Page 138 of Tsumiko and the Enslaved Fox
“I didn’t realize.” She swayed in place, Kyrie in her arms. It wasn’t as if Gingko needed to check in with her, but his unannounced departure saddened her. “He didn’t say anything. Nothing’s wrong, is it?”
“No, no. While the gardens are sleeping, our gardener comes and goes a fair bit.” Michael beckoned her closer, his eyes on the baby. “Don’t worry. He always comes home again.”
“I wasn’tworried,” she protested, surrendering Kyrie to his honorary uncle. To Deece, she said, “I apologize for interrupting.”
He tangled empty hands in his lap and murmured, “No need.”
She almost laughed. Deece was as reserved as Michael was outgoing, a contrast made all the more evident by the constancy of their companionship. She supposed Michael was only trying to help Deece acclimate. Something Tsumiko felt guilty fornotdoing.
Even though she’d spoken to the newest resident of Stately House on multiple occasions, the sum total of his part in those exchanges couldn’t have amounted to more than forty words. And most of those were polite refusals, demurrals, or apologies. Language didn’t appear to be a barrier, and she didn’t get the impression that he was unhappy. But she wanted him to feel at home with them. Assuming that’s what Deece wanted.
“Come and sit with us,” Michael said, easing to one side on the settee, effectively pushing Deece into a cushioned corner. “You haven’t had many chances to get to know Deece, and I’m sure he’s curious about you as well. Cats arefamousfor their curiosity.”
Deece frowned. “That is merely a human saying.”
Michael rolled his eyes. “You’re curious, and so is Tsumiko. Don’t even pretend otherwise, because I know better.”
Tsumiko took the opposite corner, grateful Michael was so willing to seize his traditional role, standing—or in this casesitting—between the human and inhuman races. For all their sakes.
“You two really do need to come to terms.” Michael handed off Kyrie to Deece. “Indulge me?”
“Yes, Michael,” said Deece, who cradled the little crosser.
Michael waited until the baby was tucked into the crook of the cat’s arm before tugging Deece’s free hand into his own.
“Your hand, Tsumiko?” said Michael.
“Yes, of course,” Tsumiko agreed. “Thank you.”
He wove his fingers with hers, giving them a gentle squeeze. “Deece is too new at this to handle the full force of a beacon’s brilliance, but I’m sure I can mitigate the impact while preserving the essence.”
She wasn’t sure what he intended. “Do I need to do anything?”
“Leave it to me.” Michael relaxed into the cushions, his eyes sliding shut. “Quietly, now. I need to focus.”
The request was practically redundant. Tsumiko was beginning to believe that quiet was their problem. She fiddled with her necklace and watched Deece interact with Kyrie. On the face of things, the feline clansman seemed about the age of a university student, but she knew he had to be decades—if not centuries—older than her. Deece wasn’t young in years, but he seemed inexperienced with humans. Sheltered. Shy.
Kyrie gurgled. The little guy was wide awake and far more alert to his surroundings than Lilya was yet. He made several grabs at Deece and was rewarded with a finger to hold. Kyrie burbled again, and Tsumiko realized that he was trying to mimic Deece’s near-inaudible purr. The Amaranthine nuzzled Kyrie’s cheek to hide his smile.
She bit her lip, trying not to laugh. Deece was so good with the newborns, a real natural; Suuzu had been similarly nurturing. Was this a common Amaranthine trait? If they needed to add to Stately House’s staff, perhaps they should invite other Amaranthine to join them. Ones willing to cuddle and care for children from diverse backgrounds.
Michael interrupted her rambling thoughts. “Getting anything?” he asked.
Tsumiko shook her head, but paused. What was that? Once she was paying attention, therewassomething. Faint but unwavering, a gentle pressure just beyond the boundary she’d begun to assign asself. Tsumiko’s gaze snapped to Deece, who watched her with a wide-eyed surprise that bordered on alarm.
“Calm down, my friend,” Michael soothed. “This should have all the hallmarks of tending, but without the essential exchange.”
Fleeting impressions filtered through the connection, feelings not her own. Awe and embarrassment, dedication and determination, solemnity and sensuality. All at the surface, all hinting at greater depths. Was Deece gleaning similar things about her?
“I didn’t know something like this was possible,” said Tsumiko.
“Neither did I,” said Michael. “I’m improvising.”
She tightened her hold on this man who was both barrier and bridge. “You’re actually kind of amazing, aren’t you?”
“Isn’t everyone?” He settled back against the cushions. “Go on, then, you two. Take advantage. Here’s your chance to get to know one another without needing pesky little things like words.”
Tsumiko lapsed into silence and, as she was accustomed to doing with Argent, left herself wide open. Deece rewarded her trust with increasing confidence. Hazy confusion and prickly caution slowly lifted, revealing an earnest, exasperated, eager personality. Despite all protests, Deece fairly vibrated with curiosity; however, it was tempered by a deference that seemed to apply to gender. And she sensed a bedrock conviction that she had trouble putting into words. An all-encompassing attitude, a defining quality. Perhaps this was Deece himself?
