Page 116 of Kimiko and the Accidental Proposal
“We are going to trade promises, and in keeping them, our den will be built.”
“Where?”
“Our den?” Quen placed his hand over his heart. “Here first, then in the place Kimiko lives, high on a hill, with many stairs and a great tree.”
Kimiko made a tiny noise. She seemed surprised. Hadn’t anyone told her the terms Hisoka had negotiated on their behalves? In as soothing a voice as he could manage, he said, “Kimiko will take my name, and she will bring me into her home.”
“Me, too?” asked Ever.
“Of course. You’re mine.”
“Uncle?”
“Yes, I think so.” Quen couldn’t imagine a den without Laud.
“And Rise?”
“Yes, Rise is ours as well. But Kimiko will be especially mine, and I will be especially hers. That’s what it means to have a bondmate. One for always.”
Ever considered this with furrowed brows. “Not me?”
“You’re my brother,” said Quen. “Brothers can’t be bondmates, but you can be my representative.”
The little boy turned to Kimiko. “I Bruvver’s res-sent-tive.”
She smiled softly. “Eloquence must love you very much.”
“Course!” He puffed out his chest. “We’s bruvvers.”
Eloquence thought it best to press the point, both for Ever’s sake and so that the whole clan would know how matters stood. “Yes, we’re brothers, and that will make Kimiko your sister.”
Ever held out his arms, and Kimiko took him.
“And when we have pups,” Quen continued, “you will be their uncle.”
“Me?” he squeaked, but his tail lifted and began a tentative wag. “Pups?”
Eloquence felt the shift in Kimiko’s posture—assertive, possessive. Without hesitation, he relaxed into an attentive pose, making it clear that the answer wasn’t his to give. Ever picked up on the change because he nuzzled Kimiko’s chin, whining as he worked up his very best “pudding please” to date.
“I hear you.” Kimiko smiled crookedly. “But let’s take things one step at a time, Ever. Promises first. Pups later.”
FORTY-FOUR
Torn
Tenma was feeling very much out of his depth. Having never really had close friends before, he wasn’t sure if he could be a good one to Inti. So far this evening, most of his impulses had been to correct and scold. Like a picky old lady. But he wasn’t trying to tame or change Inti. He wanted to understand his new roommate. That’s why they’d made plans to hang out together, from after classes until curfew.
“Aren’t your feet cold?” asked Tenma.
Inti swarmed up Tenma’s body like a squirrel up a tree. Claiming a seat on his shoulders, the crosser wriggled until his feet were stuffed down the front of Tenma’s coat. Arms and tail settled snuggly. Tenma knew he looked a sight, strolling down the street with a furry tail for a muffler and a monkey-boy for a hat.
“Good?” he asked.
“Warm,” agreed Inti.
“Youhaveshoes, you know.”
Inti gave the low rumble Tenma now recognized as the Inti equivalent of “ick.” Even the slight glaze of ice on Keishi’s sidewalks hadn’t convinced his roommate to use the shoes New Saga provided.
