Chapter 17
Seventeen
Keoni
I was sitting against a tree with a book in my hand—now that I could 'use' my back legs, I could finally sit whenever I wanted, and I loved it—when I spotted the raccoon sneaking through the bushes.
I bit back a smile as I watched Rei shuffle quietly over to Haruto, who was sitting under another tree, reading a comic book.
Rei stood just behind him, then peered over his shoulder. I didn't know if she could read, but she was sure acting like it.
Haruto's gaze moved over the page, but he must've seen something from the corner of his eye because he turned his head, then scrambled away in shock.
"What the fuck?" he exclaimed, and my eyes widened. I'd never heard Haruto be so loud.
Silas, Zamir, and Nolan came running from different directions, looking ready for a fight. Of course, they'd assumed something had to be very wrong to have made Haruto raise his voice.
Oh God, Rei was going to be an utter terror, wasn't she? I just knew it.
It was strange how someone as mild-mannered as Zephyr had a familiar who was so... active. But I imagined that was what had made them work.
"Hey, I was reading that! There was a talking raccoon in there!" Rei complained, which just freaked everyone out even more.
"Wait, are you a new resident?" Zamir demanded, then turned to me, since I was the only one who wasn't climbing the trees with shock. "Are they a new resident?"
Chuckling, I got to my feet, and walked over to the others. I raised a brow at Rei, and she stuck her tongue out at me in return. Damn, I really liked her.
"Everyone, this is Rei. She's Zephyr's familiar," I introduced, and a shocked silence filled the clearing.
Nolan was the first to break it. "Zephyr's familiar? You mean the one who..."
"Died? Yup!" Rei answered cheerfully, popping the p. "That's me!"
"What? How? Huh?" Silas demanded, his confusion clear on his face.
"Reincarnation, duh! Now, I gotta see the rest of this place my sorcerer built, so I'm off," she declared, but instead of leaving, she walked over to me and somehow clambered up onto my back. "Come on, Horsey. Show me around."
"My name's Keoni," I reminded, and she huffed.
"I know what your name is. Now get walking, Horsey."
I sighed. I did not like this nickname, but I had a feeling it would stick.
"You know, I'm only letting you get away with this because you're my mate's familiar," I grumbled as I started heading toward the exit, and she snorted.
"I know," she said, sounding all kinds of smug, and I rolled my eyes, then glanced back at her.
"How are you talking to us anyway?"
"Zephy is a lot stronger than he was before. He made me this," she said, and I glanced back to see the pendant hanging around her neck.
"So if I grab that, you won't be able to talk or call me Horsey anymore?"
She narrowed her eyes at me, wrapping a protective hand around the pendant. "Try it, you quadruped."
I raised my palms in surrender, turning back and pushing the door open.
"I won't, I won't." I wanted to be on good terms with her since she was a part of Zephyr, and I knew it would trouble him if we didn't get along.
If that meant I had to put up with being treated as a horse every once in a while, then so be it.
"What was Zephyr like as a kid?" I asked, realizing she was the only person I could ask that of. Nolan had met Zephyr when he was fifteen, but Rei had known him when he was even younger.
"Oh, I have so many stories!" she exclaimed, instantly delighted, and I grinned. I wanted to know all about little Zephyr.
As I gave Rei a proper tour of the Sanctuary, she told me stories about young Zephyr. Mostly funny ones, but some made my heart ache.
If the sorcerer who'd hurt Zephyr wasn't already dead, I'd have wanted to kill him myself. Not that there was a single violent or fighter bone in me, but I would've learned for him.
Just as we were leaving the last room in the grand tour—the library—the dinner bell rang, and Rei perked up.
"What's that?"
"Dinner time," I explained as I headed toward the Dining Room. "You hungry?"
"Fuck yes! I'm starving."
Chuckling, I pushed into the room, and people who hadn't met Rei yet stopped short. I knew a few people here had never seen a raccoon at all, so I imagined they were doubly shocked.
"Everyone, this is Rei. She's Zephyr's familiar."
Rei hopped off my back and waved at everyone, and after another moment of silence, Jacinta shuffled forward.
"Oh, you poor thing! Look how thin you are. Come on, let me set you a plate."
Before Rei could react, Jacinta picked her up with two tentacles, cradling her like a baby as she made her way to the buffet.
I heard them introduce themself as Rei shot me a wide-eyed look over their shoulder. I grinned, then gave her a finger wave before grabbing a plate for myself.
More people arrived, and there were a few more rounds of shock and surprise when they spotted Rei. I wondered if I should make a board for her to hang around her neck that said "Zephyr's familiar" until everyone got onboard.
When Zephyr came into the room, he was bombarded with questions until I shut everyone up and filled a plate for him. Let the man eat in peace, damn it.
Zephyr
In a matter of hours, Rei had become the most popular resident in the Sanctuary.
When we finished dinner, she decided to stick around and 'make some friends.'
I wanted to stay too, but I felt bone-tired after the day I'd had. Finding Rei again had filled me with immeasurable joy, but it had also brought up old memories I didn't wish to remember.
