Page 107 of Mikoto and the Reaver Village
“And I get along well with his sister, who is his twin.”
Mikoto guessed that the hint was big enough. Her husband wassomeone like Uncle Waaseyaa, someone bound to a tree in some far-off grove.Lupe’s children would be strong, for their father’s life was inextricably boundto a rare tree.
When he finally found his voice, Mikoto dared to ask, “Is ita good match?”
“Tzefira thinks so.”
He stopped.
Stopped hearing, stopped thinking, stopped breathing. But abreeze caressed his cheek and tickled his nose and threatened to fill his lungslest he collapse from lack of air. And then he was hyperventilating, and Priskawas pounding his back, and Lupe was laughing and crying and babbling inSpanish.
“You finally noticed?” Priska asked. “By all that is sacred,it took you long enough.”
Lupe raised a slim hand. “Let’s not get ahead of ourselves.Mikoto, is there anything you’d like to ask me?”
He did. Ever since he was nine, he’d wanted to ask her to behis. It was embarrassing to realize that it had always been the wrong question.Or that he’d always been the wrong one to ask it. That someone far, far awayhad been longing for a bride like Lupe. And that someone closer than his nextbreath had been hoping he would notice her.
“Lupe,” he croaked. “I am sorry.”
She wagged a finger at him. “Askproperly, now. This isimportant.”
Mikoto agreed, but that only made him more tongue-tied. “W-wasthere another stowaway?”
“Yes.”
He cleared his throat and fought to steady his voice. “As ithappens, there are two dragons here. Well, one and a half. And they have beentelling me stories about the wind.”
Lupe sank back on the sofa. “She has the most amazing luck.”
Priska’s snort seemed to be agreement.
“Mikoto, please,” said Lupe. “Will you listen to my story?The short version, anyhow.”
“I will listen.” He offered his fingertips to Noble, who’d wriggledfree of Lupe in the excitement. “Help me understand.”
“I’ve always had a second voice in my head. When I was verylittle, my parents assumed I’d invented her. But once I was a little older andbetter at expressing myself, I was able to convince them that I had more thanmy imagination for company. I was assessed, and that sparked off a bunch ofexcitement.” Lupe smiled. “I am the first reach in the family since my paternalgreat-grandfather.”
Mikoto had known, had always been impressed. “A rareclassification.”
“No one knows for sure if my invisible friend was drawn tome because I would be able to hear her … or if she nurtured and amplified mynascent talent so we’d be able to communicate.” Lupe flicked that aside asinconsequential. “Either way, I was promoted to First of Reaches during my lastsummer here.”
He hadn’t knownthat. Then again, she wasn’t one tobrag.
“My family searched for answers, but all we really know isthat Tzefira came to me after a long journey. She was in a weakened state, andI was the refuge she needed. We’ve never been apart, and we might havecontinued as one. But thenyouhappened.”
“The day I fell into the river?”
Lupe laughed. “Long before that. It’s her fault that Ibecame friends with Hana. She liked your mother and your sisters, butyouwere always her favorite. The beautiful boy with the sweet soul and the sturdybuild and the steadfast heart.”
Mikoto knew he was blushing. Wouldn’t anyone? Priska watchedhim closely, arms folded, and when their eyes met, she smirked. But notunkindly.
“She wanted me to wait for you.”
His attention jumped back to Lupe.
“But that wouldn’t have been fair. To either of you.” Lupedidn’t shy away from the hopes she must have known he harbored. “And you wouldhave come between us.”
Mikoto wasn’t sure what she meant. “Is that not what I amabout to do?”
