Minari’s brow furrowed as he watched Mimi walk off, ignoring Amelia’s family. He had tried to listen to their conversation, hoping there would be moments when they used common tongue, but they had exclusively kept to chimeran tongue. Whatever they’d been conversing about, Mimi didn’t seem pleased. Him storming off was a clear indicator. Minari wondered if it was wise to leave Amelia and her family alone with them.
Sage stood. “I’ll go see what happened.”
“Stay,” Amelia said, taking hold of Sage’s wrist. “The sun has set. It’s not safe to leave.”
“Which is why I should go.” Sage frowned.
Amelia kept her hand on his wrist. “He’s the Lykrine. You don’t trust he’ll be fine?”
Sage broke free of Amelia’s hold. “That’s not the point.”
“What is going on here?” Nero asked. Amelia’s family gathered around them, seemingly uninterested in Mimi.
“Father,” Amelia said. She smiled. “Nothing.”
One of the younger chimeras looked up at Anna, asking a question with a tilt of his head and pointing in the direction Mimi had disappeared in. Anna shook her head, patting his shoulder.
“What were you talking about?” Minari asked.
There was a slight twitch in Anna’s fingers as she pressed them against her son’s shoulder. She put a smile across her face, but her eyes were full of suspicion. “Why?”
“The matter concerns you not,” Nero said. “Not to outsiders.”
“We’re not outsiders,” Elliot said. “Mimi is our friend, and he’s important to us.”
“We aren’t a threat to you,” Hiro said.
Amelia rolled her eyes, scoffing.
Minari couldn’t read the situation. He had thought Amelia trusted Elliot, which was why she’d trusted the rest of them. Unless she was faking it. But what was the reason for her to fake it? Their tattered appearance alone explained their hardships. That certainly could not have been faked.
“Do you trust us?” Minari asked, testing the waters.
“We trust you enough to allow you to stay close to our Lykrine,” Amelia said.
Minari narrowed his eyes. So that was it. They’d risked themselves. They didn’t care what they had to do as long as they could get close to Mimi. Mimi was precious to them, maybe more so than the connection between Mimi and them. It would be troublesome if they tried to persuade Mimi to stay with them. Mimi was a warrior, a vital person to the prophecy. Minari’s role was to ensure Elliot succeeded in fulfilling the prophecy. He could not let that happen.
“I don’t like how Mimi is out there alone,” Sage said.
“You should not pamper our Lykrine,” Nero said.
“I’m not pampering him.”
“The way you follow him everywhere, I say it’s the opposite,” Amelia said.
“So what? You want me to pamper you instead?” Sage’s voice rose. “You know that’s not going to happen.”
“It was the will and order of our late Lyeokee. You mean to dishonor it?” Nero matched his voice with Sage’s. “You’re bringing shame to our kind!”
Sage’s hands balled into fists. “I am fully aware of what he wanted.”
“It’s best you honor it.” Nero’s voice had lowered, as if warning Sage. “This is what’s left of us. You cannot ignore your duty any longer. Nothing will come out of the relationship between you two.”
It was as if someone had blown out the warmth in their small campfire. The crackling of the flames went silent. Amelia’s, Nero’s, and Anna’s intense gazes were locked on Sage, waiting for a reaction.
The ox’s expression darkened. He scowled, and his brows dug into his eyes. He stared straight at Nero. “You. Have. No. Right. To. Tell. Me. What. To. Do.” The words narrowly escaped his clenched teeth.
“What you two share is not natural,” Anna said. “Everyone knows it.”
“Isn’t that why you left?” Amelia raised a brow. “You two left because you couldn’t handle your duties.”
“We’ve spoken to Lykrine. He agreed to proceed with the engagement between you and Amelia,” Nero said.
“What?” Elliot blurted.
Their heads snapped toward him, as if they’d just realized they had an audience.
“What engagement?” Elliot asked.
“Mimi’s father arranged a marriage between Sage and my daughter,” Nero said. “As the male of the family, it is my duty to see it through. Mimi agreed to it. He believes it is the best thing we can do for our kind.”
“I don’t believe that’s true,” Elliot said.
“What makes you think so?” Nero asked, arms crossing. “You’re an outsider to us chimeras.”
“I’ve been with Mimi and Sage long enough to see how much they care for each other. I doubt Mimi would just . . . agree and allow something like this.”
Minari shifted closer to Elliot. He could see the slight tightening of Nero’s jaw and the way his eye twitched every time Elliot spoke.
“Elliot means no harm,” Hiro said, putting himself in front of Elliot. “Just stating what he has observed.”
“And why should we trust you, human?” Nero’s voice was full of venom.
“We have our reasons, just like you have yours,” Hiro said.
“Why are you all with our Lykrine and Sage anyway?” Nolan asked, his big eyes darting between the two groups. “It’s kind of weird.”
“Weirder than how Lykrine and Sage look at each other,” Zale added.
“Mimi and I are drawn together because of the prophecy,” Elliot said. “I know it’s not commonly known with the chimeras, but I’m the oracle, and he’s a warrior.”
The oxen stiffened, their eyes bulging.
“Prophecy . . . ? Oracle . . . ? Did I hear you correctly?” Nero whispered, as if not wanting anyone to hear him utter those words.
Elliot nodded.
“And you say . . . our Lykrine is part of this prophecy?”
Elliot nodded again.
Rushed whispers in chimera tongue were spoken between Nero, Anna, and Amelia. Nolan and Zale grabbed their mother’s legs, tears welling up in their eyes.
Sage spoke, but Nero snapped, interrupting him. Sage began again, but Nero kept stopping him, his voice rising each time. What could have triggered their fearful reaction? The two younger chimeras had begun trembling, pushing themselves against Anna as if trying to hide from danger. Anna rubbed circles on their backs, whispering words Minari assumed were meant to comfort them.
“They’re the same!” Amelia screamed. “The same as the ones who slaughtered our tribe!” She pointed at Elliot and Minari. “You two . . . You tried to pretend you weren’t the same, but you are!”
“Wh-what?” Elliot said. “What do you mean? Minari and I—”
“No!” Amelia shrieked. She continued in chimeran tongue, screaming rapidly.
“You guys better leave,” Sage said, his voice calm. “They think you’re together with the ones who destroyed the tribe. I’ll take care of this.”
“What do you mean?” Elliot asked. “That can’t be true.”
“They saw what they saw, and they believe what they believe. The only thing that can calm them down is you being away from them,” Sage said.
“Will you return?” Minari asked. He did not like the idea that Sage may not be able to reunite with them. He knew Mimi would have a difficult time coping without Sage.
That was, if they reunited with Mimi as well.
They would need to track down the snake chimera and inform him of what had happened.
“Worried about me now?” Sage smirked. “Don’t worry. We’ll see each other again.”