He left me standing with the others and went over to his massive backpack again. This time, he had to do far less rummaging to find what he was looking for, even though what he drew out was small—a colorful cloth wrapped very artfully. The cloth itself looked like the clothes I’d seen people wear in Esaka. It had decorations on it that had been created by cutting it open and then artfully folding it back on itself to create a pattern, a lot like the arts and crafts you did with colored paper in pre-school.
Inkiri handed me the small bundle and looked at me expectantly.
“You got me a present?”
“Oh, he’s such a keeper,” Donna said. “Now, don’t dally. Open it!”
Inkiri watched as I worked the knot open to reveal the contents. I immediately recognized the brooch Nokim had made for me. It was bedded on several soft, shimmery scarves, although one or two were plainer, something more casual as scarves went. Next to the brooch, there was a necklace with three pendants. I recognized the adder stone and the coin. The third was a vial, a bit smaller than the coin but teardrop shaped.
Inkiri clicked. “You like it.”
I was feeling hot and cold, overwhelmed in the best of ways. “Ink… Yes, of course I like it. No, wait, I love it. Did you get Nokim to make this?” I traced the necklace with my index finger, and Kinnek and Donna craned their necks to see.
Kinnek nodded approvingly. “He is an exceptional maker.”
“Also a pretty good cook. Can’t believe that bagu is still single,” Donna said.
Inkiri rubbed a warm hand over my back. “I asked him to make it, back in Esaka. I know you said you wanted to ask him about making this into something special, but I wanted you to have it when you woke up. The tiny glass container holds a lock of my hair, which Vergis suggested. Do you like it, sweet thing?”
I nodded. “A piece of Aër, a piece of Earth, and a piece of you.”
Inkiri nodded. “Yes. And a few scarves. Nothing exceptional, just something you can wear until I can get you nicer ones. Sonyo was eager to find these for you, back in Esaka.”
My heart squeezed tightly at the thought of that sweet bagu kid shopping for scarves for me all over Esaka. He’d probably done it while Inkiri had been right at my side, making sure I was as safe as I could be.
I ran my fingers over the scarves. “I’ll have to thank him. He did such a good job.”
“You can. When we’re next in Esaka,” Inkiri said.
Vergis groaned. “If you can’t put your necklace on yourself, Princess, maybe ask your mate to do it. Beats just staring like that. We should get going before I get roped into doing any more chores.”
Kinnek chuckled. “Muffin, doing your chores keeps you humble. That’s what your daddy always says.”
I ignored the two of them and looked up at Inkiri. “Will you? Put the necklace on me, please?”
Donna cooed, Wilson clucked, and my bagu beamed. I loved him so much.
Chapter 9
We gathered back outside, then set out on a short walk away from the house. It was really just a few minutes of walking, Kinnek had assured us, but Inkiri’s eyes were on me as soon as we reached the sunflowers, which were still doing pretty well. I could feel the question brewing before he said it.
“Sadir, are you sure you don’t want me to carry you?”
“You sweet big hunk, you,” Donna said, patting the large white dog, who’d decided to join us. Donna had put the kitten inside the conservatory to make sure it didn’t get too close to the magic. Wise decision in my book.
I tried to maintain my composure while wondering what was so bad about being carried around by your mate. “It’s fine. You have the backpack. It’s probably healthy for me to move around on my own two feet after being out for so long.”
Vergis made a dismissive snorting noise.
“Muffin! Don’t be like that.” Kinnek leaned over to me conspiratorially. “When he was really little, Vergis would insist that his daddy carry him. He’d even hide under his daddy’s hoodie. He was so shy.”
Vergis spun to face us. I’d never been glared at the way he was glaring at his father, not that Kinnek seemed to mind, going by how happy he looked.
Vergis looked at me, and I actually flinched. “Wherever you go, chaos like this follows.”
Kinnek clicked. “Ah, that’s a nice nickname, Muffin! I like it. I’ll tell your daddy to call me Chaos from now on.”
Vergis sighed and faced forward again.
