Amaranths. Volume 2. Gifted

The second book of the cycle continues the story of the amaranths — half-human, half-beast beings — who have openly announced their existence to humanity. Humans and amaranths are trying to establish contact, but not everyone wants to live in peace with those they have been accustomed to fearing and hating for centuries. Eloquent Starmark is the tenth child of the head of the dog clan. Such children are extraordinarily gifted but deprived of the freedom of choice. Eloquent is already ready to accept that serving the clan will condemn him to eternal loneliness, but an innocent prank by his younger brother gives him a chance to change his future.

Kimiko Miyabe is the middle sister in a family of hereditary watchers. She is used to staying in the shadows, as is fitting for those who have been watching the amaranths for centuries. Completely unexpectedly for herself, Kimiko finds herself in the role of a courtly knight, who has proposed to a beautiful lady, or rather, a beautiful young man from the dog clan. And this event complicates the plans of both the watchers and the amaranths...