Page 15 of Barbarian's Treat

"That's not the point! The point is that it's a hook!"

"...is it a useful hook? Because I would rather have a hook than no hand."

I scowl at him and twirl a finger. "Just get back to walking, sir. I need a pie." Maybe we don't do a scary story anyhow. I don't mind when Masan crawls into bed with us when he has a nightmare, but I do draw the line at Millicent.

CHAPTER

TWELVE

CLAIRE

Treat Day isan amazing success so far.

It's barely noon and yet everyone is wandering about Croatoan in costume, and the children are beside themselves with delight. The kids are so cute—from Georgie's little girls who all came dressed as small versions of their father (which made Vektal laugh with delight), or Lukti's amazing chess costume that matches Drenol's. The adults are in on it, too. Josie's wandering around with a tunic that looks as if a not-potato is growing out of her baby bump, and Tiffany and Salukh are wearing checkerboard cloaks. Drenol's a chess piece. Harrec is a snow-cat and makes a big show of standing next to Puff, which makes everyone chuckle. Brooke made mermaid costumes for herself and her little daughter, Hazel, and they're full of color and drawn on scales, the “tail” skirt ending at the feet so they can walk around.

"It is a strange costume," Asha says at my side, eyeing Brooke. "She looks as if she is being devoured by a fish."

I smother a giggle. "Does not. It's a creature from human stories, I swear."

"If you say so." Asha points out her little girl, who is wearing a paint-splattered tunic that's far too large for her and has her hair pulled into the same intricately braided tail that Hemalo has taken to wearing. "Look. My daughter wanted to be her father. She is adorable, is she not?"

"She's the cutest," I agree. "Well, almost the cutest. Relvi might be giving her a run for her money. So to speak." My daughter is wearing her fuzzy bear outfit, and though she has no clue what a bear is, she's having a blast running around. I made the ears bigger on her costume and gave it a big fluffy tail and an extra pair of arms. It's not like anyone here knows what a bear is anyhow. Relvi loves it. Erevair wanted a less exciting costume. He opted for a “hunter” and is wearing some of his father's castoffs and shaking a spear at everyone.

There are a lot of little hunters running around. Anyone that didn't have a good idea for a costume or struggles with sewing opted for their kids to be hunters. I know Ariana practically had a nervous breakdown trying to decide on what Analay and Zoari would dress up as. Analay decided hunter, and Zoari decided to be one, too. It ended up working out well for their poor stressed mother.

"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 costumeis 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.