Page 7 of Wings of Snow
Drachu shook his head. “No. Ourchannaheats our blood, keeping us warm in the most frozen of seas and coldest of lands. Clothing isn’t necessary. We’ve merely adapted it as customary among other fae.”
“What’schanna?” Cailis asked curiously.
“Intrinsic Lochen magic. Other fae do not possess it.”
My nose twitched when sizzling scents of cooking food wafted to greet us. It smelled foreign and fragrant, and I wondered what the Lochen’s diet typically consisted of.
Despite Vockalin being small, it was a vibrant city full of life if the bustle was any indication. And to think that this was only one of many island cities the Lochen called home.
“Where would you like my sister and I to stay?” I asked when Drachu led us deeper into the mountainous village.
“At my residence,” Drachu replied.
Several Lochen stopped to watch us, their brows furrowing as they assessed Cailis’s wings. All of them wore minimal clothing, had green eyes, and varying skin shades. A few gawked, and more than one scowled in our direction.
“Do you live here when you’re on land?” Cailis tucked her wings in tighter when a child ran up behind her and tried to run his finger across her wing’s leathery black membrane.
The child’s mother snatched him away, then bared her sharp canines at us.
Drachu’s lips downturned as he assessed the growing crowd. “These females are my guests. I expect them to be treated as such.”
The female smoothed her lips, hiding her teeth, but it didn’t stop her glare before she led her child away.
Other Lochen around us all stepped back, most of their angry and distrustful expressions faltering as Drachu strode forward. The Lochen king nodded to the fae who made eye contact with him, but he didn’t introduce us or tell them more about why we were here.
Also surprising, no one bowed to Drachu as the Solis did to King Novakin. Instead, each fairy we passed brought a thumb to their mouth before bringing their thumb to their forehead. I wondered if it was the same as when Solis brought a fist to one’s chest before bowing—a sign of respect.
“To answer your question, if I’m staying on this island chain, then yes, I stay here,” the king said over his shoulder after we passed the crowd. “I have homes on most of our lands.”
My eyes bugged out. “How many homes is that?”
“Forty-two.” His lips twitched. “Are you unfamiliar with what island chains we call home? We also have a continent south of here, and then there are the cities beneath the waves. I have many areas of residence.”
My cheeks reddened that I was so ignorant of the Lochen, especially since their king had offered us refuge.
“Sabreeny!” Drachu called.
Ahead, a female straightened near a home. Long brown hair tumbled down her back, and a simple band of cloth covered her full breasts while a short skirt—if it could be called that—concealed her lower half. The minuscule attire left an abundance of her creamy flesh on display.
The house behind her was small and simple and rose from the mountain as though cut from the rock itself. Vibrant purple shells covered the home’s entire exterior, and upon closer inspection, all of the other houses and buildings also had outside walls covered with shells or sea rock.
Millions of seashells had to be in this city, and each home seemed inclined to favor a shell of a single color. Some were as bright as the purple ones before us. Others were green, yellow, red, and every shade in between, but some were more subdued, favoring shades of white, gray, or black.
Cailis fingered one of the violet shells on the corner of Drachu’s house. “Is this from the Tala Sea?”
“It is,” Drachu replied.
The female Drachu had addressed earlier, Sabreeny, cut Cailis a sharp look when my sister’s fingers continued to trail along the home’s exterior. Sabreeny said something to Drachu in a language I couldn’t understand. In response, Drachu scowled at her and said something just as sharply in return. But instead of the female dipping her head in acquiescence, she merely gave the king her back and stalked into the house.
“You’ll have to excuse her,” Drachu said, his tone irritated. “She’s my newestsalivar,and she doesn’t want any other females in my home.”
Cailis and I shared a look before I said, “Salivar?”
“What do you Solis call them? Let me think.” He cocked his head. “Ah yes, concubine, or is it mistress?”
I blushed, my cheeks flaming. “Ah, I see.”
Drachu laughed, a rich, booming sound. “I forget how squeamish the Solis can be when it comes to fucking. I should share with you now that I bed many females in my clan and have dozens of salivars. I would also be more than willing to bed you if you so desire.” His eyes heated, and my stomach dropped.