Page 99 of All That Has Flown Beyond
There was a moment of silence. All the warning Kaiyo got was the tightening of Ahmik’s muscles before he was leaping up again, taking Kaiyo with him.
“Oh my God!” Kaiyo shouted but fell laughing against Ahmik’s chest.
“Fly me to the moon, let me play among the stars, let me see what spring is like on a-Jupiter and Mars.” Ahmik circled an arm around Kaiyo’s waist, taking hold of one of his hands as they started swaying together.
“Cheeseball,” Kaiyo said, but he let their naked chests press, brushing his cheek against Ahmik’s.
“In other words, hold my hand. In other words, baby, kiss me,” Ahmik sang softly against Kaiyo.
Kaiyo closed his eyes and simply swayed with Ahmik in the dancing moonlight.
**********
Ahmik had been more resistant to inviting a coven to his land than he had of any other idea of Kaiyo’s, but he finally agreed to entertain a few who had especially requested the honour in early May.
It was a group of three: Riley, Josephine, and Finn. The wards rippled as they entered Garrow territory. It wasn’t uncommon, wanting to warn Kaiyo of the presence of manifested and actively conductive Ousía, but it made Kaiyo frown nonetheless. He was used to being the only non-pack member with a manifested Ousía on the land, but he shook it off. He couldn’t give Ahmik any more ammunition to dig in his heels. Kaiyo would be gone soon, and witches on their land would help the pack keep it safe.
“Thank you for the honour of welcoming us,” Josephine, the clear leader, directed at Kaiyo. She was short and square, with dark hair cut in an asymmetrical bob. Kaiyo fought a frown at the breach of etiquette. Kaiyo wasn’t officially the pack’s shaman.
“Thank you, although it is Kephale Ahmik Garrow who invited you,” Kaiyo replied.
“Of course. My apologies. Thank you, Kephale Garrow.”
“Thank you for coming,” Ahmik replied.
Finn, a tall, slim, and dark-skinned man, stepped forwards, offering a gift to Ahmik.
“For your hospitality,” Finn said. Ahmik accepted the package with a nod. Finn turned to Kaiyo, offering a similar gift. “And to you, Shaman Amanati.”
Kaiyo took the wrapped gift from Finn. “This wasn’t necessary, but thank you,” Kaiyo said.
“We have been great admirers of you for quite some time,” the third witch, Riley, said. She was a petite, pale woman with freckles covering her face and arms.
“Thank you,” Kaiyo repeated.
The rest of the Garrows led them into the pack house. They sat for a stilted meal. It was obvious to Kaiyo that the pack members were as reticent to the idea of a transplant of witches on their land as Ahmik. Lars remained mute for the whole meal, Isla looking at the three witches suspiciously.
Kaiyo sighed internally. He’d invited three slightly clueless fans for a few awkward meals at the pack house. If anything, it would help the pack learn how to be civil even to people they didn’t want to entertain and would drive home that they needed to prepare for when Kaiyo left.
Kaiyo ignored the fact that he himself was neglecting any sort of planning ahead. It wasn’t the same for him. He wouldn’t have a pack or land depending on him.
The ache that thought caused was also irrelevant.
“But why are they even here?” Isla muttered, alone with Kaiyo as they cleaned up the kitchen. Isla had asked for male pronouns for the week and had gone shopping with Thea for some clothes from the boy’s section. He wore baggy jeans and a simple, white T-shirt, his head freshly shorn.
“Well, I can’t stay here much longer, Isla. I want to make sure that you—that all of you—are well taken care of,” Kaiyo said. Isla glared darkly.
“So that little kid was right. Youaregonna leave to join their pack.”
“I don’t—”
“You are!” Isla shouted, making Kaiyo startle in surprise. Kaiyo looked at Isla’s face, the anger masking his hurt.
“Isla, some things are out of my control too.”
“You’re lying.”
“Isla—”
