Ankyra Sound holy water

It felt strange, putting it out there, and she had no idea how it might be taken. Perhaps Chacal would find offense in the suggestion. Or perhaps she would agree that it was the best course. Meerkat sort of feared either possibility equally.

She bit at her lip when Chacal mentioned Sobo by name. Did she know that Rosalyn and even Erzulie had also been slow to embrace Njord’s return? Meerkat wished she could force herself to focus more on the positives. Two of the three leaders had easily welcomed her husband home. Their children had done the same. She should not let the relatively few overshadow her outlook so much.

The Tanzanite insisted she preferred Meerkat to stay right here, complementing the words with a sisterly kiss the Laramite did not see coming. Her eyes widened in surprise but she felt herself flush, quietly pleased by these expressions of affection. They meant a lot.

Thank you, she said quietly. Not just for saying that but for letting me get that off my chest. And for listening.

The horizon was still hazy—literally as well as metaphorically—but Meerkat felt a little brighter for this conversation. She also felt a little silly, like she’d perhaps said too much, but as she glanced at Chacal and felt the warmth of the other woman’s kiss lingering on her cheek, the blush of heat under her skin was as much delight as embarrassment.