Page 118 of The Ruler
“I specialize in troubled children. Magni is an adult version of my students. Angry, confused, and too stubborn for his own good, but I don’t see him hurting me.”
Pulling air deep into my lunges, I kept my voice calm. “Kya, please don’t confuse Magni with a child that you can control. He can be mean and violent. If you don’t believe me, just ask Christina. Both she and I have seen his fits of violence firsthand.”
“I have no doubt he can be mean, but so far he hasn’t hurt me. I get the feeling he’ll protect me with his life, and Christina says that watching over me has given him a new purpose and restored a bit of his pride. Apparently, he took it very hard when his wife left him.”
“That would be an understatement,” I muttered. “But it truly surprises me that you don’t seem intimidated by the men at all.”
Kya’s amber brown eyes softened in laughter. “Maybe that’s because the first time I met Boulder and Magni was in my own house and they were dressed up as Motlanders, clean-shaven and all.”
“Maybe.”
“No, you don’t understand,” she chuckled. “Magni had blue ribbons in his hair and make-up on to hide his scars. And if he ever gets too grumpy or rough with me, I’m going to remind him.”
A calmness spread in my stomach. We had made a good choice with Kya; if anyone could handle these boys and men, if was her.
“The only problem is…” Kya sighed and looked down. “Magni isn’t always nice to Archer, and I’ve told him over and over that I need to work closely with Archer, but Magni misinterprets our behavior and gets too protective. It’s almost suffocating sometimes.”
“Yeah, Raven told me they’ve been fighting over you.”
Kya folded her arms around her waist. “Yes, yesterday I was really excited when Archer finally agreed to something he’s been opposing, so I hugged him.”
“Magni saw?”
“Yes, and he attacked Archer because of it.”
“Yeah, Archer doesn’t have the right to touch you. Only a protector or husband has that in their world.”
“ButIwas the one hugging him.”
“So don’t.”
“I’m trying, but I’m a kinesthetic person and a hugger by nature. I really wish Magni would cut it out, because it’s like being caught with crazy brown bears when they attack.”
“Archer should know not to touch you.”
“No he shouldn’t! I want to teach them that touch is natural and doesn’t have to be sexual at all.”
“I see. Okay, I’ll have Khan talk to Magni about it. And I’m going to address the fact that Magni sleeps in your room too.” I puffed out air. “That wasn’t part of the deal, and I’m surprised Christina hasn’t objected on your behalf. I wouldn’t want Magni anywhere near my bed and you shouldn’t be forced to either.”
“What’s wrong with him sleeping in my room?” she asked.
“Wrong?” I furrowed my brow. “Are you saying you don’t mind sharing your bed with him?” I asked incredulously.
“Magni is a bit much, but he’s been nice to me, and Raven and I really don’t mind him sleeping in my room since she and I sleep at the Manor anyway.”
“Hold on.” I held up a hand. “So you don’t share a bed with Magni.”
Her brown eyes filled with laughter again. “Oh, now I understand. You thought he and I slept in the bed,together?”
“Yes.”
She waved a hand in the air. “No, no. We don’t.”
“Phew,” I breathed and felt my shoulders relax a little. “It’s just that Raven pointed to your room saying it was yours and Magni’s.”
“Because he stays there now and I will later,” Kya explained. “At least that was the original plan, but Boulder has come up with a better one: he’s building cabins on the ground that will offer a bit more privacy. We’ll take shifts supervising the children at night.”
“And when you move out of Boulder’s and Christina’s house, will Magni sleep with you then?”
