120 The Way to a Man's Heart

ELIA

Elia sat at the end table, Gahrye on one side with Aymora beyond him, Candace on Elia's other side. There had been some stares when Gahrye first joined them, but now everyone seemed to have relaxed. It gave Elia hope that over time they would stop being worried about it.

Now if only Reth would show up…

Elia turned back to the others who were all frowning at their plates, trying desperately to help her find a way to connect with the people that was true to herself, but also appealed to them.

She sighed again and picked at her meal. "I need to find a way to do both," she insisted again. "I need to be myself, to show myself, but also make the people feel welcome with me and… we need to bond!"

Candace's eyes widened. "I suspect your use of the word bond there is different than ours," she said.

Aymora nodded. "I think she means to make friends."

"Yes, I do," Elia groaned. "Why, what does it mean here?"