Page 26 of Family Found

“I’ll take them, thank you.”

We piled our clothes into the baskets. The mud had gotten all over everything, and I didn’t envy whoever was doing the laundry here. Maybe the younger protectors? It seemed like a job you’d give to someone who was just starting out, the hero who still had to discover how badass he was. Or maybe that was too much human thinking there, too much of me remembering adventure movies.

Once we were both undressed, my human embarrassment came back, not that I’d ever really lost it. We went through to the next room, which did indeed have clothes laid out neatly on the shelves, as well as towels and little containers too; probably all the things a bagu might need when visiting a bath.

We went straight through to the next room, which held the baths proper.

The baths were absolutely amazing. They had a cavernous look to them, but lights ran along the walls in lines that circled the entire room, which consisted of several big pools for soaking. Above, the domed ceiling twinkled with pretty mosaic tiles.

“You know what? This looks like a spa. I guess we’re having a spa day? It feels kind of wrong, just so you know.”

Inkiri huffed. “Why, sadir?”

I gestured. One hand only, of course, given that I needed the other one to cover my parts in a way that wasn’t too obvious. “People got hurt.” And I hadn’t been able to unleash my lightning at the cola asshats. I wasn’t going to talk about that just yet, but I wasn’t going to forget about it either.

Inkiri didn’t dismiss me. He didn’t laugh at me. And he didn’t tell me that it was okay because I was a soft human koa.

“When we—protectors. When we protectors go to fight, we don’t always achieve what we mean to. We lose. People get hurt when we lose. But we learn that we have to take care of ourselves and those close to us so that we can fight again. I think it’s like this for you now, and I understand. Those of us who work close to the border and are hangua know the dangers. The Koa Esher will kill hangu-naga, but not them.” He bowed his head. “That doesn’t make it any better, but today, several protectors are free again. Aragis is free again.”

“I guess you’re right.”

He cupped my cheek. “I’m very much right.”

I sighed. “Okay. I’ll wash up. No point standing around naked any longer than I have to, right?”

He grinned. “Hmm. I can think of a point.”

I stuck my tongue out at him and went over to one of the sinks set along the wall. This was just like the hotel, the rikori, with things set out to be used by everyone.

Inkiri joined me and took the sink next to me. I grabbed one of the toiletry containers and went about sounding out what it said on there. I knew half the word.

“That’s sunshine, right?” I pointed at the bit of writing I’d conquered.

Inkiri smiled. “Yes. The other word is for a flower that grows on the moors and opens its petals when the sun is out.”

“Look at me, reading Lugarra. Uhm. So is this shower powder, or for my hair?”

Inkiri laughed. “Your hair, sweet thing.” He smiled and brushed a strand off my forehead. “You’re doing so well with Lugarra.” He rolled the Rs in a way that made me jealous, but his praise meant so much.

I smiled, my chest swelling with pride as I shampooed my hair with moorflower and sunshine, then soaped up the rest of me.

“I should also mention that everyone was very worried when we came,” Inkiri said, starting on his own hair. “The protectors Zeddira recruited for our attempt to close off the veils to the beasts’ world returned here to Esaka with the news of the attack and of Kinnek’s capture. They reported Zeddira as likely dead. Everyone is wildly relieved that isn’t the case. Still, we need to regroup before we can attempt to return to the Stone of Destiny and ruin the plans of those human mages for good.”

I sagged forward. “Dang it. I almost forgot we were doing that. Can you imagine?” I looked at him, and he clicked low.

“You faced monsters, the Koa Esher, and the Koa Esher’s deeds today, sadir. It is not easy to take in all of that all at once. But tonight, you can rest here in the Raiken where every protector will keep you safe and where there are no monsters.”

“I just want the one protector, you know.” I swallowed. “That’s you, in case that’s not clear.”

Inkiri made a satisfied sound, a bit like a purr. “I always know what you want when you look at me like that, sweet thing.”

I looked around. “These baths are, like, public. Anyone could walk in on us here. There are kids in this Raiken.”

Inkiri nodded. “The children are supposed to soak in the mornings, sadir. Full Raikengana might come here at any time, yes, but they would not mind it if they saw. You’ll be able to relax well in the water, won’t you?”

Would I? Yes, I would. And maybe the baths would remain empty. After all, I did want my mate. Maybe the aftereffects of using magic had me craving Inkiri again, I had no idea. It didn’t matter, not when he looked at me with that knowing twinkle in his eyes, and not when it was so quiet and warm in this place.

I cleared my throat. “This is for the body?” I pointed at another container.