Dragoncrest Cliffs sharing tree shade with a butterfly

He found Rosalyn first, but it was as though she looked right through him. Sobo faltered. Even knowing she had no control over it and didn't mean it, it stung to be looked at like that. He was terrified that one day, Rosalyn would forget who he was — who anyone in Sapphique was.

He recovered a beat later, doing his best to appear carefree in his warm smile. Hello, mamá, he said, tilting his head to include Erzulie as she came up alongside her mate. Hello, manman.

As per usual, Erzulie cut to the heart of the matter with a single look. Sometimes, Sobo was vexed when this happened. He disliked feeling like he was so transparent, he could hide nothing from his mother. Today was a rare day where he appreciated it, for he was unsure how to begin without her invitation. He settled in to walk beside the pair of them. Dat be so. May I speak plainly? he asked the both of them.