Not random, the presence said. A chosen one must always be worthy, and he is.
It didn’t need to tell me that. I already knew what type of guy Inkiri was, and he hadn’t needed to be chosen to be worthy. He was a prince, after all. Also kind. And so damn patient. Sometimes, he wanted to carry me places, and that was something I had to get used to, but I was determined to enjoy it.
As I was thinking about Inkiri, I could tell the presence was getting the flowers to bloom. The dog and kitty looked up, bewildered, but not bewildered enough to stop their cuddle time. The way the presence worked, I knew this didn’t take it much effort.
While its flower magic was all nice and well, I didn’t know what to think of what it had said about Inkiri. I didn’t need it in my mind while I figured that out.
Can you leave me alone for a while? I asked, and the presence acquiesced silently. With the same sensation of rustling of leaves it had made itself known with, it vanished to wherever it had come from.
As it left my mind, I could tell my attention was getting pulled back to, well, me. It felt like a rubber band snapping back into shape, only I hadn’t even noticed it had been pulled. All of that was scary.
I opened my eyes.
“Now what? The light show is over, and I have early sunflowers?” Donna asked.
I turned around to look at Inkiri, and when our eyes met, he didn’t need me to say anything. Without waiting for Kinnek’s okay, Inkiri closed the distance between us and pulled me up off the ground and straight into his arms.
“Yugano en enki, my light in darkness,” he said, even as he felt me over. Checking whether I was cold, I realized when he brushed my cheek and forehead with his fingers. “My precious Rory.”
Even if I had been—even if I ever got cold again—I knew he’d hold me and keep the cold away.
Chapter 6
On the one hand, I liked having all of Inkiri’s attention. On the other, this was a lot of PDA, and I was pretty sure we had everyone else’s attention too.
“I really didn’t do anything.” Halfheartedly, I tried to escape his kisses and soft touches, but Inkiri wasn’t having that. My throat was licked and he clicked happily when I submitted to him, letting him pull me against his chest.
Kinnek clicked his tongue. “It thought all protectors know it’s generally a bad idea to cross into a ko circle when it is being used.” He’d come around the circle and was looking at me with sharp eyes.
Donna spluttered. “Now you’re telling me that?”
Kinnek raised his hands. “Ah, apologies, fair Donna. This ko circle wouldn’t have done anything to you, I promise. It’s something that’s rather used to test someone’s abilities before you teach them. Still, protectors should know better.”
“You ever put me in one of these?” Vergis pointed at the circle we were still standing in. He’d snuck up—walked up—behind his dad.
“Of course, Muffin. You did very well, but then, you’re mine, so that was to be expected. I was very proud, and so was your daddy.”
Kinnek smiled at me. It was on the tip of my tongue to ask him how he could take my magical abilities away, but then I remembered the stupid blood needs to be bound to blood speech, and I ate my words. I didn’t want to even think about any kind of gross magical ritual.
“You, however,” Kinnek went on when I remained silent, “aren’t such a straightforward case.”
“I…didn’t really do anything. You do get that, right?” I tried to shrug, but Inkiri had me in his arms, his rough tongue tickling my neck. “That voice in my head did all that.”
Kinnek tsked. “Here, see that?” He pointed at some chalk squiggles on Donna’s patio. They could have been anything—worms, abstract clouds, overcooked noodles. “Those indicate sacrifice sources and the efficacy with which a mage will be able to utilize them. After Vergis told me about how you used loogas branches to make rain, I added a…what’s that word, a slip knot to the veil or sources of its ilk, and that lit up like fireworks. Which is what I expect from a Loathly Lady. If you don’t like being called a Loathly Lady, even though it best describes how you use the power of the land to get things done, consider yourself a…dispenser of the magic of the land and assorted inanimate objects.”
Inkiri clicked.
I frowned at Kinnek. “A…dispenser?”
Vergis grinned. “Magic dispenser. I like it. You push, and magic comes out.”
Kinnek nodded. “Yes, although I don’t know about the pushing. You know, Muffin, it does explain how you’ve been able to use his power.”
“It means he’s better than a conduit.” Vergis tilted his head, and father and son eyed me like a pair of ditzy vultures faced with a tasty bone still stuck inside a living person.
“Does that explain why the humans would want Rory?” Inkiri asked, touching on yet another subject I was already more than done with.
Donna clicked her tongue. “I think all you blokes could just give the poor kid some room to breathe. In fact, what was that thing you said about cleaning my porch, Vergis?”
