Page 128 of Mikoto and the Reaver Village
“Something important come up?” Ginkgo asked, inviting her tosay more.
“Yes.”
He waggled his ears at her and said, “Best take care of it,then.”
Lilya wondered how much Ginkgo already knew. For once, shehoped it was everything, because that meant he had no complaints. Stuffing thelast of her breakfast into her mouth, she stepped into her boots and hurried away.
The morning was overcast, with more wind than usual. The ordinaryweather-making kind, not Kyrie’s secret-telling kind. Maybe it was going torain? With half an eye on the sky, she jogged up the long stairway to theStarmark’s back door and let herself in. Only to stare in astonishment at thesight before her.
Lyre, Lute, and Lore weren’t alone. From under the tumble ofpillows and puppies, white fur showed. A furred foot that was more like a paw.A clawed hand covered in fur. Shaggy white hair falling across a face that wasalmost familiar.
He had to be a crosser. Yes, there was his tail. She barelyever saw adult crossers besides Ginkgo. One or two on television. This one wascompletely relaxed, despite her intrusion. He had to know she was there. Was hetrying not to wake the pups?
“Hello?” she said softly.
His tail gave a twitch and a thump, and one eye opened. “Howpolite. If you prefer, we can pretend you didn’t see me.”
Lilya knelt and reached out to tug Lore’s ear. “Why?”
As the puppies roused and wriggled excitedly, the crosserrolled onto his side, propping his head on his fist. He had wolf’s ears, whichwere taller and narrower than Ginkgo’s fox ears, and his eyes were copper.She’d never heard of another Starmark crosser.
He said, “I make people nervous.”
“Not me.” Lilya hauled Lyre into her lap and giggled at theface-washing that earned her. “Crossers are almost my whole family. May I knowyour name?”
“Rude of me. Most people run before we get to a propergreeting.” He offered his hands, which had smooth, callused skin on the palmsbut thick fur on their backs, his wrists, and all the way up his arms,disappearing under the sleeves of a loose T-shirt with HUSH-HUSH printed acrossthe chest. “My name is Moon-kin Ambervelte. I’m here to visit my sisters, moreor less.”
“Ambervelte is a wolf pack.”
“And I’m a wolf. My pack has close ties to Wardenclave. I’mRadiance’s big brother.”
Suddenly, Lilya realized why he’d looked familiar. “You looklike Uncle Laud!”
“Understandable, since Laud is my nephew. One of Radiance’sboys. Which means you must be Ever’s friend. The beacon.” He hesitated, nosetwitching, ears cocking. “Only I can’t tell. Why can’t I tell?”
“Wards and things.” Lilya proudly pointed out, “Papka andUncle Argent are the best.”
He reached out, then pulled back his hand.
She made it easier on him by crawling closer. “Do you wantto sniffen me?”
Moon grinned sheepishly. “You don’t mind?”
“No. I’m used to it. Stately House has close ties to theElderbough pack, and wolves spend a lot of time sorting out scents.” She wasn’tlittle anymore, but wolves were big and strong. Plenty of lap space. “Kyrie andI usually end up sitting on Roo-nii’s lap. He’s Naroo-soh.”
Without a fuss, he gathered her close. “Friends call me Moon.Why are these pups referring to you as Angel?”
So she told him about Radiance’s prank.
And he told her other stories of mischief from Radiance’schildhood. “My father entrusted her to me even though I was little more than apup myself.”
Lilya caught on. “You’re like Quen for Ever.”
“And Laud for Quen.” Moon’s tail swayed contentedly. “I am bothRadiance’s brother and foster parent. And long, long ago, I was Glint’s firstfriend.”
She recalled her errand then. “I came to talk to Glint.”
“He’s meeting with someone. The first of many dignitarieswho’ll be arriving for the Dichotomy Day ceremonies. I was able to escort himpart of the way.” Moon asked, “Want me to summon him?”
