Page 106 of Tamiko and the Two Janitors
A wolf she’d never met had gone all the way to California inorder to tell her mothers about Doon-wen’s plan to bring her into the pack?
Tell True we’ll meet soon
When?
Dichotomy Day at the latest
We’re proud, no matter what you choose
Melissa hadn’t realized Jiminy was watching her so closelyuntil he brought over one of the warmed blankets and draped it around hershoulders.
“Something wrong?” he asked.
“Do you know someone called Lookha-soh?”
Jiminy blinked. “Yes. I can introduce you, if you like.”
“I think Doon-wen sent him to talk to my mothers. To gettheir permission or something.” She tucked her phone away and shoved straw intoa better backrest.
“Melissa, there’s another possibility.” Jiminy sat besideher and toyed with a piece of straw. “And I swear to you, I knew nothing aboutit.”
She shrugged. “Why would you?”
He stared fixedly at the straw twirling between his fingers.“It’s very likely that Lookha-soh carried a message from Doon-wen. Wolvesprefer firsthand communication. But I strongly suspect that Lookha volunteeredfor the journey in order to meet your family.”
Melissa was too tired for guessing games. “Why?”
“Lookha-soh Nightspangle is my foster father.” Jiminyglanced up at her through the fringe of his bangs. “He’s very protective.”
He had foster parents. They lived here, in the enclave.She’d known that in a detached sort of way, but she’d been so busy enforcingboundaries, she hadn’t looked beyond them.
Another detail sent her stomach plunging. “Do they knowabout the dagger thing?”
Jiminy chuckled. “If Denny knows something,everyoneknows it.”
“Should I be worried about retaliation?”
“For a straightforward rebuff? Hardly. She-wolves aren’trenowned for their gentleness.” He shrugged. “I wouldn’t worry. My mother likesyou.”
Melissa drew a blank. “I’ve met your parents?”
“Sure. My father brings the milk deliveries, and my motherteaches at Bellwether. They went along when we brought the Kith to Red GateFarm.”
“Your mom is Roonta-kiv?”
“When I arrived as a newborn, Roonta had recently givenbirth to a daughter. I was suckled alongside my new sister. Lookha fostered me,and their son Hanoo had the minding of me. I am theirs in much the same waythat you belong to Doon-wen, True, and Rook.”
“I should have realized,” she murmured.
“Don’t feel bad.” He shifted closer. “Say, Melissa. Can Itry something?”
She employed an elbow. “You’realwaystryingsomething.”
Jiminy charged ahead. “It was during the births that I firstnoticed something … different. A little like a song. A little like a soul. I’dlike to rule out the obvious—your crystals, you.”
“Me?”
“Well, it’s possible.” Jiminy took an overtly submissiveposture. “I want to talk to First-sensei about it. He’d find it interesting,too.”
