to ask. He didn’t need to.
“You make yours happy.”
“I did not know,” he mumbled again. “How could I know?”
The boy nodded. “That is why you need a dragon. Because a willing wind can be captured by their words. If that is your wish.”
Mikoto had been wishing along an entirely different line. But he wanted to know more. “Are there stories besides the one Sinder told?”
“Yes. Quite a few.” Kyrie said, “Woo an ethereal one to your side, and feel their kisses. Teach them your form, and you shall find pleasure in theirs. Twain lives, thus entwining, bring new light and life. For such are the ways of love.”
It was suggestive enough to make Mikoto blush. “Are you not a little young for this kind of thing?”
“Yes. But you are not.” Kyrie folded his hands together. “Your wind has been trying to catch your attention. Have you begun to notice, now that you know she is near?”
Mikoto glanced toward the windchime, which stirred enough to offer one dainty ping. “What am I supposed to do?”
Kyrie calmly studied his face. “You could release her.”
“How?”
“Reject her. Winds hardly ever settle or stay. Most scholars believe it is not in their nature.” He hesitated, then added, “Something that makes her attachment noteworthy.”
“Alternatively …?”
“Invite her to stay.” Those deep red eyes were soft. “That would make a nice story.”
For Mikoto, there had only ever been Lupe. But what if the things he’d always loved most about her were actually the workings of an imp? “But to take a wife, sight unseen?”
“It is my understanding that such contracts are commonplace in the reaver community.” Kyrie breezed on. “It is not easy for those of the sky clans to stand upon the earth, but neither is it impossible.”
“And you know the way?”
“I know the stories.” Kyrie quietly asked, “Are you sure you want to know?”
Mikoto hugged the boy close and confessed, “I am confused and embarrassed and uncertain of everything. But I do want to know.”
“You are very brave.” Kyrie nodded approvingly. “According to the old tales, you would give her a name. ‘Call to her, and she will hear you. Reach for her, and she will reach back.’ But I think she already has a name. Perhaps Lupe gave it to her.”
“Lupe knows?”
“Yes, I think so. It may be what binds them.”
Mikoto had desperately wanted to believe that Lupe had returned for his sake. And maybe she had, in a roundabout way. But why hadn’t she told him? He cringed inwardly. “Lupe is staying with my sister, but I have not been back to the house since First Day.”
“Go to her,” urged Kyrie. “Ask her for the name. Only ….”
“Yes?”
The boy shyly asked, “Can I be there when you call for her?”
Not if.
When.
Mikoto liked this boy. “I want you there, my friend. I will need you there. You and Sinder both.”
THIRTY-EIGHT
Invisible Friend
Mikoto clasped Waaseyaa’s hand and mumbled, “I need to go home.”
“They will be missing you, I am sure.”
He couldn’t bring himself to let go. “I have been neglectful.”
“You have been where you needed to be.” Waaseyaa slipped the end of his braid into Mikoto’s hand. “Now, Zisa and I will have a turn at missing you.”
“I may come hurrying back,” he joked, winding and unwinding the black braid around his fist.
Uncle smiled. “You will always be welcome.”
Because he knew it was safe to ask, Mikoto did. “Have I been running away?”
Again, Waaseyaa said, “You have been where you needed to be.”
Mikoto accepted that with a nod, released his uncle, and pocketed Noble. He turned to leave, nearly bowling over Zisa. The tree twin threw his arms around Mikoto’s neck and whispered in his ear. “Are you running away now?”
“No,” he promised. Even though there was a sizeable part of him that didn’t want to face Lupe. “Can anyone outrun the wind?”
Zisa giggled.
Mikoto sighed. “I need to go home. Lupe is there, and she might know the name I need.”
“Your Lupe?” Zisa’s smile faltered.
“She is not mine,” he mumbled, avoiding the tree’s gaze. “Sinder thinks she is the one who has been bringing the wind.”
“Her … twin?”
“Maybe a little like that.” Mikoto gently extricated himself from Zisa’s embrace. “I will not know until I ask. Or until the wind has words.”
Zisa made a little shooing motion, although he said, “Come back soon.”
Mikoto nodded and set his face toward home, though his steps lagged. Feeling overly conspicuous, he left the path, sneaking through the trees until he reached the back gate. He hesitated there, suddenly feeling like