Total pages in book: 24
Estimated words: 21341 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 107(@200wpm)___ 85(@250wpm)___ 71(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 21341 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 107(@200wpm)___ 85(@250wpm)___ 71(@300wpm)
"I see you are dressed as the most beautiful female in the tribe," Hemalo calls out as he approaches, his gaze on Asha.
She huffs with amusement. "I am wearing no costume."
"I never said it was a costume." He leans in and rubs his nose against his mate's cheek in a tender gesture, and Asha tries to hide her expression of pleasure with another huff. "Shema is having a glorious time. I am very grateful for this hawl-day. She will make such good memories for this Treat Day."
"We all will," I agree. I'm trying not to hover over my children too much, because I want them to be able to run about freely and enjoy themselves. Ereven always teases that I fret over them more than I should, and so I go find him instead.
My handsome mate is by the food, of course. He has a plate full of sliced meat, roasted and raw both, and an array of the treats Stacy has been working day and night to put together for all of us. Ereven brightens at the sight of me, racing over.
"There you are. I have been saving you a plate of food, but I worried if I did not find you soon, I would be forced to eat it myself." He gives me a sly grin. "A hunter cannot waste away, after all."
I tap his middle, as if it's not lean and muscled. "You're in no danger of wasting away."
"No, but I was also in no danger of eating the treats I selected for my mate, either." He ushers me over near the edge of the group, where there's an empty seat with his cloak tossed upon it. He moves it aside and then indicates that I should sit so he can relax on the ground next to me. "Relvi and Erevair are having so much fun. I have never seen them so excited."
My smile grows broader and I pick at one of the roasted roots, lightly flavored with a tangy herb. "Where are they?"
"Getting ready for the football game. Will you play?" He drapes his crossed arms on my legs, like I'm a goddess he wants to worship. It makes me want to touch his messy hair and kiss that smile on his face. It takes a moment for me to realize he's just asked if I'm going to play football.
“After all the organizing I've done? Just thinking about it makes me tired. How about I eat my snacks on the sidelines and watch you and the kids?"
He gives me an easy smile. "I will make sure to show off just for you."
I feed him a sliver of raw meat. "I wouldn't expect any less, love."
CHAPTER
THIRTEEN
TIFFANY
Lukti's costume is the best costume. I'm not biased. Well, maybe a little. But seeing my boy in his structured costume walking so proudly next to Drenol in his equally ornate costume, well...it's hard not to feel a sense of accomplishment. I know how many hours I spent to get the boning at the bottom to stick out just enough that the hem of the long tunic looked like a squared-off chess piece. I know how many rounds of dye the skins took before they achieved that deep black shade (seven rounds, and nine for the white). I know how late I stayed up making their stiffened hide hats so Drenol's would look just like a crown on a king piece and Lukti would have the rounded hat of a pawn.
The two of them look perfect. Even the chessboard cloaks I made for all four of us stand out in the crowd, and it's no contest when Lukti lines up with the others for the big costume parade so everyone can vote.
"Show-off," Nora tells me cheerfully. "You make the rest of us look bad."
"I do not."
"You do, but it's for a good cause." She eyes the two chess pieces as they stand together. "I don't know who looks like they're having a better time—Lukti or Drenol."
I glance over at my beaming son and the elder at his side. There's a proud, downright emotional look on Drenol's face, his hand on my son's shoulder. Drenol is definitely having the better time. I'm glad he went for a costume with Lukti. "I'm just happy they're enjoying themselves. And I'm going to be even happier when this day is over, so I won't have to work on costumes anymore!"
Nora giggles. "I can honestly say I am tired of sewing literally everything. Esther wanted fringe all over her tunic and I feel like I've been sewing fringe for the last ten years."
"Her tunic turned out cute, though." Esther looks adorable with her hair pulled into two knots beside her horn stubs, and her costume is row after row of fringe in a fading ombre pattern. I don't know what she's supposed to be, but it's clear that Nora worked hard.