Page 152 of Mikoto and the Reaver Village
“You flew to me?” Kyrie whispered against Hisoka’s shoulder.
“Like a shooting star.”
“Thank you.”
“You are most welcome.”
Hisoka moved into the nest with Zisa, who did his share ofpatting and petting while Kyrie gave in to another wave of tears. He couldn’tremember ever being so mixed up before. Maybe he was a little like Eloquence—stillreeling from the events of the day.
Once he’d calmed, Hisoka-sensei said, “Your parents haveearned my admiration over and again. They have always been willing to carrythrough with their responsibility to you, but I will ask you to allow me toease their burden. I can spare them this conversation. Ask me anything, Kyrie.Ask me everything.”
“Do you know who my Amaranthine parent is?”
“Mostly by reputation. Your biological father is a dragoncommonly referred to as ‘the rogue.’ We are trying to put a stop to his crimes.However, we have been unable to discover his name. He was not hatched in theharems, so his origin is as much a mystery as his current location.”
Zisa tittered.
Hisoka glanced at the tree and averted his eyes.
Kyrie asked, “What?”
“He said something silly,” said Zisa. “There is no mystery.Not for a friend of stars. Not for someone raised in an eldermost grove.”
“We cannot find a record of the rogue in any of the dragon clanlineages. They have been thoroughly vindicated.” Hisoka-sensei rubbed a handover the top of his head and sighed. “But all that means is that the rogue wasnot born in the usual way. He may have impish ancestry.”
“Or …?” prompted Zisa, all smiles despite the gravity of thesituation.
“Or,” Hisoka dutifully echoed. “His parent may haveconsumed a golden seed.”
FIFTY-FOUR
Some Excitement Next Door
Ginkgo neededsomethingto do, and his optionswere few. On any other day, he’d escape into the garden or drag a bunch of theboys down to the beach. Being cooped up inside was giving him a bad case of thefidgets. He had no idea how Waaseyaa was content to stay in one place for somany centuries.
With little else to busy his hands, Ginkgo announced, “I’lljust … put on the kettle.”
Kitchen puttering was better than nothing. The room wasspotless, so he couldn’t really pitch in. Instead, he rummaged through teacannisters and found some snacks.
He was sneaking tidbits to Noble when Reveille walked in.
“Tea?” he offered. “Or if you’re hungry …?”
Reveille put up a hand. “You need to come with me.”
Ginkgo tensed. Again. “Something happen?”
“You could say that. Transcendence is asking for you.” Witha cocked brow that was so like Harmonious, he added, “My aunt? Snow.”
Now that he knew the lady wasn’t Kith, Ginkgo was feeling alittle awkward. “Why me?”
“Who can know the mind of a female?” Reveille gestured tothe door with both hands. “But orders are orders. She wants you at her side.Now.”
“Her time?” asked Mikoto from his seat across from Lapis.
“Finally,” confirmed Reveille.
Ginkgo could feel the color draining from his face. “I don’tknow the first or last thing about whelping pups!”
