“Of course.” Mahu’s confusion doubled, but he wouldn’t ask nosy questions. Not that he was even sure what to ask. “I’ll look forward to it.”
“Me too. I want to kiss you again. I’m so happy.”
Daka was in and out of his arms in a flash, another little damp spot on his cheek where his lips had been, leaving Mahu quite stunned.
“I’ll see you tomorrow!” Daka whirled and hurried from the shop, his hair bouncing with the quick motion of his departure.
Mahu stayed where he stood, bewildered by the entire visit. Daka’s alluring presence and mysterious sudden retreat. He had so many questions but couldn’t quite put his finger on the cause. There was something different about him.
Perhaps tomorrow Daka would explain. Until then, Mahu would attempt to distract himself with work, but he already knew it was hopeless.
He touched his cheek and couldn’t help but smile.
4
Daka
“What are you doing here?”
Daka froze in his tracks in the middle of Naukratis’s market square. He’d thought to pick up some fruit to share with Mahu as they worked today, but the sight before him derailed the errand.
“That’s no way to greet your big sister,” said Niyarai, her manicured hands dropping to rest on the generous curves of her hips. “Try again.”
“I’m sorry.” Daka opened his arms to hug her. She resisted for a moment before giving in. “I wasn’t expecting you and I had plans today. But I’m happy to see you, truly.”
“Sure you are. I could tell by the devastated expression on your face when you realized you’d have to stop whatever you were doing to say hello to me.” Niya took him by the shoulders and shoved him back to arm’s length, easy for her to do at nearly twice his size. She was both taller and broader than Daka, taller than most human men actually. Niya looked him up and down, storm blue eyes glinting with interest. “Where are you going that’s so important?”
“Nowhere,” said Daka with a bit too much force to be believable.
“You just said you had plans. What were they?” Niya swiped her long chestnut hair over her shoulder. Men passing by stopped to ogle her. She sent them away with a glower that could boil water. “I’ll come with you.”
Demon’s tongue.
That wasn’t an option. The last thing Daka needed was for Niya to meet Mahu. She wouldn’t understand. What if she tried to feed from him? The thought made Daka gag. He’d never allow it.
He could tell her the truth, of course—that he was sweet on Mahu and wanted to build a real relationship with him, not just use him for his vitae—but that was likely to go over like a house cat in an ice bath. Incubi didn’t date humans; they fed from them. But Daka didn’t feel that way about Mahu.
“Did Mother send you?”
“Of course not,” said Niya with a huff. “I came on my own. I wanted to make sure you were settling in and happy here. Are you?”
Her expression shifted from scrutiny to concern. Daka loved his sister, and he knew Niya loved him. Her timing could have been better, but he couldn’t ask her to go. Daka swallowed the lump in his throat. He’d have to see Mahu another day. Hopefully Mahu would forgive him for saying he’d be there but failing to make an appearance.
“I’m still getting to know the city, but I’m happy enough.” He forced a smile he didn’t quite feel. “I’m fine, Niya. You needn’t have worried about me.”
“I will always worry for you, little brother.” Niya gave him a real hug this time.
Daka sank into her arms and tucked his head against her shoulder. She smelled like their home in Rhakotis: cinnamon, clove, and sex. The familiar bouquet of scents brought a ripple of homesickness. Daka let it wash over him with a sigh.
She pushed him away again, but this time with a conspiratorial grin. “Where do we get a bite to eat in this town?”
“Now?” It wasn’t even noon. Humans were busy doing human things; lunchtime was not especially amorous in their culture.
“Why not now? I’ve been traveling.” Her practiced pout didn’t work on Daka like it did on her meals. “I’m hungry.”
“Because our food is busy working, you bird brain. They have tasks to accomplish during daylight. You know that.”
Niya’s velvet laughter draped between them. “I know it, Daka, but I don’t care. Come, I’ll find us something.”
