Free Coiled Snake (The Windstorm Series Book 2) by Katie Robison Page B

approach, he turns and stares at me. His eyes narrow, and the color drains from his lips as he presses them together. I wonder if he’s one of the “young ones” Paika warned me about.
    “There you are,” Paika says. “Where have you been?”
    “Morning run,” I say.
    “So early?” He raises an eyebrow.
    “I couldn’t sleep.”
    “I see you’ve met Jian,” Paika says, nodding at him curtly. Jian’s face constricts for a moment, but he quickly masks it with a smile.
    “This is Mokai,” Paika says, gesturing to the young man. “You’ve probably figured out that they’re here to escort us to the meeting.”
    “When are we leaving?” I ask flatly.
    “Soon,” Miri says. “After brekkie. They brought a car. If you have anything you want to take with you, you should get it now.”
    “I don’t have anything,” I say.
    “Well, let’s go inside and eat,” Paika says.
    Miri leads the way; Paika and Mokai follow close behind. I walk slowly at the rear, leaving plenty of space between us, although Jian stays by my side.
    “See?” he says. “You’re among friends.”
    “I don’t think so.”
    “No?” He frowns. Then he tips his head forward. “He’s the reason you’re still alive. I’d say that makes him your friend.”
    “Yes,” I sigh, “that’s what they keep telling me. But Paika’s still responsible for—”
    “No, not Paika,” Jian interrupts. “I’m talking about Mokai.”
    “Mokai? What do you mean?”
    “He was at the council meeting as an aide to the Riki , and he spoke up for you too. Without an additional voice, Paika’s plea on your behalf would have failed, and you’d already be dead.”
    “I don’t understand. Why would Mokai have spoken for me?”
    Jian gives me a strange look. “Well, if I had to venture a guess, I’d say it’s because he’s your brother.”

I freeze. “What did you say?”
    “He’s your brother.”
    “No.” I shake my head. “You’re mistaken. My only brother is in America.”
    “You have a brother in America?” Jian asks.
    “Yes, and a sister. They’re twins. And neither of them looks anything like Mokai.”
    “But you look like Mokai.”
    I frown. “That doesn’t mean anything.”
    “These twin siblings of yours in America—where do they live?”
    “Minnesota.”
    “These siblings in Minnesota, they are younger than you, yes?”
    “Yes.”
    “Right, well, Mokai is your older brother.”
    “I’m the oldest in my family. I don’t have an older brother.”
    Jian rubs his brow and exhales slowly. “Lǎo tiān, I’m so sorry to be the one to tell you this.” He takes a deep breath. “You do have an older brother. Your parents left him here when they ran.”
    I stare at him. “What?” I whisper.
    “I’m sorry. I thought you would have known.”
    “No.” I shake my head, backing away from him. “That can’t be true.”
    “I don’t know what else to tell you.”
    “No!” I turn around and limp as fast as I can up the path. “Paika!” I yell. I grab his arm just as he’s about to step through the front door and pull him away from the house. “Who is he?” I demand, pointing inside.
    “Mokai?” Paika asks. “I told you—”
    “No! Don’t feed me any crap. Who is he?”
    Paika rubs his nose and looks down at the grass.
    “Kava,” I whisper. “It’s true? He’s my brother.”
    Paika nods slowly.
    “Why didn’t you tell me?” I hiss. “What is this, some kind of joke? What were you thinking—waiting until he showed up here? All your talk about family, family, family, and you never once bother to mention I have an older brother!”
    “Listen, Kit,” Paika says.
    “No, you listen! You had no right to hold that information from me!”
    “I didn’t know how to tell you, girl! I know it was wrong, but what was I supposed to say? By the way, love, you have a brother? Your parents left him and took you instead. Bloody pueha.”
    I glare at him, heat building behind my eyes.
    The sound of a twig