Page 116 of Tamiko and the Two Janitors
Joe lifted Biddie down and murmured, “We wouldn’t have. It’swarded.”
“How do you know?”
Her brother shrugged. “It’s Kip. Did you know he helpedJiminy with the wards for the oak glen?”
She wheeled on him, but words failed.
Touching her arm, Joe revealed, “I could tell he wasn’thuman, so he showed himself to me.”
Tami didn’t like that her twin had been keeping secrets fromher. Then again, this hadn’t been Joe’s secret.
“Please, don’t tell on me. I don’t want anyone to find outI’m a reaver.” Joe bent close, his forehead touching hers. “I won’t risk themsending me away.”
The very idea unnerved Tami. In opening the way for theAmaranthine, had she endangered her brother’s happiness? Why had no onementioned that Joe was a reaver? “Nobody knows?”
“Just us.” He glanced toward Biddie, who was halfway up theladder to the haymow. “Three twins and two janitors.”
“Won’t the rest easily find out?” Tami’s mind raced throughtheir day. Joe had been in the same room as a wolf, a fox … and Cyril, for thatmatter. “Why haven’t they found out?”
“Kip.”
“Kip,” she echoed faintly.
Joe stepped back and smiled. Tami marveled at thestrength—and simplicity—of his conviction. Without another word, he precededher up the ladder.
She emerged into a wonderland of fairy lights. Or so itseemed. Kip slouched among the bales of straw, booted feet crossed at theankles. His hands were busy, effortlessly weaving another of the sigils she’d admiredearlier, but these were different, decorative. As he finished the luminousform, he reached for something at his side.
On a square of cloth lay a handful of stones, no bigger thanpeas. Selecting one, Kip set it on one fingertip, held it in the center of hissigil, and murmured something, as if telling it a secret. The crystal lit fromwithin, and with a flick of his claws, he sent the whole construction spinningtoward all the other stones twirling amidst the rafters.
Claws.
Tami cataloged his Amaranthine features, relieved to findthat fangs did nothing to diminish the friendliness of his smile. Slit pupilsand pointed ears were minor details. Kip was still Kip. But Joe seemeddispleased.
He asked, “Aren’t you going to show her?”
Kip tucked his chin to his chest. “Tonight’s about Ash. He’sthe one she wants to see.”
“Don’t be silly. You’re just as important as he is.”
Tami was a little surprised at her brother. Joe wasn’t oneto push, yet he was sitting in the straw, attacking Kip’s bootlaces.
Ash spoke up. “Like Joe said, it’s just us.”
“Aww, geez. Give me half a sec,” grumbled Kip. “It’s notexactly easy to reach the catch.”
“Where?” asked Joe.
To Tami’s increasing amazement, Kip shimmied partway out ofhis pants, revealing plaid boxers. He twisted his body around, reaching, andJoe seemed to be pushing at something. Averting her eyes, she met Ash’s amusedgaze.
He sat on the edge of their straw nest, Biddie perched onhis knee. “Don’t be embarrassed. He can’t actuallybeimmodest, evenwithout clothes on.”
Joe asked, “Really?”
“Guys,” Kip sighed. “That is so totallynotthe big reveal I had in mind. Tami’s into feathers, not fur.”
She asked, “You have fur?”
“Fraid so,” muttered Kip. “I warded myself for our dinner.Kind of a hassle. Easier to hide everything under my work clothes.”
