Rayna's Sacrifice (The Katori Chronicles Book 3) by A. Lombardo (intellectual books to read .TXT) 📗

jump to the conclusion. I only wonder why Mariana chose to stay away. Why hide you?”

Kai knew why. Keegan was not a nice man, and she feared him finding her and Kai. Pretending Kai was a Half-Light gave them security. “Only my mother knows the answer.”

Tempted, Kai wanted to ask how old Ari really was, even though that was not considered polite. But nothing about the past few days had been polite. Time for answers. “Ari, it may be wrong to ask, but how old are you?”

Reserved, Ari folded his arms across his chest. “I am seventy-three.”

Shocked, Kai shook his head. The man in front of him could hardly be a few years older than he was—twenty-three at the most. His mind spun with questions.

“How old is Orin?” Kai asked cautiously.

Ari smirked. “The old man is two hundred and fifty-two. He is among the oldest. Great man. You should spend time with him. He could teach you more than us young folk.”

Kai stood stunned. What else could he ask?

Before he could learn more, a young blonde woman swept Ari away. They merged with the other dancers. Kai observed the subtle changes in the room, the changes in the people. Their magnified aura had nearly faded. Everything looked more natural. Only the tiniest light emanated from the crowd.

The evening had settled over the sky. The once bright skylight had turned a blend of purple and blue. Starlight pricked the night sky. More and more people sat on the floor. Placed in their center, irregular shaped blue crystals illuminated their conversations. A few groups surrounded musicians or storytellers.

Kai’s sensitive aura sensed a growing source of energy around the room. Crystals were set into the ceiling, and the walls began to glimmer. Stones on the columns and floor slowly came to life. Their orange hue gave a warm atmosphere to the Agora. Near him he watched a woman scoop the air with her cupped hand and lift it toward the crystal. The stone bloomed yellow.

On the far side of the room, Kai spotted Lucca talking with a small group, deep in conversation. An older gentleman stepped into Lucca’s space. They exchanged words, private from the group. Unhappy, Lucca stepped back from the man and cut his eyes in Kai’s direction. Distress wavered in the man’s eyes. The group waited for Lucca to respond; instead, he threw up his arms and walked away, lost in the crowd.

Unsure what to make of their exchange, Kai searched the room for a familiar face. Haygan’s aura still bloomed as he danced with Simone. The style of Katori dance was unlike anything Kai had ever seen. Their moves were primal. They danced apart as individuals, then two lines of dancers crossed and formed a circle. One circle enclosed the other. The outer ring of men circled in the opposite direction, then narrowed in on the circling women.

Their circles collapsed in tightly. Each man took the hand of their partner and swept her outward across the floor. Together as a group, they danced. They were swirls of color drifting around the room. Palms pressed against each other when a couple met. They stared into the eyes of their partner.

Then they circled and pushed away to the next person. When the pair reunited, they danced together, then split apart to start the routine again. The more he studied their moves, the more he noticed the slight similarities to Diu dance styles.

Thirsty, Kai downed the remainder of his water. A young man glided by and took his empty glass and handed him another drink. The liquid was dark. Kai took a sip. It went down warm and smooth. Across the room Kai watched Rayna. Her aura remained bright. She was still surrounded by the ladies in green and politely listened to their chatter. He desperately wanted to interrupt and sweep her away into the dancing crowd. She winked at him, and he grinned back.

Before he could take a step, three young ladies blocked his view of Rayna. They advanced in his direction. Their statuesque figures were wrapped in various layers of green silk. The girl in the middle locked eyes with Kai. Baby blue eyes fluttered at him. Her graceful stride exuded confidence. Her long legs crossed over each other; her sway and poise could have balanced on a tight rope. Kai had never seen a woman walk this way.

All three girls closed in around him. Each had porcelain white skin. The middle girl took his empty hand in hers. Her silky black hair flowed down to her waist. “My name is Senina.”

The redheaded girl circled around behind him. Her finger traced the measure of his shoulders. “I am Ciera, and this is Linnea.” She gestured to the third girl, a brunette.

“We are the oak sisters,” Linnea added.

“We want to welcome you,” Senina finished.

Senina continued to hold his hand while the other two pawed his muscular arms. He pulled at his hand gently. Her grip tightened, and she stepped closer. “You will need a teacher.”

“We are willing…” Linnea added.

“…willing to guide you.” Ciera finished.

The three ladies shared a connection, their speech woven together, each one beautiful and elegant. Yet Kai could tell by Senina’s grip that they were no wallflowers. Their muscle tone told him they could put up a good fight. Katori people were known for their exceptional strength and speed. He was sure they were not to be underestimated.

The lighting in the room softened. Gingerly, Kai tugged on his hand and Senina let go. With the most elegant bow he could muster, he placed his hand on his chest and bent graciously. “I am Kai Galloway. It is my pleasure…”

A warm hand wrapped around his arm and pulled. Rayna was suddenly by his side. She curtsied. “Excuse us, ladies. I believe Kai promised me this dance.” She escorted him away. Slow, delicate music replaced the boisterous beats of the earlier tunes.

Kai downed the strange substance in his glass and handed it to a woman with a tray. Suddenly, Kai