Page 135 of Hoofin’ It

Names seemed important to the kirin, so I accepted what I couldn’t change with a bow.

“The matter of his eye, Abil Ili. My dignity demands my rider have two eyes, not one. Fix this travesty immediately.”

Abil Ili approached, and like the others of his hive, he wore swords over his talons, forcing him to adopt an odd, swaying stride so he would not slice through the crystal floors. He stretched out an arm to me, and adhered to one of the suckers was a rich blue sphere.

It wasn’t my eye; mine was a darker shade, while the one Abil Ili held was the vivid blue of the purest flame.

“In my rage over that distasteful bauble, I broke yours. Thus, it was my duty to replace it. Its size should match, for I was very careful with its measurements before my fit of rage overcame me.”

I translated that to mean the Babylonian had very deliberately broken my glass eye so I couldn’t refuse the new one. “My thanks, Abil Ili. The old one was fragile and easily broken.”

“So eloquent,” Bai Bao Chen cooed.

The stone fell onto my hand, and its warmth surprised me. Marian leaned over, and her eyes widened. “What type of stone is this? The color’s beautiful.”

“Topaz, its color pure and untouched as the day it was pulled from the Earth. A rare stone for a rarer man. May its light shine for you in dark places. Although it will never allow you to see as you once did, it may share other secrets with you in time. When you slept, we strengthened the stone so it will endure for the rest of your days, so it can become a trusted friend. Should it be taken from you, it will return on its own, for you belong to it as much as it belongs to you. Please accept this as a token of our thanks for making us aware of what we should have already known. We are old, and we had forgotten our duty.”

I didn’t understand, but I decided I didn’t need to. Thank you seemed too small, too insignificant, but I said the words anyway, although they stuck in my throat and took two tries to choke them out.

Marian took my hand in hers and squeezed.

Abil Ili was right; the topaz didn’t restore my sight, but it warmed me all the same. The gesture was so little yet meant so much. The Babylonians saw through me, recognized me as someone deserving better than flawed glass, valued me so few others did.

“It is time,” he said. “Ride well, fight better.”

Chapter Forty

I startled Bai Bao Chen when I vaulted onto her back, settling in the saddle. Marian gaped at Fang Jiahao Yi’s back, her expression so uncertain I smiled. “Come here, Marian.”

She did, and I surprised her, too, by hauling her up onto Bai Bao Chen’s back with me, sitting her sideways on the saddle, crammed between me and the horn. “Fang Jiahao Yi?”

The kirin gave a throaty laugh and trotted to Bai Bao Chen’s side. “A good show of skill and strength, human. You will teach her how to mount, yes?”

“On a fence to start so your patience is not sorely tested,” I agreed, securing my hold on Marian’s waist. “All right. Don’t worry about being graceful, just get on his back. I’ll teach you as we go.”

With a little help from Fang Jiahao Yi, I managed to get her leg over the kirin’s broad back and place her pretty ass in the saddle. Without reins offering the illusion of security and balance, Marian clutched the horn and tufts of his mane. “If I slow us down, buck me off. You can probably do it walking.”

I chuckled, reaching over and patting her leg. “You’ll be fine. The horn is there for you to hold onto. Just clamp your legs to his sides. You’re not going to hurt him. Riding’s easier with reins, but his mane and the horn will help you balance. I’ll admit balancing is a lot easier with stirrups, but we’ll make do.”

“We did not think of stirrups for the humans and vampires,” Bai Bao Chen admitted. “We are accustomed to the Babylonians, who have no use for them, as they prefer to make use of all their weapons. We will go as slowly as we can. Should we need speed as a group, I will trust you with my rider, Yi.”

“I will flow like water over the sand for her, no fear. Your rider will best serve as a watchful guard. Should she need help, I will recruit one of the vampires. They are sturdier.”

“They’re harder to kill than I am,” I conceded. “I have a knife and six bullets. I’m not sure how much use I’ll be once I’m out of rounds.”

Marian snorted. “Says the man who knocked out a werewolf with two punches.”

“Caught him by surprise. It usually takes a lot more than that.”

“You still knocked out a werewolf with two punches. Once you had him down, you chained him to a tractor, dragged him off, and shaved off his fur.” Marian grinned at me. “If you run out of bullets, just punch them in the head until they stop moving.”

I scowled at Marian, who smirked unrepentantly.

One by one, the Babylonians and their kirin faded from view, although I could hear the chime of hooves on crystal. Ernesto watched for a few moments before turning to me. “Your new eye’s pretty.”

I faked a swoon and fluttered my hand near my face. “You’re such a flirt.”

Marian wrinkled her nose. “Ew.”