CHAPTER 124: MEET THE PARENTS (3)

Aiyana set her shoulders back more and lifted her chin. "Fine. Nova kick ass," she said, her words followed by a wink, encouraging her with the strangest words for her first meeting with her in-laws.

She should have spent more time mulling over it, but she was distracted by how Aiyana accepted another person commanding her without so much as a smack on the head or one of her scary, deadly glares that made others back away instantly. Obviously, neither of those were an option as the Chief was her dad. Though, it could have still been questionable.

"This... is Yohuali’s Serakai?!"

Nova’s shoulders tensed at the accusatory tone, like she was unworthy to be Yoa’s other half. But she didn’t let it deter her as she spun around to face... a woman that looked nothing like Yoa. She eyed her while the feline glared back, her upper lip trembling in a snarl.

Aiyana passed the woman, and glared. This couldn’t be Yoa’s mother. Aiyana wouldn’t act that way towards her... actually scratch that, she might, the girl was a mystery at times with bad-ass vibes going on. "That’s enough Mahri," Chief Tamuari clipped quietly.

Mahri, a woman who definitely wasn’t Yoa’s mum, lowered her head in respect but not before she glared in Nova’s direction, her bottom lip wobbling. She was too old to be a love interest so what was her problem?

"That’s Kanti’s mother," Atia murmured into her ear. Nova jumped, forgetting momentarily that the big oaf was there.

Kanti...

Kanti...

Nova was racking her brains, searching for the name that sounded familiar. Wasn’t she the girl who died?

"Mahri supported her daughter’s pursuit of Yoa," Atia added quietly. The discomfort that heated in her chest deflated immediately. Kanti was indeed the girl who had lost her life, and her mother was clearly grieving. Any loathing directed at her bounced off after that.

Mahri glared at Nova before stalking off, brushing aside leaves aggressively and disappearing into the forest.

"Come," Atia guided Nova with a hand on her back deeper into the village but further into the jungle itself until they stopped in front of a large cave, half concealed by leaves and a tree that had grown out from the side of it. The branches expanded out, creating plenty of perches for big cats, and mini paths.

Nova could already tell this was chosen mostly for some form of a lookout spot. The little she did know about Yoa’s parents was that they were both highly revered warriors and Raokan was strict.

"Well I’m off!" Atia saluted her and tried to run off but Nova grabbed his long plaited hair before he could. "Ow, ow, ow!"

She pulled him carefully back, narrowing her eyes at him as he stepped back until his hair hung loose between them. She didn’t let go.

"Owie!" He huffed and took his plait back, acting like a man who couldn’t take her out in one go if he wanted to and instead just complained. "You’ve been hanging out with Yana too much! You’re becoming viscious-"

"Who is yapping outside my land," a guttural voice resonated from behind Nova making the fine hairs on her arms stand on end.

Atia made a face and waved his hand a little too eagerly like a happy puppy with a wagging tail. Nova was pretty certain he was doing it on purpose to annoy the newcomer. She knew Atia pretty well by now and his mischievous expression had replaced his slightly nervous one.

Although it was pretty obvious Atia was out trying to cause mishchief and possibly ease any tension from her first meeting with Yoa’s parents, she sensed all of the attentention shifting to her. She felt the newcomer’s eyes land on her almost like

But Nova sensed the newcomer’s attention shifting to her. Slowly she turned around and smiled softly, though her head ended up tipping back because all of the men here seemed to be freakishly tall and wide, or maybe it was Yoa’s genetics. It was obvious who this man was.

Yoa was almost the spitting image of him, minus the age difference and hair. Yoa’s eyes reminded her of sunsets and molten gold. Raokan’s much darker, but piercing, framed with thick lashes and thick eyebrows that seemed to be in a permanent scowl.

"It’s a pleasure to meet you, I’m Nova, Yohuali’s-"

"Zanari," Raokan called over his shoulder, his eyes remained locked on Nova, assessing her slowly, his eyes travelling over her with a guarded expression. It was difficult to figure out what he was thinking. He was like a brick wall, and now she knew exactly where Yoa got his stoic expression from.

Under that stare, sweat built at her armpits and she had to refrain from shifting from one foot to the other. As expected, Raokan was freakin’ intimidating, and just like with Yoa, she felt like an utter midget, especially with Atia behind her.

Under that intense stare, sweat beaded under her armpits, and it took everything not to fidget. As expected, Raokan was freakin’ intimidating, and just like with Yoa, she felt about two feet tall, especially with Atia looming like a tree behind her.

Like with most of the men here on the island, Raokan was bare chested, his jaguar splodges running along his chest where scars of past battles left their marks. It only added more to his imposing presence. Somehow his stared intensified as he scowled at Nova without saying another word. It was almost like he was silently testing her.

If she made any move, did that mean she lost? Or should she make the first move... No, no, she was over thinking this now. She gnawed the inside of her cheek to refrain from shifting from one foot to the other. It was okay, she’d already tried to make an introduction before he called out to Zanari.

Soft footsteps stopped at her side before Nova could act. She nearly jumped out of her skin—the woman had moved like a ghost, her presence given away only by the wisp of wind that stirred Nova’s hair. Then Nova’s gaze lifted, and when it landed on Zanari, her breath deserted her.