Page 63 of Mikoto and the Reaver Village
“Sinder here?” Ginkgo whispered.
Zisa eyed the phone in his hand and shook his head.
From the bed in the corner, Timur quietly called, “Ginkgo?”
Hallow must have grabbed the phone because his voice camesharp and clear.“Get to him. Immediately. His crystal’s vibrating nearly topieces, and its song tells of pain.”
“On it,” he promised, signaling urgently. Timur’s feet hitthe floor. “Juuyu?”
Sinder’s partner was back.“Get to him,”he begged.“ForI cannot.”
“On our way.” Ending the call, Ginkgo hurried to the bed andscooped up Gregor, who’d been tucked between Timur and Mikoto. “I’ll sneak himin with Kyrie and Lilya. Don’t wait on me. I can catch up.”
Mikoto stirred. “Trouble?” he asked.
“Sinder’s probably hurt.”
“Need help?”
Ginkgo didn’t stay to answer. Whisking across to Waaseyaa’shouse, he hurried the sleeping toddler to the guest room. Kyrie was not onlyawake, he stood at the window, fingertips touching the screen. “Hey, littlebro. Watch Gregor for me?”
Kyrie shook his head and asked, “Sinder?”
“Not sure. Probably injured. We’re going.” He scooted Gregorunder the sheet at the center of the bed, right next to Lilya.
“I will come.”
Only then did Ginkgo realize that the boy had alreadydressed. He’d probably interrupted him in the process of going out the window. “Dadwouldn’t like it.”
“Dad will not scold.” Kyrie turned wide eyes to him andsolemnly said, “Sinder is screaming.”
Mikoto had been training for emergencies for more thanhalf his life, so he was in his basics and boots even faster than Timur. But hewas a long way from Colt and his arsenal. “Do I need a weapon?” he asked.
Timur spared him a glance. And a second glance. “No. Everride?”
“Yes.”
“You’re with us, then.” Timur led the way outside. “Fend isgoing to be cranky, having to carry two of us.”
“I will run,” offered Mikoto, lengthening his stride to keepup with the battler.
Timur laughed. “No need. He’ll run twice as fast, just to berid of us. Right, friend?”
Fend slunk out of the darkness and yowled testily.
Mikoto mounted first, but he wasn’t sure what to do with hishands. Dogs had ruffs, and Merl’s mane was fair game. “Where …?”
Timur crowded him from behind, one arm locked aroundMikoto’s chest. “He’s just a big kitten. Scruff him. I’ll be your brace.”
Following his example, Mikoto buried his hands in thick furand muttered a low, “Apologies, Fend.”
The big feline grumbled and leapt, and Mikoto lowered hisbody and adjusted his hips.
Bowing over him, Timur said, “Quick learner.”
Mikoto hoped he’d have the chance to show Timur that hecould do a whole lot more than ride. But that wasn’t the most important thinghere. “Orders?”
“You want some?”
