Page 45 of Family Found

Rory’s mouth fell open, and he turned to Vergis. “You say sorry in another language, and I miss it?”

“Oh, shut up, Princess.”

I didn’t understand their friendship, just like I didn’t understand why my mate didn’t like me fighting, but Vergis and Rory were close. They were family.

There was a lesson of hope to be learned today. After all this time, I had my mate, and Vergis had chosen the sentenmen he deserved.

Chapter 15

Rory

It was already summer. August, to be exact. It would be a long time before it got dark, and the sun was still high in the sky when the meeting finished. There had been questions after the short talk, all of them condensed and translated either by Vergis or by Inkiri.

After the meeting, Vergis, Inkiri, and I stood around in the front of the auditorium, almost like we wanted to ask the teacher a question. The others were talking to Raikengana. I thought they were probably answering questions about Earth or about living with humans.

Vergis yawned and stretched. “I’ll go catch pigeons.”

I gasped. “For eating?”

He glowered at me. “Why would I eat them? They’re for magic.”

Obvious. Yeah, that was pretty darn obvious, actually. “It’s just that I thought—yeah. Magic.”

He shook his head. “I think you need to be turned off and then on again.”

Lissir ran down the steps and beckoned for Sonyo. “I’ve heard that reference before. You can take Sonyo to show him what to do and explain it to him.”

“I already babysit the twink more than anyone should.”

Still, Vergis crooked his finger for Sonyo to accompany him outside. The little bagu looked very excited. Clearly, no one had told him what they were about to do.

I caught sight of the campus outside as I watched them go, and it reminded me of the beginning of our trip when we’d come here, way back before the Stone.

“Can I wander around a bit?” I asked, accidentally interrupting Inkiri talking to two Raikengana. It was the two we’d met in the baths back on Aër. “Oh, sorry.”

“That’s fine, sweet thing. These are Hanakaris and Kumo. They wanted to properly introduce themselves.”

I gave them a wave before remembering to give them a small bow. They returned it and clicked back happily.

“You want to explore this house, sweet thing? The Physical Laboratory?” Inkiri frowned as if he didn’t like the idea.

“Oh, the outside, actually. I’ve been here. To Trinity College. Before the apocalypse, you know.”

Inkiri relaxed and nodded. “We should rest soon, but some fresh air will be good.”

Fellisse rounded the front row of seats from the other side. He caught my attention with a wave of his hand.

“Rory doesn’t have a sun hat. He cannot get sunstroke sickness if we are to close the veils tonight.”

I wanted to be annoyed, but instead, I felt all fuzzy and warm. “I’ll be fine for twenty minutes. Just a quick look around the place, I promise.”

Charles, still busy packing up his laptop and with a few makers looking over his shoulder, cleared his throat. I turned around to see him holding a ball cap out to me, a navy one with double cherries and a crescent moon embroidered on the front.

He winked. “I had a feeling you might need this.”

“Thanks.” I took the cap and put it on. Hanakaris and Kumo made appreciative noises.

Fellisse’s frown eased. “That will work.” He crossed his arms and gave me a hard look. “Rory, do not take it off. I know you forget you need a sun hat sometimes.”