Total pages in book: 100
Estimated words: 101427 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 507(@200wpm)___ 406(@250wpm)___ 338(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 101427 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 507(@200wpm)___ 406(@250wpm)___ 338(@300wpm)
I couldn’t tell, and it didn’t matter.
From the far edge of the room, Reo leaned against the wall, hands in his pockets, and wearing a satisfying smile on his face.
Kiko finally spoke, “Does. . .she even know what that means?”
I cut my eyes to Nyomi, just once. “She’ll learn.”
Kiko’s mouth opened again, but no sound came. My tone had stripped her of the ability to protest.
For a moment, no one moved.
Then Reo finally left the wall and stepped forward. “Kiko, Eiji is waiting outside to escort you all back to your quarters.”
“Hold on.” I held my hand up. “It’s not time for them to leave just yet.”
Reo quirked his brows.
Kiko widened her eyes.
“I don’t want this moment right here to ever occur again. I want everyone to understand their positions.” I glanced at Nyomi too.
I knew damn well that she had asked me to bring Kiko in here as a test. I wasn’t sure if she thought I had been lying or if she just needed some clearer confirmation.
But I was pissed.
I was not the sort of man one should challenge, and she had no idea what it did to me—that she’d even questioned where she stood in my life.
You are my fucking heart. Babies or not, that should’ve never been up for debate.
And, I wasn’t completely angry she needed proof. I was more angry that she asked for it in the form of Kiko.
That was beneath her.
Beneath me.
Beneath us.
That’s okay, Tora. You wanted proof? Let me give you one you will never forget.
“But. . .” Kiko grabbed my attention and still appeared like she was struggling with not cursing me out.
I eyed her. “Yes?”
Kiko tried to recover, but her face twisted in fury. “She is your Heart? Her?! I bled for you. I prayed for you. I opened my legs for your legacy. I. . .I thought that would be enough. . .and now you give my throne to a woman who doesn’t even know our language. Our ways. Our customs. You bring her into your war room? You will not beat the Fox making these sort of stupid mistakes!”
I pulled my hands out of my pockets. “Yoichi.”
He spoke, “Yes, Dragon?”
“Give me my knife.”
Gasps spread through her crew like a contagion. Tet flinched. Kiko took another step back, panic swelling in her eyes.
Even Nyomi took a step back too.
Reo rubbed his temples.
“Wait. I-I am s-sorry, Kenji,” Kiko stammered, and her voice cracked. “I forgot my place. I am just. . .worried for my sons. Our sons.”
Yoichi brought over my knife and handed it to me.
I gripped it and looked at the blade. “Why would you be worried for your babies?”
“My twins are yours, Kenji. They are the Dragon’s sons. They are the heirs to this throne. I should be in this room with you, helping with the war and helping—”
“Aww. Now I understand.” Hiro clapped. “She’s the Mother of Dragons!”
This time the Claws and Fangs knew not to chuckle with him, although they were probably struggling with remaining serious.
Kiko trembled and rested her hand on her stomach as if that would shield her from what was coming next. “K-kenji. . .please. I am so sorry for any disrespect.”
I raised the blade slowly, deliberately, the glint catching the low light of the war room. Everyone in the space saw it. “Your behavior has been unacceptable.”
Her eyes widened.
“Pregnant or not, you are only my Ear. You are only my weapon. To think you are something more. . .to think that you can yell at my Roar, come into this room, and insult my Heart. . .” I took a breath. “It cannot be overlooked.”
The whole war room held its breath.
Her crew went still.
Shaking, Kiko lowered down to the floor. Her knees buckled. One hand clutched her stomach, the other flattened on the floor to keep from collapsing entirely. Her hair slid over her face. “Kenji. . .I. . .am very sorry. I will not do that again. I am—”
“Due to this disrespect, you are no longer allowed in this house. I see you in here and your crew’s heads will be sliced off one by one and sent back to Tokyo. Do you understand?”
Kiko remained in that deep bow on the ground. “Y-yes. I am so sorry.”
“But your apology is not enough.”
She slowly lifted her head. “Kenji, please—”
I glanced down at the blade in my hand and turned it once. “Luckily for you, I can’t hurt you, Kiko. You are a woman. You are pregnant. I am a Dragon, but I’m not a complete monster.”
She relaxed for half a second—just half.
“I must keep my violence man to man.” I tilted my chin and put my gaze on Tet. “Don’t you think so?”
Tet blanched. “Huh? Oh no. Me? No. I-I didn’t do anything. K-kiko told me to help her today. That we had a mission. S-she said I had to help her put your new lover in her place. That the American was a threat. I-I didn’t know about everything else. If I knew, I would have never—”