Page 80 of Mikoto and the Reaver Village
Beautiful.
Achingly, flawlessly beautiful.
Until Kyrie’s questing fingers snagged upon a rough patch.Something had rubbed Sinder raw, marring his opalescent perfection. Kyriehastened to Sinder’s other side, standing ankle-deep in the lake in order toinspect his opposite flank.
Long scratches. Deep punctures. Trembling muscles.
“Please,” Kyrie quavered, reached urgently for Timur. “Please,hurry. Please, help.”
“I will,” Timur answered absently. He was rummaging throughthe contents of the crate. “I will, and you’ll help me. We’ll help himtogether, yes?”
Ginkgo flicked Kyrie’s ear then. A sharp reprimand. “Mindyour words, little bro.”
Kyrie clamped both hands over his mouth. Mortification setin. He hadn’t meant to try to sway Timur.
“Hey, now,” Ginkgo gruffly chided. “I’m glad you care somuch about Damsel. Enough to forget yourself. It’s not like you, but in a goodway. You know?”
No, no. There was no excuse. Kyrie knew better.
“Are you even listening?” Ginkgo gently eased Kyrie’s handsaway from his mouth. “Be more careful with your words, but don’t take themback. All I’ll ask is that you take responsibility.”
Kyrie followed his brother’s gaze to Mikoto Reaver, whohovered uncertainly at the water’s edge.
“What can I do to help?” asked Wardenclave’s headman.
He’d influenced someone. Shame burned in Kyrie’s eyes as heoffered his hands. “I apologize,” he whispered. “Please, forgive me?”
“For what?”
Mikoto’s confusion only made it worse.
Ginkgo jumped in. “Seems you’re susceptible to half-dragons,as well.”
Sloshing back onto shore, Kyrie confessed, “I was carelesswith my words.”
“You did no harm,” Mikoto quickly assured. “I am here tohelp.”
Kyrie adjusted his posture into something the headman wassure to understand, living as he did among dogs. “There is no excuse. I willown my mistake and learn from it.”
Mikoto dropped to one knee and searched Kyrie’s face from acloser quarter. “I believe I understand.” Meeting his palms, the headmangravely said, “All is forgiven.”
He offered a grateful smile.
“Truly, Kyrie.” Mikoto slipped his hands into a supportiveposition. “Tell me how I can help. Sinder is my friend.”
“And me?”
Mikoto pressed his thumbs gently into Kyrie’s palms andasked, “Are you asking if we can be friends?”
“Let there be peace between us,” he replied formally.
The headman bowed his head, firmed his grip, and smiledshyly. “You have made me glad our paths crossed.”
Kyrie felt somehow … richer.
Mikoto looked at him with something akin to awe. Whichseemed silly when there was a flawlessly beautiful dragon beside them. Mikotosaid, “You are very colorful. Is that rude of me to say?”
“Crossers are born with clear indicators of their clan. Mycolors surely echo those of my Amaranthine parent.” Kyrie quietly added, “Sincemy foster father is a fox, Sinder offered to teach me about my heritage.”
