Page 134 of Kimiko and the Accidental Proposal
The dragon exhaled on a fluttering note that breezed straight through Tenma, like breath across embers, kindling fresh flames.
“Is he taming him?” asked Yoota.
“Who’s taming whom?” whispered Ploom. “I can’t tell.”
Hanoo cautiously asked, “Is that taming ortending? Because I think they’re both gaining.”
Yoota ventured, “Does it matter? Seems to be doing them both some good.”
“Of course it matters,” said Ploom, whose happiness shone in Tenma’s periphery. “Now hush. I don’t want to miss the miracle.”
Tenma jolted awake with a yelp of fear.
“Shh, shh, shh,” soothed Hanoo. “It’s just us, remember?”
But Tenma’s alarm was ramping up.
Low voices came from the direction of the door. “ … personal wards must have spared you. A mercy. She is not one for delicacy.”
“How did that Icelandic waif fare?”
“Ask him yourself. Harmonious wants everyone back at the compound.”
Tenma twisted around to see who had come. Lapis and Yoota stood at the door, talking to a newcomer. Recognition made him feel foolish. Lord Mettlebright, one of the Five, was gazing at him with so much skepticism, Tenma lowered his gaze.
“Bad dream?” asked the fox in patronizing tones.
Hanoo took up his defense. “You spooked him. Ease up.”
“Fox,” said Tenma, swallowing hard. “I haven’t been close to a fox before now. Not to know it, anyway.”
Argent Mettlebright held up a finger to forestall whatever Lapis was about to say. Moving to the edge of the heap of furs, he crouched. “Subaru-kun, why are you afraid of foxes?”
“Because one tried to kill us tonight. Or was it last night?” He couldn’t tell how long he’d been asleep. “Inti and I barely escaped.”
“Really? Because nobody else has been able to confirm the presence of a pursuer—no scent, no sound, no trail to follow.”
Argent’s casual tone didn’t match the outrage Tenma was picking up on.
“Most are dismissing the whole story as a foolish monkey’s prank.”
“It was real,” Tenma insisted. “It happened.”
Argent shook his head. “You enrolled at New Saga from the human community. How would you know?”
“I can tell.”
“You claim to be an unregistered reaver?”
“Not exactly. Well, maybe. I don’t know!”
“Even if I were to acknowledge that unregistered reavers might be at risk, you do not fit the profile of the kidnapper’s usual prey.”
Tenma sat up a little straighter, wanting to be taken seriously “The fox wasn’t after me. She wanted Inti.”
In the sudden silence, Argent’s voice was dangerously soft. “She?”
FIFTY-ONE
