Page 134 of Kingdoms of Night

She faltered, and he caught her.

“Don’t fall,” he said softly.

She managed a weak laugh as she tried to steady herself. “I’ll try not to.”

“You sure you’re feeling all right?”

“Little lightheaded.” And sore. “Nothing serious.” Hopefully. Rest and relaxation would restore her energy, especially if she could free up the tension that ratcheted through her spine and shoulders.

She wasn’t sure how to feel about his attentiveness at the moment. It felt...good. He noticed,andhe cared.

“Do we need to be worried about the mold you made? Maybe it hurt you, too.”

“No. We got out in time. I promise I will recover. This wasn’t that dangerous anyway.”

“What’s more dangerous?”

“Sometimes when you start putting your life into something you’re growing, it won’t let go until you’re finished. Especially if it’s hungry. But molds are easier to cut off compared to some.” Another laugh broke free, lighter this time.

He paused. “You’re laughing? That sounds terrifying. Don’t do that thing.”

“Trust me. Risking my life to make mold is far from the scariest thing my work entails. And I have no intention of sacrificing myself for a bunch of blue spores. I don’t suppose it’s the fact that it’s blue that has you so worried. Would sacrificing myself to make red mold be better?”

“How would that be better?” he demanded.

“Eh. Red is prettier than blue?”

“Idalno,” he chided.

“Fine. Only for pink mold.”

This time he laughed, a deep rich belly laugh. Oh, flood plains, she loved that sound. Her stomach tightened, and she squirmed inwardly.

“You say the strangest things sometimes,” he said.

“Does it bother you?”

“No.” It sounded like he was smiling. She could easily imagine it, and heat coiled within her.

“So, I think I know the answer to this based on what you said earlier, but just to make sure, you aren’t married or betrothed or anything like that?”

Did he want to know if she was available? Or was he just making conversation?

“No.” She stiffened hopefully. “What about you?”

“No. No one.”

“Hmmm.” Her pulse quickened.

“Hang on. There are some rocks in the way. Just stand there.” He released her, and the cold at once enveloped her.

She could still hear his footsteps and the shifting rocks as he moved them away. She rubbed her wounded arm, grateful that the stiffness was leaving and for the bandage that staunched the flow. Already she was healing a little faster than before.

She then traced out the pattern of the jaguar from memory. It reminded her of everything she had done to become the Master of Venom and Poison. How she had debated walking away from it if she’d had something else. How she had almost gotten the tiger. The tiger was one of her favorites.

But the jaguar was the symbol of the cunning required to master all the venoms and poisons. While there were others that symbolized it, the jaguar was especially precious to her aunt. Especially the venom-throated jaguar with its distinctive diamond rosettes and squared jaw.

She had wanted to be the jaguar, but she wasn’t the jaguar, and she never would be.

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