I nodded quickly, and maybe a little nervously. "Kanik, I liked today - the part I've had so far. I liked the touching and the kissing. I like that I don't have to hide it like we did in the compound, and that it's okay for me to do all of this."
"Well," he said, "if you ever need someone to cuddle with, you can sneak into my room any time. I'm sure Rymar would say the same."
"Yeah?" I glanced away, feeling my cheeks warming.
He shifted closer to lean toward my ear. "Dragons were made for touching, Ayla. So go hang on Rymar for a bit and let him know he hasn't been forgotten."
"What if I wanted to hang on you instead?" I asked playfully.
"Yeah, just wait until we explain that both is an option." And he pointed toward Rymar. "He needs saving. That's your job this time."
But I caught Kanik's hand. "Thank you. You're a good partner, you know."
The smile that made? Maybe I wasn't as bad at this as I'd thought. I turned to rescue Rymar, feeling like this was exactly the memory I'd always wanted to make. In the sunlight, his scales were even more brilliant, shimmering in a rainbow ofcolors like the rose he was named for. The way he laughed? I liked that part the best. Maybe I'd just slip my arm around his waist like these Dragon women did with their partners? It felt so brazen, but also like it was a great idea.
Then Holly started barking.
The sound was deep and didn't stop. This wasn't a playful sound - it was a threat. My head snapped around, scanning for her in the mass of people. I found her, standing before Tamin and facing the wall.
"Everyone hush!" Zasen yelled, silencing the entire group.
Rymar was looking up at the sky. Kanik was moving toward the front of the house, so I followed, whispering, "Holly, come!"
"Over here," Zasen said, gathering our families closer to the house. "Kanik - and Ayla - will tell us what..."
I couldn't hear the rest as I made it around the house. Holly was now locked in at my side, and Kanik was jogging. Panic was starting to hit, because I knew my dog didn't like Moles, but the time was all wrong. It was the middle of the day!
Then I saw them. Two large animals were running straight toward the entrance to town, coming up the forest road. That there were people on them shocked me, but I'd read about horses, and these were clearly riders.
"Hold up!" Kanik yelled. Then he looked back. "Ayla, it's the Reapers. Tell Zasen and Rymar."
"Holly, guard Kanik," I ordered, then spun, racing for the back again.
I didn't know what was going on, but I knew enough to realize this wasn't normal. Those horses didn't come with a cart like when Meri had arrived. Reapers didn't come here often. All of those little pieces didn't add up, though.
"Zasen!" I yelled when I made it to the back of the house. "Rymar! Reapers on horses, running. Kanik said to get you."
"Just Reapers," Zasen said. "You can all relax."
"I'll be right back," Rymar told the ones he was beside.
But when they headed my way, it was at a jog, and Zasen pointed to the front, making it clear I should go with them.
"Reapers?" I asked.
"And Reapers riding," Rymar said. "Ayla, that means something's wrong."
Twenty-Five
Kanik
Ayla turned around, heading to the back to get Rymar and Zasen. I moved into the street, making it clear the riders should stop. Sure enough, just before they came through the city entrance, the pair pulled their horses up, and the lathered animals didn't try to resist at all.
I didn't know much about horses, but I knew the Reapers valued them as much as their dogs. To see two animals soaked in sweat with foam across their chests? That made it clear whatever mission these two were on was serious - and couldn't wait.
The woman stopped her horse right before me. "I need the mayor."
"The deputy mayor is in the backyard, along with the leader of our militia," I told her. "My partner is getting them now. I'm Kanik, third in charge of the militia. What do you need?"
