Page 48 of Fumiko and the Finicky Nestmate
“More than one. You are missed by a whole bunch of good people.” Rolling onto his side, Moon revealed the Junzi Chocolates logo on his T-shirt. “Best first?”
Akira wasn’t sure what to expect, but Moon didn’t leave him guessing for long. Pulling Akira into his arms the wolf cradled him close.
Any number of his friends could have sent a hug. And Akira would gladly have hugged them back. “Do I need to guess?”
Moon huffed. “You are loved with a wholeheartedness that is sure to inspire many a song.”
Which might mean any number of things.
Akira realized that Moon wasn’t going to say anything more. “Did you fall asleep?”
“Still here.” A hint of copper showed between white lashes. “That wasn’t the actual message. It’s more of an aside. Or meddling.”
“Is there a message?”
“There really is. Or was.” Moon yawned hugely, then sighed. “Okay if I paraphrase? Kind of … put it more simply.”
“Yes, please?”
Moon placed a gentle kiss on Akira’s forehead.
“Suuzu asked you to kiss me?”
“No. He sent words. But there was a kiss at their heart, and I thought you’d want to know.”
SEVENTEEN
Laying Groundwork
When Sinder flagged down Juuyu from the guesthouse door, he turned aside. “Did something happen?”
“Moon’s arrived. And I’ve never seen him this bad. Akira took the brunt of it on the chin.” Sinder smiled lopsidedly. “You’re just in time to rescue him.”
Juuyu knew his partner had to be exaggerating. Though Moon was a powerful combatant, more than a match for the eldermost and ancients, he was a gentle soul. Perhaps the gentlest. Akira was in no danger.
Juuyu halted on the threshold to Moon’s den and exhaled on a fluttering note.
Akira left off humming and raised a hand, wiggling his fingers in greeting. Keeping his voice low, he exclaimed, “I met Moon!”
He hadn’t just met their team’s best tracker. Moon was curled around Akira from behind, cradling him to his chest, nose in his hair, long tail draped along the young man’s flank. Sound asleep.
Akira was entirely at ease and flush with happiness. He understood better than most humans that Moon was paying him a high compliment.
Sleep was virtually sacred to wolves, something shared with trusted friends. After Moon’s long rest, he would forever consider Akira as a part of his pack. Indeed, the wolf’s protection would undoubtedly also be extended to Zuzu and Fumiko as a courtesy for sheltering him at his most vulnerable.
“You were singing?”
“A crosser lullaby. Ginkgo made it up.” Akira stroked the back of Moon’s hand. “He looks like a crosser.”
Juuyu came to sit on the edge of the bed. He offered a trill of approval, pleased by Akira’s assessment. Most humans would say that Moon looked like a werewolf. Marking him as a monster. “Moon is Kith-kin.”
“What’s that?”
“One of his parents is Amaranthine, and the other was Kith.”
From the doorway, Sinder eagerly volunteered, “Moon was born in truest form, but he found his way into this speaking form. Only one in four with the same kind of parentage ever manage it, so it’s pretty rare.”
Akira kept right on petting the fur-backed hand. “So he is a crosser.”
