Page 109 of Mikoto and the Reaver Village
Lilya fell in step beside Sinder and asked, “How are youfeeling today?”
“Much better. Don’t worry on my account.” He stared straightahead. “In fact, don’t spare me a second thought.”
She wasn’t sure what to make of that. “It doesn’t work onme, you know.”
Sinder’s eyebrows shot up. At least he was looking at hernow.
“Kyrie and I shared a cradle. I’m completely immune. I canalso tell when someone’s trying.” She raised her own eyebrows. “Whydon’t you want me to spare you a second thought?”
He slowed to a stop and glanced guiltily after Timur. “Tellme something about yourself.”
“Like what?”
“If I tell you not to do something, would you turn aroundand do it just to spite me?”
Lilya smiled. He was so serious, so she answered with asmuch formality as she could muster. “No. I was raised to respect the wishes of familyand friends alike.”
Sinder raised a warning finger and leaned close to mutter,“It would be enormously inconvenient if you developed a crush on me.”
He meant it. With a shrug, she said, “Likewise.”
Relaxing his posture, he averted his gaze. “Right. Good. Aslong as that’s understood.”
Lilya moved to the step above Sinder’s and faced himsquarely. “I need ahumanhusband. Because I’m going to help buildPapka’s dynasty.”
“I suppose thatisthe reaver way.”
“No,” she argued. “Well, yes. I suppose it is, but I’ll domy own choosing.”
Sinder hummed skeptically. “Will they let you?”
“They’ll have to.” Lilya raised her own warning finger.“I’ve seen Glint’s list, and his ideas areterrible.”
Interest lit his features. “Can I get a look at this list?”
“What for?”
“I’m an unabashed snoop.”
She didn’t fancy Mum finding out about the list. “The fewerwho find out, the better. It’s a dead awful list.”
“One name,” he wheedled. But in the ordinary way, not withdragon wiles in force.
Lilya spread her hands in a show of disbelief and whispered,“Hisoka-sensei.”
Sinder shared her shock. “Never happening.”
“I know! Right?”
“You’re correct to question the pedigree committee’s graspon reality.”
Lilya started climbing again. “It’s safe to be friends withme, Damsel.”
He sprang to her side and walked with her. “Sorry for thesway. It creeps in sometimes.”
“Are you sloppy?” And because that might be insulting, she hastilyadded, “I am.”
“I’ve often been accused of saying more than I should. Butsince I canusuallytell people to forget what they’ve heard, it hardlymatters.” He sighed. “Maybe I’ll outgrow it? I’m young. Well, youngish. Mypartner is fond of pointing it out whenever I blunder.”
