Page 54
“Graham is waiting for me in the training arena,” Jiasha tells me.
“Thank you for spending time with Meeko.”
She grins and waves. “Any time.”
While Jiasha heads away from the river, I turn back to watch the remaining group romp around. The sun moves across the sky, and it isn’t long before everyone tires out and they too make their way out of the water. Gannen approaches and bends to rub his cheek over the top of my head.
“Momo.”
God, I never get tired of hearing him call me that. “My darling.”
“Hi, Auntie Elodie,” Niella calls out.
I wave at her, as well as Stella, who is never far from her best friend’s side. Bijou runs up to me with her fur wrapped around her shoulders. “Gannen says we can’t come swimming tomorrow.”
“He’s right. You know we’re supposed to be having guests arrive.”
She groans like the teenager she’ll be far too soon. “It’s just the Bohnari. They’re not really guests.”
“They are always our guests, no matter how often they visit, and we should treat them as such.”
Gannen ruffles her floks. “Don’t you want to make a good impression on the young prince?”
I have to hold back my laugh, because Bijou squawks in a mix of embarrassment and affront and smacks her brother’s hand away before storming off. I turn to my eldest. “You shouldn’t tease her.”
He chuckles. “It’s all in good fun. I’ll apologize to her before she goes to sleep tonight, even though we both know she’ll forgive me.”
“You’re her big brother and she looks up to you. Idolizes you. So, yes, she’ll forgive you now, but it may not come quite so readily the older she gets. Teenage girls are extra sensitive about things, especially when it comes to boys.” I know I was, as well as every other girl I went to school with back on Earth.
“I’ll tread carefully.” Gannen glances down at Meeko, who has fallen asleep. “Why don’t I take him back to your tent?”
“Thank you, my love.”
Gently, he picks up his baby brother and holds him against his shoulder before reaching a hand down to help me up off the bench. Together, we walk toward the village, where the rest of the children have already disappeared to.
“Sorin and I are planning to travel with the Bohnari back to Bohna for the cold season,” Gannen says quietly.
My heart drops even though I knew this was coming. They’ve been talking about it since they turned twenty.
“Have you told your father?”
“When he returns to the village this evening.”
I nod. “We’ll miss you like crazy. You know that, right?”
“No more than I’ll miss you,” Gannen says, stroking Meeko’s back gently. “It’s only for the cold season and then we’ll be back. We just want to experience what it’s like there. I can learn a lot from their people.”
“I know you can.”
He lays a hand on my arm, drawing us to a stop. “I swear I’ll be back.”
“You have to, otherwise we’ll be moving to Bohna.” I’m not even kidding.
“Gogo would hate it there.” Gannen chuckles, the rough sound one I never get tired of hearing.
“I guess that means you’d better not stay too long.”
“You won’t even notice I’m gone.”
