Page 142 of Mikoto and the Reaver Village
“That is a secret.”The star was easier to look atnow. Maybe the sigil had helped with that. He said,“I will give you anothersecret in its place. Did you know that reavers are descended from us?”
Kyrie needed a moment to grapple with that. “Descended fromstars?”
“From stars and mountains and moonbeams. Occasionallyeven winds. But mostly from trees.”
Mother would be interested. Lapis, too, if he didn’t alreadyknow. “Reavers have imps in their ancestry? Are you the parent of a reaver?”
“Not I.”His smile was wistful.“I have no desireto leave the sky.”
Kyrie nodded and nodded again. He would fly forever, givenhalf a chance. Surely it was his dragon side that yearned for the sky. “Why areyou here?”
“To shine. To sing. To greet. To guide.”His gazesharpened.“To confront.”
“Me?”
He inclined his head.“What have you realized?”
Even though the question was vague, Kyrie instantly knewwhat he meant, and shame burned across his face. “I realized … thattoolis just another word forweapon. And that I have many and more than mostrealize.”
“And what might you do with such weapons?”
“I could find Sinder.” It felt like a boast. “I did findhim.”
“What else?”
“I could reach him.”
“And …?”
“I could catch and hold him.” That would mean winning thisgame of theirs.
The star waited, knowing there was more.
“I could … I could hurt him.” Kyrie’s voice broke on hisfinal confession. “And I think if I wanted, I could kill him.”
FIFTY-ONE
Show Me
Argent had warned Timur more than once that he was tooquick to trust. As if optimism were a dreadful trait. Timurlikedpeople, and he definitely looked for the best in them. True, it had brought himto grief more often than he liked to admit. But he couldn’t help believing thatthings would work out. That his hopes would find a safe harbor. That he’d reachthe kind of balance the herds held in high esteem.
Sinder had the potential to be that kind of friend. Timur couldn’tdeny his growing attachment. The dragon needed him, but that reliance might be nothingmore than desperation. Even so, Timur would support him.
Once again, he probably cared more than he should.
Why was it so hard to find someone who cared back?
Fend’s tail smacked Timur’s thigh, and he spared his Kithpartner a glance. The cat’s annoyance confused Timur. Sure, Fend wasn’t as muchof a people person as Timur, but he’d never acted out against anyone before.
He offered his fingertips.
With a sinuous slide, Fend draped himself over Timur’s lap, demandinga larger share of his attention.
Burying both hands into plush fur, he quietly protested,“It’s my job to watch out for him.”
Mikoto quietly asked, “What does he have against Sinder?”
“Haven’t the foggiest.” Timur glanced toward Sinder’s latestvantage, low in the branches of a hulking oak.
