Getting along with the huntress' mates was the key. The better Kieran got along with them, the sooner he could become one of the huntress' mates himself. Marcus leaned over toward Kieran with a grin. "Me too." From atop Silas' head, the tiny Remy wriggled out from its leafy hiding spot. "I want it too! I want it too! I want two of them!" Silas blinked. "And what exactly do you need them for? In your current state, you can't use anything." "I can't use them," the little one chirped sweetly, "but I can give them to Daddy!" Silas chuckled. "If they're for me, one's enough. Why two?" Is the little thing… asking for an extra just for him? Remy replied without hesitation, "Because the other one is for Daddy Drake!" He thought that him leaving Daddy Drake had made him sad; maybe a pearl could make him happy again. He didn't ask for any for Mommy because he already knew that the merman was one of her followers, and she certainly didn't lack pearls. The smile in Silas' eyes froze. What a filial little cub. Kieran, seeing everyone bow their heads and focus hard on eating, realized no one planned to speak. So he forced a stiff nod. "Yes, yes! There's plenty! As many as you want." Pink pearls were the one thing he never ran out of. After breakfast, attendants from the Thalassian Palace came to clear the dishes. Silas and Lucien had duties to attend to, so they returned to the palace Drake had arranged for them. Since they were leaving tomorrow, Kieran needed to return to the Merfolk to retrieve a few things, while Edric went to arrange transport along the starrail. Earlier, while cooking, Corvin had taken the beast cores and crystals from the Drakonid males, promising to teach them how to prepare sea beasts. The males were already waiting nearby, eager for his lesson. When Emma saw Corvin about to leave, she immediately caught his arm. "What's wrong, Emma?" Corvin blinked at her in confusion. "Do you not want me to go? Then I won't." I'll drop everything, the beast cores, the crystals. Nothing matters more than Emma. "I'm not stopping you," Emma said with a smile. Then she leaned in and kissed his cheek. "I just haven't kissed you in a while and suddenly wanted to." The joy hit him like lightning. Corvin froze for a second before a grin spread over his face. His fingers brushed the spot she'd kissed as his eyes lit up like fireworks. "Emma, kiss me again. No—twice. No… three times, please?"I just want her to keep kissing me. Emma sighed with a laugh, kissed his cheek once more, and murmured near his ear, "Finish your lesson quickly and take me out this afternoon." "Yes, ma'am!" Corvin nodded so fast his hair ruffled. "I'll be quick!" Marcus, leaning lazily against a pillar, watched Corvin walk off grinning like a fool. He straightened immediately and strode up to Emma. "Ms. Tibarn, me too." Emma reached out, pinched his handsome face, and said lightly, "If you get it now, you won't get it tonight." Marcus' eyes widened, wounded. "Ms. Tibarn, you're playing favorites." She'd kissed Corvin, but not me. Emma only poked him a few times in the chest, her tone teasing but scolding."You've got some nerve calling me biased. On the starrail here, you and Edric ganged up on Corvin. You think I didn't know? I was just too busy carving to deal with you then." Corvin, that simple kitten, had his head full of mechs. It's no wonder he hadn't noticed their tricks. Emma made a mental note to protect him more in the future. That little cat is no match for those two. Marcus pressed his tongue to the spot she'd pinched, then straightened, trying to save face. "It wasn't my idea. Edric made the first move." He'd only taken advantage of the chaos to score a bit of benefit for himself. Emma gave him a look. "I'll settle things with Edric too." Neither of them is escaping. Marcus caught her hand, his voice soft, almost pleading. "Then… will you still come to my room tonight?" No kisses now. Does that mean no kisses later, either? Surely I won't be denied then too, right?Emma, who never broke a promise, decided to tease him a little longer. She put on a mock-serious expression. "That depends on your behavior today." Behavior? How am I supposed to behave? Marcus frowned, completely lost. … Meanwhile, over in Drake's quarters, Thero was a whirlwind of anxious energy. He carefully packed treasures from the Drakonid vault into Drake's storage band, fussing like an overbearing father sending his son off on a long journey, offering endless reminders and advice. "Mr. Smith, you've got another chance to stay close to Ms. Tibarn this time. You must seize it and win her heart again!" He slipped in a luminous Eternal Pearl, its glow casting soft ripples of light. "Aquadome's pearls are a huntress' favorite. I picked the best Eternal Pearl. Give it to Ms. Tibarn. She's sure to love it."