Keen Read Online Free PDF Page B

seemed fascinated. Jherin placed his hand on hers and that one act had her moving closer to him.
    With her arm touching his, she told him of the races that had touched humanity over the centuries, had wars on their soil and made off with their population.
    They stood talking until the suns dipped down in the sky.
    Kyna sighed, “I need to return to the city. I need a meal and a change of clothing.”
    If he could have blushed, he would have turned scarlet; instead, he cleared his throat. “Food. Right. The little things that are forgotten when you sleep for hundreds of years.”
    She screwed up her courage. “Would you like to have dinner with me? I mean, folk might stare a bit, but I know a great restaurant in town and I am sure that if you didn’t want to fly back here, you could take the bed and I could crash on the couch.”
    Jherin smiled at her and caught her in his arms. “I would like that very much, and I am already dressed for dinner.”
    She laughed in surprise as he stood on the barrier and simply dropped off the edge, opening his wings to catch the heat rising from the sands.
    With strong beats, he pulled the air to his will and he brought her back to the city, landing in the restaurant zone with easy flexes of his wings.
    She was right about the crowd staring, but she grabbed his hand and pulled him to a table where they could see and be seen in the exterior café. He turned his chair sideways to allow for his wings
    Jherin took the menu from the astonished server and smiled brightly.
    Kyna knew what she wanted, but she went through the motions of looking at the menu while keeping her gaze flicking to Jherin’s studious expression. Now that the shock had worn off, she could see his large, pointed ears, the tight braid of thick navy blue hair streaked with silver and a thick thread of crimson.
    His features were broad and sharp at the same time, and the curve of his lips looked hard, but she knew they were firm and flexible.
    Mentally, she smacked herself and smiled brightly as the server returned. She ordered a light meal, tea and water. He ordered stew, bread, a sandwich, wine and water.
    The manager came out, and he spoke to Jherin, “Lord Jherin, congratulations on your awakening.”
    He cocked his head. “How does everyone know who I am?”
    She snickered; he was referring to the councillors earlier. “There is a statue of you in the main square.”
    Appalled was a good word for his expression. “You are kidding.”
    “I am not. It was how I knew generally what you looked like. The details aren’t in the statue though. You are much more vibrant in person.”
    He drummed his fingers on the table. “I want to see that statue.”
    “Well, I need to eat first. You can go by yourself if you like.” She smiled and pointed. “It is two blocks east.”
    The manager was looking at her in surprise, and she smiled brightly.
    The server behind him had a tray with their drink order on it. She beckoned him forward, and he reluctantly eased around his manager to deliver the beverages.
    She took the teapot and the smooth, round cup. He placed the water glass next to her and another in front of Jherin. The wine was served in the largest wineglass that the café could manage.
    Kee sipped at her tea and ate some of the flatbread and dip that the café brought out as an appetizer. It was one of her favourite things to have, and it came free with the meal.
    The manager wanted to speak to them some more, possibly to kiss up to Jherin, but the Drai was ignoring him in favour of the snack that Kee was taking down.
    “This is really good.”
    She chuckled. “I know. It is similar to something back home called hummus . I have asked for the recipe, but the ingredients are completely foreign to me, so I doubt I could get it right. I can just come here for it.”
    The sandwich was more of a roll, but it was another thing she was getting used to. The Jhenno food was close enough to her own that the alterations she had