Girls of Storm and Shadow (Girls of Paper and Fire, #2)(5)

Despite their differences, it seems as though the leopard recognizes all this—that Nitta is somehow kin. Because after a few more tense seconds, it opens its jaw and releases her bow. With a lick of its muzzle, the creature backs away slowly, its keen blue gaze still focused on her. Then, kicking up a flurry of snow, it turns and bounds back up the mountainside, disappearing as quickly as it arrived.

Nitta drops her bow. “Are you two all right?” she asks, rushing to help Bo off me. She’s breathless, a tremble running through her as she lifts me to my feet. She brushes clumps of ice from my coat. “Lei, are you hurt?”

“I’m—I’m fine,” I pant, doubling over to gulp lungfuls of cold air.

With a distracted nod, Nitta turns to Bo. “Did you see…?”

“I know—”

“The way it looked at us—”

“I know—”

“Do you think it knew—”

“I mean why else would it have—”

“Those eyes!”

“Incredible!”

“Why did you do that?” My shrill shout cuts through their excited voices. I brace my palms against my knees, glaring up at the two of them accusingly, still catching my breath. “You had a clean shot, Nitta. I had a clean shot. It was so close. It could have killed us!”

The siblings stare back, their pale green eyes wide.

“Princess—” Bo starts.

“Lei!” I growl through gritted teeth.

“Lei.” Bending down to hold my shoulders, he brings his round face close to mine, snowflakes nestled in his spotted fur and clinging to the hoops looping his ears. “Do you know who that was?”

“Who… you mean the snow leopard?”

Bo and Nitta swap an exasperated look, though their excitement is still alive, lighting their faces with a feverish glow.

“I forgot you humans don’t have spirit animals,” Bo says. “If you were a demon, no matter what caste or form, you’d understand how amazing that meeting just then was. For some of us, it’s incredibly rare to come across our spirit animals. You have demons who see their animal kin all the time—”

“Dog-forms, bull-forms, bird-forms,” Nitta lists.

“But for those of us with rarer ling-ye,” Bo continues, “we can go our entire lives hoping for such a meeting, and never having such luck.”

“That’s what we call them,” Nitta explains. “Ling-ye. Wild souls. And for any demon, the thought of killing your own…”

They both shudder.

“But you eat meat,” I say. “From each other’s ling-ye.”

“And thank Samsi,” Bo replies. “Can you imagine a life without roasted lamb? Or ox cheeks in tamarind sauce? Or—”

“Kind of getting off topic here, Little Bro,” Nitta murmurs.

He blinks. “Oh. Right. The point is no demon would ever eat the meat of their own form. To us Moons especially, ling-ye are as revered as gods. That’s why we couldn’t let you harm the snow leopard.” He pats me on the head. “Sorry about tackling you like that. Instincts, and all that.” Then, loosening a long exhale, he turns to his sister. Their eyes are lit with the same luminous intensity. Without a word, they clasp hands and dip their foreheads together, eyes fluttering shut.

Something jealous darts through me as I watch their silent embrace. All of a sudden, I want to be back at the temple.

Back with her.

Wren had been asleep when I stole out of the temple this afternoon, twisted in the furs we’d been wrapped in during our post-lunch—and post-love—nap, her dark hair fanned across her cheek. She’d looked too peaceful to disturb, and I’d slipped out from the blankets, careful not to wake her. Now, I’m craving the sight of her beautiful face. I want to hold her close to me, see her sweet, dimple-cheeked smile.

I shift guiltily. She won’t be smiling when she finds out I snuck out to hunt with Nitta and Bo.

As if reading my mind, the siblings release each other. Their faces are still radiant with a secret spark, though they seem calmer now.

“We should head back,” Bo says. “The others will be getting worried.”

“And who knows,” Nitta adds, bending to pick up her bow. “We might still run into a yak on the way.”

Bo beams. “Awesome! Lei’s first time eating yak butt.”

“Lucky me,” I mutter with a grimace.

Wren is waiting on the steps under the eaves when we arrive back at the temple an hour later. Though my heart can’t help but lift at the sight of her, the way she’s glowering at us as we emerge through the trees into the clearing, the snowstorm still swirling all around, makes my steps falter.

Bo lets out a low whistle. “Check out that glare. It’s enough to shrivel any demon’s privates.”

“Luckily Lei isn’t a demon, then.” Nitta nudges my shoulder. “Don’t worry,” she says kindly. “She’ll just be glad you’re safe.”

“And we brought food.” Bo waggles the bodies of the two mountain goats we caught on our way back. “No one can be too mad with you if you bring them food.” He puffs out his chest, looking self-satisfied. “Just a little something I’ve learned from my many romances.”