CHAPTER 134: THE MAW FEAST (3)

Nova didn’t know how she managed to win Yara over all those months ago. She was pretty certain the crocodile shifter saw her as a tiny pet or something. Did she really care now?

Not entirely. It meant she favoured her, and hopefully it would allow them entry into what was obviously ’Apatka Only’ festivities.

Yara patted her back, which was meant to be in a friendly gesture, but Nova’s bones rattled, and she swore the earth rumbled a little. Seriously, the chief was one small woman but packed with nothing other than pure muscle. She pulled back, hands on Nova’s shoulders as she stared up at her slightly with a wide sharp grin.

"You have gained muscle. But still too tiny to me." Yara shot a glare at Yoa, who only held her stare, remaining silent, waiting for her to make a decision on their place here.

Yoa hoped it wouldn’t come down to a fight. It would certainly make their day more adventurous, and Atia and Aiyana would only laugh it all off, but he would prefer a peaceful parting instead.

Yara’s gaze moved past Yoa and her grin sharpened even more. "And you brought Aiyana with you."

Aiyana sauntered forward, casting a glance at a few of the warriors nearby. All twice her size. They sharply inhaled at her attention on them and looked away, looking at anything other than Aiyana, trying to avoid her attention like the plague.

Really? What did Aiyana do some of them? Others, eyed her appreciatively, both because of her looks and she was lethal warrior of the Oncari tribe, the Chief’s daughter.

"Yara," Aiyana greeted, palm going to her chest in greeting. "We heard your drums and war cries and were curious."

"You should know better than to sneak in when we are all so full of blood lust," Yara smiled wickedly at her.

Aiyana mirrored that smile. "That’s exactly why we are here."

Yara chuckled then glanced back at Nova. "You honour me by coming to our festivities. Princess of the Oncari and Yohuali’s own Electa. There is no enemy here tonight. Tonight we feast. Tonight we fight."

The crowd roared approval, the drums quickening, and just like that, they were welcomed.

Atia muttered about how he wasn’t even mentioned and quietly accepted Aiyana’s elbow into his ribs as they stepped forward.

Nova exhaled, her pulse wild in her throat. She leaned into Yoa, whispering, "That was easy."

"Nothing is easy with the Apatka," he whispered back, but he allowed her to pull him forward.

They were swept into the feast, seated on woven mats near the great fire. Clay cups of bitter drink were pressed into their hands, meat still sizzling from the bone offered freely. The chief clapped her hands, and the dancers swirled closer, their movements hypnotic, the drums pounding through Nova’s ribs until she thought her own heart matched the rhythm.

Nova was swept away by it all while Yoa sat there solidly, ignoring the dancers trying to gain his attention. She sensed in the bond that he didn’t trust this welcome. As Yiska he was always alert, and Nova couldn’t blame him. She didn’t know the ins and outs of the tribe rivalry. Though the Oncari and Apatka were mostly at peace with each other, egos sometimes fought, or they chased the same prey.

Yara and Tamuari always found solutions to any injured or killed members of their tribes. Nova leaned back, stroking her belly, feeling like a balloon from how much food she’d eaten. They kept pilling it high on her plate.

Yoa and Atia kept eating, probably eager not to hunt for a while, though it was more than likely due to bigger physiques that they kept up with the Apatka. Yet even they stopped eating their fill before the crocodile shifters. Nova wondered just how much they needed to hunt, or if they hadn’t eaten in a month to gobble down so much.

"You’re eating like such a pig," Aiyana scolded Atia who had swiped some berries from Aiyana. She’d long finished but narrowed her eyes at him anyway.

Atia grinned but it faltered when his attention was drawn to the other side of Aiyana.

Leaning against a post, a smirk on his lips as if he owned the place, Sahco’s eyes locked on Aiyana. Feeling the weight of his heated gaze, Aiyana’s head slowly swivelled to the side and paused upon seeing him.

Atia noticed instantly, his hand clenching around his cup so hard the clay cracked.

"Why is he here?" Atia muttered, venom low in his throat.

"Because where there’s fighting and drinking, Sahco always slithers in," Yoa said flatly. His arm tightened around Nova, protective without thinking.

Sahco pushed off the post, moving like a predator toward them. His teeth gleamed in the torchlight, his grin wide and unbothered. "Well, well. The cubs come to play in crocodile waters. Brave, or foolish?" His gaze lingered on Aiyana, softening just enough to make Atia bristle.

"Leave us," Atia snapped.

But Sahco only laughed, his eyes locking with his, gleaming in challenge. "Tonight is for celebration. Shall we not drink together?"

Aiyana shifted uncomfortably, and Nova caught it—the faint flush on her cheeks, the quick dart of her eyes. Atia saw it too, and his jaw clenched so hard she thought it might crack.

"Drinking fogs the mind," Aiyana answered breezily, her head tipped back to stare at the Apatka who could clearly sense the tension from the men beside them.

Yoa’s expression was stoic like usual but the only tell that he disliked the guy was from the way his grip had tightened on Nova. After hearing the story about the trials and Sahco’s role in it, Nova couldn’t blame her mate.

Did Aiyana really like this guy? Nova wrinkled her nose as she looked between them. Sahco was flirting with her, saying she should let loose with him, try something to drink, while Atia was like a storm brewing beside her, his aura darkening as, he too, looked between them.

Atia and Sahco were both attractive, Nova could see that. The huge difference was their personalities. Atia would never kill off others for his own gain. It also proved how cruel Sahco could be. He was only a child when he committed such horrendous acts.

But as Nova’s gaze wandered beyond him, grounded by Yoa’s arms, she could see why the Apatka might have taken such steps. Here only the powerful succeed.

The drums picked up speed again breaking the growing tension in their little group from Sahco’s arrival as the festivities were about to become more entertaining.

A ring of rocks had been placed in the river, the firelight casting shadows behind it, torches stabbed into the ground so all could see what was about to begin.

Two Apatka warriors stepped forward, their bodies paint, their fists raised to the roar of the crowds.