Page 45 of Mikoto and the Reaver Village
A foolish demand. Fend couldn’t exactly spread Sinder’spaltry secrets.
He laid back his ears and glared.
“You know, you’re probably right.” Indulging in a tiredsigh, Sinder whispered, “I like that about cats.”
Darned if the big feline didn’t roll his eyes. Fend rose,stretched, and walked away, tail lashing.
Pushing through the door, Sinder drew up short. As gratefulas he’d been for the company that Timur and Mikoto provided, he’d expected anempty house at this hour. Instead, he walked in on what could only be describedas a drinking party.
Ginkgo lifted a beer bottle in greeting. “Grab a seat,Sinder. I’ll pour you a glass.”
Zisa frisked forward to kiss Sinder. “Welcome home.”
“I didn’t realize you were entertaining.” Absentmindedlyreturning the greeting, he tallied up the tree’s guest list.
Waaseyaa sat in the corner, cradling Timur’s sleeping son.
Ginkgo’s mood was as high as his color.
The man in their midst pushed up his glasses and offered a smallnod.
“Salali captured him and brought him to me.” Zisa flutteredover to the man, draping himself around the newcomer’s shoulders. “He is minenow.”
Rather than deny the tree’s claim, the man smiled and touchedZisa’s arms.
Sinder’s synapses belatedly fired, and he put a name to the face.“You’ve kidnapped Lord Mossberne’s eastern bride?”
Tenma Subaru’s hands formed a greeting. “Hello, Sinder.”
Dideveryoneknow his name?
Ginkgo grinned, “You’ve met Tenma?”
“No.” With an apologetic posture to soften a blunt truth,Sinder admitted, “I’ve seen his file.”
Tenma stood and offered his hand. “Nice to meet you. Sorryfor imposing.”
“Not a problem,” he lied.
Something in the man’s expression shifted, and he firmlysaid, “Sit by me.”
“Yeah, join us.” Ginkgo was already pouring a fresh glass,and he picked up the thread of the story he’d been telling. Something involvingIsla, who was clearly a mutual friend.
Sinder eased to a seat at the crowded little table. Zisa pliedhim with snacks, but he only picked at them. A hand found Sinder’s under thetable. Tenma never looked away from Ginkgo as his fingers slid between Sinder’s,pressing a crystal between their palms.
An offer?
Pretending fascination with the foam on his drink, Sinder triggeredthe ward that promised privacy. Almost at once, Tenma was there. A willingsoul.
Sinder liked both the offer of comfort and the challenge itrepresented. Could he indulge without tipping off the others at the table?Probably not if Waaseyaa had been the one offering, but Tenma’s reserves weremodest. And unique.
If he were entirely honest, Sinder hadn’t only seen Tenma’sfile, he’d helped compile it. He knew what this was. He even knew what todo—theoretically. Sinder tried a little squeeze that was supposed to mean,Sureabout this?
Two heart thuds later, Tenma pulled Sinder’s hand into hislap and covered it with his other.
So he composed himself outwardly and worked on a littleinner investment. Because according to reports, Tenma Subaru turned pebblesinto gemstones and dewdrops into deepening pools. Give a little; gain the sky.
“Hey, there.” A hand lightly pressed Sinder’s forehead,and he twisted away from it. “Come on, Damsel. You’re getting heavy. Tenma’sonly human, you know.”
