Page 40 of Kimiko and the Accidental Proposal
“What’s that?” Harmonious whispered something to Ever and set him down, then extended a hand to Tenma. “Don’t be shy.”
It was a big hand, and every claw curved to a neat tip. Just like Quen’s hands. And the copper eyes with smiling crinkles at the edges are just like Quen’s eyes. Because this is his father. And Ever’s father. The kind of father who crashes sleepovers and wrestles on the floor and introduces himself to your friends. And a tiny part of Tenma—no, abigpart—wished that he’d been born into Quen’s and Ever’s family.
So he crawled closer and met this fatherly person’s palm.
A casual tug sent Tenma sprawling across a broad chest, and with a roll, he was trapped. Jaws snapped beside his ear, and he froze. Not until fingers tested the ticklishness of his ribs did he struggle. The ensuing battle could only be described as surreal—growling and dares, advice and laughter. When the tussle ended, Tenma was breathless and his glasses askew, and all he felt was … elation.
Harmonious obeyed Ever’s command tosniffenTenma, and after an unnecessarily noisy perusal of his scent, the head of the Starmark clan declared, “He’s warming to us. Shall we keep him?”
“Yeth!” Ever peered at Tenma over his dad’s shoulder. “For Quen.”
Tenma remained limp on the furs, by choice as much as necessity. Harmonious had him pinned and made no move to let him up. Something had changed, but Tenma wasn’t exactly sure what. Only that his pulse was thready with anticipation, and that he wasn’t even a little bit afraid.
“Quen brought you here, and that’s trust,” said his dad. “What do you say, Tenma Subaru? Would you be opposed to my treating you as pack?”
“Imustprotest,” came a voice, low and lazy. “I saw him first.”
How long had Lapis been watching?
Harmonious snorted. “Eloquence’s claim is a matter of record. But if you crave kinship, I’ll claim you next, dragonling.”
Blue eyes widened, then narrowed. “Are you threatening me?”
“Let’s call it a promise. But this one first.”
Tenma’s stomach flipped at the intensity of Harmonious’ gaze. And the enormity of his offer. Dogs were reportedly friendly, Spokesperson Starmark more than most. So this probably wasn’t as important to him as it was to Tenma. But even if this dog made offers of friendship and kinship to every person who strolled through his gates, Tenma wanted this.
“Please,” he whispered.
“Good lad.” Harmonious leaned down to kiss his forehead. “Welcome home.”
The sob took Tenma by surprise.
Quen’s dad mussed his hair and patted his cheek and quietly repeated, “Good lad. Come now, Ever. Sniffen your new packmate while I keep my promise to Lapis.”
And in a flicker of movement too fast for Tenma to track, Harmonious was gone, leaving Ever with him. Propping up on an elbow, Tenma saw Lapis’ futile attempt at escape. Laud had him by the elbow, and the hand on his shoulder must have belonged to Hisoka Twineshaft. Then Harmonious was on him—tickling and extolling the glories of pack.
Lapis’ imperious demands dissolved into fluting laughter and growled oaths, but Tenma thought perhaps the dragon was enjoying the attention. Just as he had.
With a gentle tug at Ever’s ear, Tenma whispered, “Your dad’s nice.”
Harmonious soundly kissed Lord Mossberne’s forehead, then turned their way. “I almost forgot. Would you do me a favor, Tenma?”
“Yes, sir. Anything.”
“Pass along a message to your teacher at school.” Harmonious traded a glance with Uncle Laud. “I need to keep Eloquence home for a few days—a week at the most—on a matter of importance to the pack.”
NINETEEN
Star Festival
Kimiko jumped a little when Akira brought his hand down with athwapon the edge of their table. Hardly the most polite request for attention—even boars were more subtle—but effective. Setting aside her jumble of forms, lists, and reminders, she looked between her partner and the girl he had by the wrist.
Isla Ward wore an expression of strained politeness.
If Kimiko had to guess, she’d say Akira was about twelve seconds away from the end of diplomatic relations and the beginning of sisterly wrath.
She’d met the other reaver, of course, but in that fleeting way in which two people acknowledged one another’s existence without any intention of learning more. Just like at Ingress. To be fair,everyonein class mostly stuck to their triad. This week was their first class-wide project, preparations for the Star Festival.
