and although I loved her unconditionally, I briefly considered strangling her.
I shot her a smile that promised retribution, then, before Sook or Iba could ask what she was insinuating, I blurted out, “Heard you were ingested by a shark, Sookie.”
Instead of flinching, my cousin’s grin grew and grew, eating up half his face. “But did you hear the part where I fileted the pistri using a rusted anchor?”
I wrinkled my nose whereas Giya shook her head and the adults’ complexions went from pale to white.
“Ace?” Cruz’s voice cut across the apartment, silencing every conversation, stilling every chest.
My father froze, and then slowly, slowly turned around. He looked first at Nima, then at his sister, as though questioning if they also saw him. When both women smiled, he finally unglued the soles of his leather boots and stalked toward the man who’d been more of a brother to him than Kingston.
His shoulders stiffened, then shook, and then they rolled forward. As he embraced his long-lost friend, I wondered if Iba was shedding tears or plotting Gregor’s murder. Surely both.
My aunt broke away from my uncle and walked over to my mother, clutching her elbow. Where Neenee’s cheeks still shone with tears, Nima’s were finally dry, but her eyes belied her stoicism, their shine rivaling the sapphire-encrusted table next to me. Clearly, whoever owned the apartment was wealthy.
Smiling, I let my gaze drift over the little assembly until I found Remo sandwiched between Silas and his mother, no Karsyn or Gregor in sight. He’d traded his navy pants for his customary black lucionaga uniform, which made me feel particularly frumpy. Before I could scroll through my Infinity band, his eyes met mine over his stepfather’s shoulder. He leaned over, whispered something in his ear, then cut across the room toward where I stood with Giya, Sook, and Geemee. Out of everyone, my uncle looked the worst for wear, anxiety gnawing at his uncharacteristically wan features. Was he jealous? Did he fear he was about to lose Lily? I’d never doubted my aunt’s affections, but I’d also heard Cruz and Lily had shared something special . . .
I watched Neenee, wondering if the life she’d built could crumble, because her old—or rather, young—flame was back, but suddenly Sook stepped in front of me, and I could no longer see her. When I realized why he’d done it, to block Remo, I shooed my worry for my aunt and uncle and bustled around my cousin.
“Sook, Remo’s my . . .” I looked up into my fiancé’s golden eyes trying to decide which term to use, but then became distracted by his irises. I missed the green, but not because it changed his appearance . . . because it was the color of the eyes that had watched over me during our imprisonment.
“Friend?” Sook supplied dubiously.
He was way more than that.
Giya squeezed my shoulder. “What Amara’s trying to say is that we like Remo now.”
“We do?” Sook asked, directing the question at me.
“Yeah, we do.” I smiled. “Your eyes are gold.”
Remo seemed to be drinking mine in, even though their color hadn’t changed. The corner of his mouth tipped up. “And yours are blue. Shall we move on to hair?”
I laughed. Amidst all the awful memories of prison, that had been a good one. I reached for his hand even though I wanted to push up on tiptoe and reach for his mouth.
“Amara Wood, we meet again.” The familiar voice made my gaze leap off Remo, who’d become as stiff as the buffed black marble beneath our feet. Joshua Locklear stood, one arm draped over his sister’s shoulder. She seemed so slight and small beside him. “Looking a little bedraggled, but still hot.”
Remo’s fist crunched into the Daneelie’s jaw, sending his face flying to the side.
As Josh pivoted back toward us, his brows slanted viciously beneath his sideswept blond bangs. “Back the fuck off, Farrow, or you’ll be cleaning urinals for the rest of your lucionaga career.”
Remo grunted. “Like you have any power.”
“Actually, I do.” Josh beamed. “You’re looking at Neverra’s brand-new draca.”
“You’re shitting me,” Sook said.
That’s when I realized that Josh’s eyes were green instead of blue. “Wicked, huh?”
Wicked wasn’t the first word that came to mind.
“Who the hell was cracked enough to make you draca?” Giya sputtered.
Kiera sent her a sharp glare.
“Why, Massin Wood. Apparently, our dearest king will do anything for his daughter.” He tossed me a wink that vanished behind thickening swirls of sparkling smoke. The lines of his body changed,