Page 66 of Family Found

Hove inclined his head. “I thank the koa. And we glad pay the koa for his magic.”

I sighed. “I don’t understand.”

Kinnek leaned forward. “Well, Hove and I had a bit of time to discuss it. My House is much like any of the Houses back on Aër. You may choose to live on Aër, of course.” He shrugged, which was odd, because the bagua didn’t seem to do that much, apart from Vergis. “My House has no ties and no responsibilities to the Raiken though, because there has been no cause for it, given the distance.

“At the same time, the Raiken will expand to here. The high counselor has decided as much. With expansion, the land must be taken into consideration, and you are our koa of the land, or special magic dispenser thanks to whom the veils from Earth to Aër connected in the first place. The Raiken sees the need to protect you.”

“Oh, that’s nice. Wait. What you guys are saying is we can all stay in Canada and Ink and the others don’t have to quit the Raiken?”

Vergis ate a delicate bite of his sweet potato. “I’m glad he’s just a magical twink and not a genius twink. Makes it easier to be around him.”

I cleared my throat. “Apologies to everyone. Vergis did not bring his earplugs, and my mate and I were quite loud earlier today.”

Inkiri growl-purred and put a warm hand on my knee. Vergis leaned forward while he used that fork of his to downright torture the skin off that sweet potato.

Kinnek chuckled. “Muffin is so human. Like his daddy used to be.”

I put my hand on Inkiri’s, then looked at the rest of my guys. “You’d all be okay with this? Moving to Canada?”

Fellisse and Nokim did the head tilt thing, but Lissir nodded. “It’s nice there. Charles has been promising a pumpkin carving competition come October.” He glanced over at Fellisse and Nokim. “We’ll all be happy there.”

“And…what about Sonyo?”

Sonyo looked up from his food. Nokim leaned over to him and spoke in quick Lugarra.

The kid tilted his head and said something back.

“He says he’s hanmen and will go where the sentenmen goes, sadir.” Inkiri squeezed my knee. “He knew that when he applied.” Inkiri leaned in close. “I hope you don’t think I speak out of turn, but I remember you saying you liked Aër and how you wanted to live there.”

Lissir nodded. “Zeddira would like that too. In fact, Inkiri, your poor brother must loathe being laid up and healing without a chance to push his influence on your mate.”

Vergis groaned. “This is painful. You’re all making this too difficult for the princess. Princess, if you want the quiet homesteading lifestyle instead of being coddled on Aër or seduced by your in-laws—and I can’t believe I’m saying this—but if that’s what you want, we gotta move in with my dads.”

Kinnek turned toward Vergis. “Aaaw! My baby. Come on, Vergis, say it. You missed home, didn’t you? You were homesick all this time, weren’t you? Come here, Muffin.”

Kinnek pulled his son in to kiss his cheek and ruffle Vergis’s short hair, and Vergis…tolerated it with much eye-rolling.

After Kinnek was done, Vergis leaned over. “Your fault, Princess.”

I grinned at him. “We’ll be hammock buddies again.”

“No, we will not.”

“You want to do it, don’t you?” Inkiri’s breath was warm against my cheek. “Live in Kinnek’s House?”

He sounded happy, and that was all it took to make me nod.

“Yes!” Nokim clapped his hands. “Charles’s workshop is wonderful, and I still have so much to learn about solar panels!”

“You decide, yes?” Hove too looked happy.

“I’ll have to visit Dublin a lot,” Fellisse said. “For medical supplies.”

He and Hove exchanged one of those heated gazes they did with each other.

“Ice cream!” Nokim jumped to his feet, pulling Sonyo up with him. “I taught the cooks how to make ice cream!”

And he and Sonyo were off.