"What are you doing?"
Lucian's voice reached my ears, and in the next moment I felt his head rest lightly against my shoulder.
I turned and smiled at him. "Oh—Ena is showing us how mermaid magic is used in gardening."
"She's a mermaid too?" Thalor frowned, clearly piecing together what he'd overheard earlier.
I nodded enthusiastically. "Mm-hmm. She's special," I said proudly. "A phoenix and mermaid's born. Cute, right?"
Before anyone could react, I rushed over and wrapped my arms around Ena's shoulders.
Ena laughed softly, startled but indulgent. "My lady," she said fondly, "you're exaggerating."
"I'm not," I replied at once. "You literally make flowers grow better just by touching the soil."
Thalor watched the scene in silence, his gaze lingering on Ena longer than necessary. Not suspicion, more to curiosity. The kind that came from realizing the world was wider than he had believed.
Lucian hummed quietly beside me. "I collect rare beings without even trying."
