Page 173 of Mikoto and the Reaver Village
“Do I have to declare that now?” asked Tenma.
“No.”
“Then I would prefer to wait. I’ll want L-lilya’s opinion onthe matter.” He was such a schoolboy. Dropping the honorific didn’t have to bea big deal. The others probably didn’t even notice.
Ah, but there. Kyrie both noticed and knew. His small nod acceptedthe intimacy.
Lapis pressed a pen into his hand. Harmonious indicated the placefor his signature.
With the faint scratch of a nib across parchment, Tenma chosehis own happiness, sure that it would be shared. “Right,” he murmured tohimself. “We’re set then.”
SIXTY
My Half
Timur dragged into Zisa’s cottage and stood mute in thehush, caressing Gregor’s silken curls. He was tired of smiling, tired offeasting. Worn out by toasts and dancing and laughter.
Everyone had presented themselves well.
Mikoto’s nobility throughout back-to-back ceremonies—inductionand wedding.
Hisoka’s Dichotomy Day address, with Isla standing justbehind, looking so sophisticated.
Harmonious Starmark’s booming re-announcement of the birthof his first crosser grandchild.
Timur had soldiered through, stiff upper lip intact, but he’dfound his limit. “Here, now.” His voice crackled. “Is Papka’s little battlerready for a bath?”
Propping Gregor against Fend’s flank, he went to fill thetub.
For the first time in days, he ignored the collection ofherbs and scents he’d have used to appeal to Sinder. The dragon would be backto work, same as everyone else, once the Dichotomy Day celebrations came to aclose at the end of the week. They wouldn’t go to waste, but they weren’tneeded now.
Plain water.
Plain soap.
Plain facts.
It was a terrible thing, taking after both parents. LikePapka, Timur easily formed attachments. But like Mum, he guarded themjealously. So he took it too personally when people moved on.
When a glowering phoenix in a fine suit had descended onWardenclave like a thundercloud, Sinder hadn’t even looked back in his hurry toreach him. Knowing he and Juuyu were partners made Sinder’s vanishing actunderstandable. Still hurt, though.
Timur should probably be grateful for the reality check. Hewasn’t going to find what was missing in a summer friend. Everyone here hadlives to go back to. Even him. And he shouldn’t be whinging about what helacked. Not when he’d struggled through so much in order to gain a son.
Shedding feast day finery, they dawdled through bathtime. Whimsicalsigilcraft, cradle songs, and enough exuberant splashing to earn a few hissesfrom Fend.
Gradually, Timur calmed enough to smile for Gregor. “What isgood is hard. But is still good, yes?”
Timur was suddenly awake and seriously confused. The roomwas dark, and someone was sifting fingers through his hair. He could feel thegentle scrape of claws. “Ginkgo?”
“No.”
Whoever it was licked a long stripe up his cheek.
He didn’t know who it was. Didn’t smell like Zisa. Didn’tsmell like a stranger. Who even had access to Waaseyaa’s and Zisa’s haven?
“You aren’t usually this indecisive when attacked.”
“Not sure this is an attack.”
