Rise of the Faire-Amanti (The Ascendant Series Book 3) by Raine Thomas
Authors: Raine Thomas
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nodded. “Well, Kaya and Tavin, ya’ve intrigued me right enough, and my wife would have my hide if I didn’t extend ya some hospitality. If ya think ya can stomach gumfort stew, you’re welcome to join us. Then ya can tell us this news ya bring.”
Kyr’s stomach rumbled at the thought of a hot meal, even if it was a simple vegetable stew. “Thanks, Xander,” she said. “We’d appreciate that more than we can say.”
Chapter 8
Xander led them to the cottage’s front door, which opened before he reached it. A woman who Kyr inferred was his amanti filled the doorway, wiping her hands on a cloth and looking curiously at her and Ty. Her curly red hair was pinned on top of her head in a loose knot, revealing a slender neck. Her blue eyes mirrored those of her daughter, reflecting strength and confidence. Judging by the swell of her belly beneath her apron, she and Xander would be adding to their family soon.
“My darlin’ Lore,” Xander said, stepping up to her and taking her hands before pressing his lips to hers in an adoring kiss. “Meet Kaya and Tavin. They’ve a story to share with the two of us once the children are abed, so I’ve invited them to dinner.”
“Of course ya have, and sure they’re welcome,” Lore said in a lyrical voice. “‘Tis a pleasure to meet ya both.”
The pure love and ease she sensed between the couple warmed Kyr’s heart. “Thanks,” she said. “A pleasure to meet you, too.”
“Come on inside,” Xander invited. “We’ll set a couple of extra places for ya.”
Kyr instinctively waited for Ty to enter the cottage right behind the couple so he could check for danger, though she didn’t sense any intent to harm from anyone in the household. She made sure to enter close behind him to avoid drawing any curiosity, since it was considered more polite for males to allow females to enter a room first. By the time Xander and Lore turned to look at them, she was standing by Ty’s side.
“Why don’t I help set the table?” Kyr suggested, knowing that it was customary for Wrym females to offer their assistance whenever possible.
“That’d be lovely,” Lore said. “Xander, why don’t ya go prod the two troublemakers along? They’re sure to be into somethin’ they shouldn’t by now.”
Rolling up his sleeves in a dramatic fashion, Xander gave a nod and small salute and turned to head towards the back of the cottage where two loud voices argued over who was hogging the cake of soap. Kyr couldn’t see down the hallway leading to what she assumed was bedrooms and a bathing chamber. The main room they had entered consisted of the cooking area and family living space. A long table separated the two areas. She got an impression of a cozy, comfortable home before turning her attention back to their hostess.
“Those two will be the death of me,” Lore sighed, turning and walking over to a tall wooden cabinet next to the cooking fire. She pulled out two bowls and handed them to Kyr. “Thanks, Kaya. There should be room for you and Tavin on the far end of the table there. Might be a little cramped, seein’ as your man is twice the size of some.”
Smiling at Lore’s wink, Kyr turned to make room at the table. She noticed Ty had finished his surreptitious inspection of the home and was now looking towards the hallway. They could both hear Xander taking control of the soap war. Loud giggling filled the room.
“We’ve some spoons in that bin, if ya’ve a mind, Kaya,” Lore said as she lifted the heavy lid off the pot over the fire using both of her hands and a thick towel.
“Of course.”
Kyr reached into the bin for a couple of spoons. When she turned to place them on the table, she noticed Ty’s gaze drift down. A little girl with soft orange curls toddled out of the hallway. She was so small that Kyr had no idea how old she was. Neither she nor Ty had ever been this close to such a young child, though. She sensed his curiosity as the girl
Kyr’s stomach rumbled at the thought of a hot meal, even if it was a simple vegetable stew. “Thanks, Xander,” she said. “We’d appreciate that more than we can say.”
Chapter 8
Xander led them to the cottage’s front door, which opened before he reached it. A woman who Kyr inferred was his amanti filled the doorway, wiping her hands on a cloth and looking curiously at her and Ty. Her curly red hair was pinned on top of her head in a loose knot, revealing a slender neck. Her blue eyes mirrored those of her daughter, reflecting strength and confidence. Judging by the swell of her belly beneath her apron, she and Xander would be adding to their family soon.
“My darlin’ Lore,” Xander said, stepping up to her and taking her hands before pressing his lips to hers in an adoring kiss. “Meet Kaya and Tavin. They’ve a story to share with the two of us once the children are abed, so I’ve invited them to dinner.”
“Of course ya have, and sure they’re welcome,” Lore said in a lyrical voice. “‘Tis a pleasure to meet ya both.”
The pure love and ease she sensed between the couple warmed Kyr’s heart. “Thanks,” she said. “A pleasure to meet you, too.”
“Come on inside,” Xander invited. “We’ll set a couple of extra places for ya.”
Kyr instinctively waited for Ty to enter the cottage right behind the couple so he could check for danger, though she didn’t sense any intent to harm from anyone in the household. She made sure to enter close behind him to avoid drawing any curiosity, since it was considered more polite for males to allow females to enter a room first. By the time Xander and Lore turned to look at them, she was standing by Ty’s side.
“Why don’t I help set the table?” Kyr suggested, knowing that it was customary for Wrym females to offer their assistance whenever possible.
“That’d be lovely,” Lore said. “Xander, why don’t ya go prod the two troublemakers along? They’re sure to be into somethin’ they shouldn’t by now.”
Rolling up his sleeves in a dramatic fashion, Xander gave a nod and small salute and turned to head towards the back of the cottage where two loud voices argued over who was hogging the cake of soap. Kyr couldn’t see down the hallway leading to what she assumed was bedrooms and a bathing chamber. The main room they had entered consisted of the cooking area and family living space. A long table separated the two areas. She got an impression of a cozy, comfortable home before turning her attention back to their hostess.
“Those two will be the death of me,” Lore sighed, turning and walking over to a tall wooden cabinet next to the cooking fire. She pulled out two bowls and handed them to Kyr. “Thanks, Kaya. There should be room for you and Tavin on the far end of the table there. Might be a little cramped, seein’ as your man is twice the size of some.”
Smiling at Lore’s wink, Kyr turned to make room at the table. She noticed Ty had finished his surreptitious inspection of the home and was now looking towards the hallway. They could both hear Xander taking control of the soap war. Loud giggling filled the room.
“We’ve some spoons in that bin, if ya’ve a mind, Kaya,” Lore said as she lifted the heavy lid off the pot over the fire using both of her hands and a thick towel.
“Of course.”
Kyr reached into the bin for a couple of spoons. When she turned to place them on the table, she noticed Ty’s gaze drift down. A little girl with soft orange curls toddled out of the hallway. She was so small that Kyr had no idea how old she was. Neither she nor Ty had ever been this close to such a young child, though. She sensed his curiosity as the girl
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