Page 40 of Monster Married
Vergis cocked his head but pulled the guy’s head back by one horn.
“Oh, darn it. I’ve seen him before. Earlier. At the honk roar fest.”
“You mean, at honkora, doofus?” Vergis let go of his horn. “You might be confusing him with someone else. You know how telling apart people who aren’t of your own ethnicity is hard work for human brains.”
I shook my head. “No, I’m right about this. They were looking at me. Staring.”
Inkiri said something to the other Raikengana.
I pointed at the unconscious one. “I noticed this one because he was staring when no one else really showed all that much interest in me. Apart from the kids, maybe. I saw him again when we were eating the millet bean stuff.”
Vergis turned to Inkiri. “That fits.” He switched to Lugarra.
The conversation between Inkiri, Vergis, and the other protectors went on for maybe another minute, then our attackers were marched off, and Vergis jogged toward the helper person with the cage and beckoned for him to follow. They didn’t slow their jog.
Inkiri and I went with the other Raikengana.
“Now can you tell me what’s happening?” I asked when he was holding my wrist again.
We took a right through a gap in the inner wall, which led us to the strip of greenery through which our attackers would have approached.
Two more bagua clad in black came toward us, and the bagu we were walking with—the leader—gave them some orders that had them running off all over again.
Inkiri made sure I was close to him, his eyes darting around as if he were afraid of another attack. “We’re not certain, but we do know they wanted you. They’re soldiers of the Koa Esher, and they thought they saw a chance to take you, so they tried. They’re very inexperienced soldiers.”
I felt all the blood drain from my face, and I stopped. “They wanted…me? Why?”
“We don’t know much yet, sweet thing. We’re headed to the Raiken now. Try not to worry too much.”
That was easier said than done. My blood ran cold at the memory of seeing Inkiri in that fight. It didn’t matter that he was a good fighter, that he’d been better, that he’d won. He could’ve gotten seriously hurt, and it would’ve all been over in the blink of an eye.
I was tearing up. I’d wanted to just be, no danger, no apocalypse, no monsters. I wanted to become Inkiri’s spoiled trophy mate, nothing more, and just as quickly as I’d entertained the thought, the effing universe had spat it back in my face.
“I’m so sorry,” I said, and the tears came running.
Inkiri went from gentle clicking to simply scooping me up in his arms. The other Raikenga said something. I just hoped it wasn’t anything about how completely useless and burdensome I was, although I probably looked it. I definitely felt it.
Chapter 12
I wasn’t sure how long it took us to get to the Raiken. I sort of lost that plot thread on the way there. It didn’t really help that I didn’t understand what anyone was saying either. I just wanted to be home, even though I wasn’t sure where that was. The unfinished house in Ireland with the magpies guarding it, maybe.
“What’s this?” Fellisse’s booming voice pulled me back to the here and now.
I had my face firmly buried against Inkiri’s chest, but I looked up when Fellisse spoke. We were in a room now, and there was lots of stuff here—glass jars on shelves and lab equipment, going by the microscope on one counter. I had a feeling this was a doctor’s office.
I felt Inkiri’s breath on my cheek. “Sweet thing.”
“There he is. Put him down and let me have a look, Inki,” Fellisse said.
I grumbled and dug my fingers into Inkiri’s shirt. “Can’t you just hold me a little while longer?”
“Sadir.” Inkiri briefly buried his face in my neck. “Let Fellisse have a look at you. I was worried for you. You’re hurt.”
“I’m fine. Sorry. I’m really sorry.”
Inkiri clicked and proceeded to lower me onto an exam table. I really didn’t want to be on an exam table. Then again, I also didn’t want to worry Inkiri.
When he’d put me down, he took his triple swords from Fellisse, who was also armed. Inkiri had gotten a message to Fellisse to bring the swords, then. That didn’t seem like a good thing. It implied he thought he might need them.
