, one you can easily control. Not the son of a Lord, and certainly not one so… flamboyant. You’d have to have a blade on you all the time to deal with the attention he’d receive from women.”

“No,” Sere said. “Cut one real good the first time, make an example. The rest will know better then.”

Kailigh grimaced, wondering if all this was her fault. Maybe she’d overdone it through the years.

“What’s going on?” a deep, rich voice said behind her.

She stiffened, the hairs on the back of her neck responding. Kailigh turned around. “Your Lordship.”

He glanced at her, then at his son. “I didn’t expect a fight to break out so soon in the evening. Did my son start it?”

“No,” Sere said.

Maddugh waited as if expecting an explanation—but then he didn’t know Serephone.

“There was a misunderstanding,” Kailigh said, stiffly. “Prince Hrutha is addressing the lack of communication on our behalf.”

“I… see. And whose blade did the miscommunicating?”

“Mine.” Sere said. “I put it away.”

“Thank you,” he replied gravely.

Hrutha jogged back to them, expression arch. He glanced at Serephone. “You owe me, crazy sweet. I just paid your bloodgilt with a favor. You can begin repaying me with the dubious pleasure of your company for the remainder or the evening—to ensure you cost me no more favors, My Lady.”

Maddugh sighed. “I hope she’s worth it.”

“What the hell does that mean?” Kailigh demanded.

Maddugh took her elbow, and then Persia’s for good measure, and escorted them from the tent. “Have you eaten? Perhaps this isn’t the best place for three lovely, eligible ladies. In an enclosed area brimming with intoxicated, eager men.”

Kailigh tugged her arm away with a sniff and opened her mouth.

“Do not,” he said, his eyes glinting when she glanced at him, “say I told you so.”

She kept the words between her teeth, but barely.

* * *

Dinner was street vendor food, of which Maddugh also enjoyed, seemingly without reservation. She watched him, curious. He dressed much the same as the other men, in dark trousers, a white shirt and a brocade vest as a nod to the occasion. His clothing was obviously of high quality fabric and stitching, but the style wasn’t any different from any of the other males. There were no ugly Dwyrkin, and many of the males wore their hair long like Maddugh, so if she hadn’t already known him, she would never have guessed he was anything more than a prosperous trader, or maybe a Domer slumming it. There were a few shifters in the cities.

Kailigh excused herself after they’d stuffed themselves with various bites. “I will check on Serephone. Persia?”

“I’ll stay with His Majesty,” her daughter said. “He seems to know where all the best food is.”

Kailigh rolled her eyes. She couldn’t fault the girl’s priorities, and if the Lord couldn’t guard Persia, no one could.

“We’ll be along soon,” Maddugh said, his lips curving in a secret smile. “The evening is not over until your daughters are formally introduced.”

Kailigh paused, held his gaze, then shrugged. So be it. That was the point of the party after all, for the girls to point out a male or two they might not mind getting to know better.

“As you say, Lord Maddugh.”

He caught her hand as she turned away, lifted it to his lips. “I am hoping to avoid a formal introduction for yourself.”

Now, what did he want her to say to that? Eyes narrowed, she pulled her hands away, glad her voice was steady, and steely. “Save your pretty words for the tavern girls, Maddugh. I’m not convinced yet.”

He laughed as she turned her back, though she really hadn’t intended for him to find the comment funny. Kailigh made her way back to the tent where Serephone had stayed with Hrutha. He’d said nothing when she’d called him Maddugh, again, rather than Lord—but Lord was a title among the Dwyrkin. She hadn’t sworn fealty to him, and she wouldn’t make obeisance to him like he was.

Because there was a fair amount of good-natured jostling amongst the crowd from the sheer number of people, and the number of intoxicated people at that, it took Kailigh at least three seconds to respond when a hand wrapped around her upper arm, jerking her to a stop.