But Kai surprised her.He loosed a breath, the mist fading.“Up to you.You do have suchbrilliantcontrol of your supposed abilities.”
Ione halted.“And you,” she said flatly, not bothering to face him, “like your brother, are doing abrilliantjob of endearing yourself to me.”
Lina’s stomach flipped, a heady mix of anxiety and admiration.
“Just a suggestion.”Kai flicked his wrist.In an instant, every ounce of water in the pond shot skyward; it froze in a single spike that pierced the tree canopies above, each facet glinting in the sunlight.“But together,” he finished, “we can become something truly powerful.”
He smiled when Ione whirled around, her fists clenched – but rather than be impressed, she just pointed at the ice and shouted, “You’ve just killeddozens of koi, you egotisticalclown.”
Kai’s face fell, for the first time looking startled.He rubbed his nose and let the ice collapse into slush, murmuring, a tad sheepishly, “Well, it – it would’ve been a fast death.”
With a disgusted snarl, Ione spun on her heels and stormed up the path leading out of the garden, swatting a willow bough out of her way and causing each leaf to bristle with hoarfrost.Panicking as Ione neared, Lina pressed herself into the shadows of the cold marble statue and held her breath, but Ione, passing, froze another willow bough so violently that each leaf shattered.A spray of frost grazed Lina’s cheek, making her gasp – and that was all it took for Ione to notice her hiding there.
“Oh – ” The hardness in her voice melted, lightened.Ione glanced up at the statue of Menon, and then back down at Lina, her mouth blooming into a shy smile as she played with the sleeves of the sheer robe she wore over her pink sheath dress.“I’ve disrupted your praying.I’m sorry to have startled you; I must look very angry, because I am.”She rubbed her temples, taking a pacifying little breath.“Menon rest their souls.”
Lina swallowed, dizzied by the abrupt change in her.“The – the fish?”
“You saw it, then.Poor Cynthia will be particularly upset.”Ione blinked, apparently remembering something.“Oh, River made me promise to let you settle in before I bother you.You’ve settled in, haven’t you?I’ve been exceedingly patient.”
So it seemed.After two weeks of patience she was at least controlling her hydromancy better, although Ione still pressed a palm over her heart as though she had just run a mile.
Come on,Lina could almost hear Ami saying.Can’t you see how she’s looking at you?Lina tamped down a startling jolt of excitement.Yes,she thought:Like I’m an insect trapped beneath a cup.
At a loss, Lina stood.“I’m… settled,” she said.Nice and neutral.“And I – actually, all of us wanted to thank you.”She swallowed, heating under Ione’s piercing focus.“For… for looking after us.”
Ione grinned, bouncing on her toes – and horribly, Lina noticed how light and grey her eyes were, how in the sun they took on an almost pinkish tinge.Soft, like the faint iridescence of a mourning dove.
Please.Lina willed herself to crash back down to earth.Please, don’t be stupid.Don’t get too close.Don’t put a target on your back.
“I’m happy to have helped.”Ione clasped her hands behind herself.“Especially after hearing how well Saros was treating the high priests.Always the best for his wealthiest backers.”She rolled her eyes.“Someday, those he discounted will really make him regret his actions.Starting with me, of course, but the rest of you are very welcome.”
She stiffened, the icy mask falling back into place over her expression.Just when Lina wondered what had happened, the warden parted the willow boughs.Ione did not turn, even when he sauntered close behind her.
Lina envied that, the queenly countenance, the absolute lack of fear.
“I counted,” he announced to Ione: “We’re looking at maybe a fifty-percent mortality rate.The other fish’re fine, and seriously, survival of the fittest and all – ” He cut himself off, wary curiosity sharpening his eyes when they alighted on Lina.
The Mahinas are all monsters, Castor had said of them.Face to face with one, all Lina could think, despite the undeniable power coiling beneath his tenuous patience, was that she had expected him to be taller.
“You,” he said, gesturing at her with a lazy flick of his wrist that, given what happened to the koi, had Lina lurching back.“I’ve felt you poking around the ward.Stop, it’s annoying.”
Adrenaline spiked through her, making her skin crawl.Lina’s attention snagged on his fingernails, crusted with dried blood; her old habit of watching hands, searching for any indication of incoming violence, pulled the air from her lungs.
“I understand you’re concerned,” he went on, his tone terser, more official; the words of a warden to someone inconsequential.“But you’re safe here.I’m alerted by any and all breaches, and seeing’s I already have to allow in every – ” He pinched the bridge of his nose, his accent slipping.“ –godsdamnedsupply shipment Archpriest Saros orders – ” He took a breath and let his hand drop.“I’d appreciate if yous all stopped fucking testing it.”
Keep your mouth shut.
Don’t piss him off.
“Caelos was meant to be protected by wards,” Lina murmured, emboldened by Ione’s presence.Her quiet strength.“Forgive my lack of confidence.I only wanted to test the wards after I heard our new warden fell asleep on a bench and nearly set a lilac bush on fire when his cigarette fell out of his mouth.”
Ione snorted, one hand flying to cover her mouth, but Kai smiled tightly.
Stupid, stupid, stupid –
“Thatwasfunny,” he said gradually.And then, “What’s your name?”
Her heart jolted.Castor had plenty to say about Etan and Nalu Mahina, but had he had run-ins with Kai as well?Did Kai see Castor’s face in hers?
