Page 15 of Changelings
A light knock on the door had her jumping. “Miss Imogen? Are you all right?”
She groaned again, biting her lips together.
After another long pause, she heard a great puff of air, like he’d sighed against the other side of the door. “I’m beginning to worry you may not be as pleased to see me as I am you.”
An involuntary snort of hysterical laughter burst from her nose. Imogen clapped her hands over her mouth and nose, but those apparently sensitive manticore ears had heard.
“Ah, so youarein there,” he said, a definite playfulness in his voice now. “I was starting to think you have an escape tunnel in there somewhere.”
Another mad snort bubbled up her throat, so Imogen shook herself out, from shoulders and arms all the way down to toes and back up.Get yourself together.
“I’m sorry if I’ve frightened you. I only wish to speak with you. It’s important.”
Her jitters sank into a cold knot of dread low in her belly. Oh, she didn’t like the sound of that.
Leaning her forehead against the door, Imogen took a long, calming breath.Be brave,she told herself.Maybe once he’s said his piece, he’ll leave.
Slowly, she cracked open the door to reveal the right side of her face. There he stood, barely a step away on the other side, taking up the entirety of the threshold and blocking out most of the light. Shadow panted and whined at his knee, his long pink tongue lolling out.Not much of a guard dog when it comes to this manticore.
A smile curved his inhuman mouth, those fine whiskers dotting his top bifurcated lip twitching.
Swallowing hard, Imogen opened the door wider.
His gold-green gaze flicked to the other side of her face, and she watched his slitted pupils dilate. A great inhale expanded his triangular nostrils.
Imogen clenched her fist, letting her nails bite into the flesh of her palm.Just get this over with.Then he’d leave and no one would be staring at her anymore.
His smile widened as he held up that infamous feather. It was a beautiful thing, golden with burnished bronze stripes across the upper barbs. She took it hesitantly, marveling at how large it was. From tip to quill, it spanned her hand and forearm.
She looked up in surprise when she heard what sounded suspiciously like a purr emanating from his chest.
“This is a momentous day indeed,” he said, shoulders and wings lifting with pride. “It’s not every day that a man meets hiskigara.”
Clearing her clogged throat, Imogen asked quietly, “What do you want with me, exactly?”
He nodded. “Kigaraare special, life mates destined for us by the goddess herself. My brothers and I have traveled far and looked wide for such a blessing without any luck—until you.” Here he smiled fondly. “You’ll be pleased to hear they’re all monstrously jealous of us.”
No, Imogen absolutelywasn’tpleased to hear that.
“I know this must be much to think about,” he continued.“Humans don’t have these sorts of pulls and bonds, I’m told. So we can begin how most begin. With names.”
Imogen watched in surprise as the big manticore bent at the waist in a low, elegant bow. His wings extended out on either side of him, each at least ten feet fully spread. She exchanged a wide-eyed look with Shadow.Oh my.
“My name is Balar of the Gurukun, second son of my mother, first son of my father. I have hunted the plains and never broken my spear. I worship the goddess, obey theerez, and give thanks for mykigara.”
Rising from his bow, he cocked a golden brow expectantly.
Whole face reddening, Imogen stammered, “O-oh, I’m Imogen Ahearn. I…own this land.”
“It is a pleasure and honor to meet you, Miss Imogen.”
They stood staring at each other for a long moment. She got the feeling he expected or wanted her to say something else, but she couldn’t fathom what. Well, all right, she could guess he hoped she’d invite him inside, but that wasn’t happening.
Her cottage was cozy, with a large main room divided into work area, sitting area, and kitchen, as well as a separate bedchamber. It was the perfect size for her, everything in its place. The mess one mistaken sweep of a wing could do—she shuddered to think of it.
With the feather still in her hand, she stepped from the cottage and closed the door behind her.
“Well, Balar, what exactly are you doing here?”
