Page 40 of I Married Kayog

“What?” he asked with the least sincere air of innocence. “I’m merely trying to be helpful.”

“Oh, my God, Lin! Leave him be! He actually knows my name!” Tala exclaimed, clinging to Mares as if her legs could barely hold her while she fanned herself in a dramatic fashion with her hand.

I facepalmed while Kayog burst out laughing.

“Of course I do. I know the people my dove loves,” he said in an amused tone before turning his attention to her mate. “Hello, Mares.”

To my dismay, the Edocit pressed his palm to his chest as if he feared getting a heart attack, while an excessively shocked expression descended over his features in a performance that would put even Tala to shame.

“By the Gods! He knows my name, too! I’m so going to strut all over campus, flicking my vines like no one’s business.”

“You guys are hopeless,” I said in a discouraged tone between two chuckles.

Still, I truly loved that he knew their names. I hadn’t spoken to him about them. With his celebrity status on campus, he had to know this acknowledgment would touch them. I loved that he would show this consideration to the people dear to me.

“Well now that we’re done fawning all over you, can we lure you into joining us on a trip to the Xilqen Canyon? We’ve been dying to take the tour and ride the flying mounts,” Mares said.

Kayog scrunched his face.

“Flying mounts? No offense, but I much rather use my own wings.”

I snorted and made a mocking face at Mares. “Told you!”

“But I would be happy to fly alongside their mounts if you want to go,” Kayog said to me.

“Really?” I asked, taken aback. “You would be comfortable going?”

The gratitude with which he smiled did funny things to me.

“Yes, my dove,” he replied in a reassuring fashion. “The Xilqen Canyon is actually very quiet and isolated. Plus it’s incredibly beautiful. In fact, I can show you a secret lair that will blow your minds as to the wonders of this world and of its original inhabitants.”

“Oh, you’ve got yourself a deal!” I said, my voice bubbling with excitement.

“Can you show us as well?” Mares asked in a hopeful voice.

Kayog gave him a haughty look that had me snorting again. “I don’t know. Your wingless butts should probably stick to the trail.”

“Hey! That’s not nice, you party pooper!” Tala said. “You know you want to take us. Otherwise, we’re going to beat your girl’s ears down about how unloved and discarded we felt.”

Kayog laughed. “Wow, your shamelessness commands respect. Fine, you win. I cannot have my mate’s best friends bullying her because of me.”

“Good boy!” Tala said smugly.

“I aim to please,” Kayog replied with a flourishing bow.

Maker, how I loved seeing this relaxed and lighthearted side of him. Considering how many people were nearby—and failingmiserably at not spying on us—I feared he would be quite uncomfortable.

“You know, you’re way cooler than I thought you would be,” Mares said pensively.

Kayog’s brow shot up, his curiosity echoing mine.

“Is that so?” he asked.

Mares nodded and gave him a sheepish smile. “I expected you to be a little stuck up and slightly cold, not to say borderline haughty.”

Kayog snorted. “Appearances are often deceiving, my friend.”

“I know,” the Edocit conceded. “It’s just that you’re just so… aloof and distant that I didn’t expect this type of laidback humor from you. But it pleases me a great deal. As you can see, Tala and I are two goofs. And I need to stop letting her ruin me with her weird human expressions.”