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He grinned, and they resumed walking on the beach where the waves surged in to get their feet wet.
“Can I get tattoos?”
“Of course. Anyone can. Tourists line up to get them all the time.”
“Fine. Can I get fancy tattoos like you?”
“Not until you are from a local family. The family mark comes first.”
“Oh. Darn.”
He lifted her hand and kissed the back of her knuckles. “We can consult with the artist tomorrow.”
She nodded. “Okay. I don’t want to be trouble, but I have spent my time trying to nail down who the hell I am. I don’t have memories to remind me. I have a lab at the end of my genome.”
“Does Nelith have any family?”
“She does, but they are accepting having a war weapon in the family without adding me. One thing at a time, so I am working with current information.” She stroked her toes through the sand as they walked.
He was putting out the comforting hum that she could feel but not hear.
They walked down the beach, and he pointed to a building on the side of the hill. “That’s my house.”
“Oh. I thought...”
“When I took over from my father as island guardian, I needed space so that I wasn’t being called at weird hours and disturbing the household. It is a nice place with room for expansion.”
“Congratulations.” She smiled.
“Thank you. My siblings are everywhere inside when they are studying for finals.”
“How entertaining for you.”
“It is. Would you like to see it?”
“It looks like a bit of a hike.”
“I will take care of that.” He lifted her, and shadows sprang around them. Shadows pulled them up the hill, and he settled on the deck surrounding the home.
He slid the door open, and she smiled at the neat interior. It had ten-foot ceilings, polished wood floors, and sliding panels for walls.
He didn’t set her down. He carried her into the bedroom and sat her on the low, flat mattress.
“This isn’t really a tour.”
He grinned, and his shadows shoved the panels aside so the entire space was one giant room.
“Handy.”
He smiled.
“I thought there was going to be a gathering on the beach.”
He nodded. “There is, but it will take some time to get here. My siblings and their friends will head over to bring the little ones, and my aunt and uncle will carry supplies for their smallest.”
“Oh, geez. That’s a lot of fuss. Can we tell your mom to stop it?”
He shook his head and leaned over her. “Nope. She’s been lecturing me on the type of lady I should pursue since I was ten. You are all the parts I care about. And everything from my own list.”