"You wanna head to bed?" Keoni whispered, his blue eyes soft as he gazed up at me. Somehow, he always seemed to know what I needed without me having to spell it, which was nice because I sucked at asking for things.
I nodded, and we wished everyone good night.
"Rei, you sure you don't want to come with us?" I asked, and her whiskers twitched.
"No, thank you," she replied, and I blinked as she turned around and skipped off toward a full table.
We were in the hallway before I managed to say, "I thought Rei would want to stick close, at least for the next few days."
"Aww, are you sad she doesn't?" Keoni asked as he slid his arm through mine, and I shook my head.
"No," I mumbled, though I wasn't sure it was true.
"I think she just wanted to give us some privacy."
"Oh."
Keoni was right. I wouldn't want Rei to see something she shouldn't, and at least this way I wouldn't have to kick her out of the bedroom.
"Unless you don't want me to come over tonight? If you're tired, I can go back to my place so you can catch some sleep."
"No!" I pulled my arm tighter against my body, locking his arm in so he couldn't walk away. "I want you to."
Keoni grinned up at me, then pushed open the office door. Touya was still at dinner, and we quickly walked through the offices to my bedroom.
Removing his arm from mine, Keoni turned me around so I stood in front of him, then slid his fingers into my hair, tugging me forward as he leaned up.
His lips were soft as they pressed against mine, and his wet tongue traced over my lips until I parted them.
Keoni kissed like he had all the time in the world, with no rush or hesitation. He kissed like he knew I belonged to him, and the simple confidence in it made my heart beat faster.
A sound of protest escaped my lips when he pulled back, and Keoni smiled up at me.
Reaching for my collar, he unclasped my cloak, then carefully hung it over the back of a nearby chair.
"Have I ever told you how much I love that cloak of yours? It's beautiful, and it makes you look all sexy and dignified."
My cheeks heated at the compliment, and I cleared my throat, hoping he hadn't noticed.
"It was the first thing I bought for myself simply because I liked it," I said, and Keoni blinked up at me, then smiled.
When Fredrick first kicked me out after I lost my arm and couldn't perform magic as well as before—he'd waited until the wound had healed, which was the only good thing he'd ever done—I'd struggled to survive, depending mostly on the kindness of strangers.
Once I'd gotten more used to living on the streets, I'd started practicing my magic again.
It'd taken me a long time to balance out the imbalance caused by losing an arm, but I'd been able to turn my practice sessions into shows for people, pretending it was nothing more than sleight of hand.
I'd made good money like that, and after some necessities, I'd bought this cloak.
I'd also worn it when I went back years later, more powerful than I'd been before, and made Fredrick pay for what he'd done to Rei.
"It was a good purchase."
Keoni ran his palms down my chest, and I stepped forward, pressing into his touch. His blue eyes twinkled as he gazed up at me, his blond hair framing his face like a cloud. I reached up and ran my fingers through the strands, scratching my nails against his scalp.
"Mmm, that feels good," he murmured as he pushed into the touch, and I leaned down to kiss him again, unable to resist the soft smile on his face.
We stood there for a long time, just kissing each other, and I wondered if we could stay like this forever.
This time, we separated because we needed to breathe, and Keoni turned his attention to my shirt. He unbuttoned it slowly, his fingers trailing over my skin as he went lower, and lower, and lower.
The lapels fell apart, and Keoni placed his palm on my chest, right over my heart.
"Your heart's racing," he murmured, eyes flicking from my chest to my face, and I felt my cheeks heat up.
He took my right hand in his and placed it over his heart, then raised a brow at me.
I smiled when I felt his heart beating just as hard, and he chuckled. "I know I ooze confidence, but don't think I'm any less affected by you."
Grabbing the lapels of my shirt, he pulled me into another kiss, pressing as close as he could while still keeping our lips locked.
I clutched his waist, holding on for dear life as his tongue tangled with mine.
I moaned into the kiss as he moved his palm over my chest, his fingers warm and firm as they dug into my skin.
Keoni pulled back with a huff, then pushed my shirt off my shoulders, pulling it off my arms before throwing it toward the chair.
Stepping back, he trailed his gaze over my torso, his eyes dark and heated as he licked his lips.
"You're gorgeous," he murmured, and my fingers tightened on his waist as I bit my lower lip, my cock hardening fully at his words.
Keoni reached for my belt, a question in his gaze, and I nodded slowly, holding my breath as he pulled out the belt, then unbuttoned my pants before pushing them down with my underwear, leaving me completely bare in front of him.
"Fuck, Zephyr," he murmured as his gaze fell to my hard cock, and I swallowed hard.
Before he could touch me, I reached for his shirt, tugging at the hem. "Can you take it off?"
Keoni met my gaze, then smiled. "Of course."
With quick motions, he undid his shirt, then discarded it, leaving him naked in front of me save for the stockings, which he obviously couldn't remove.
I ran my fingers over his chest, and he sucked in a breath when my pinkie brushed against his nipple. He'd reacted like that last time too.
"Can I... Can I try something?"