Page 91 of Kimiko and the Accidental Proposal
A barely audible purr began deep in his chest. Permission? Any doubt was banished when one large paw settled lightly below the sill, wider than the window, velveted against violence. Had he tapped with a claw, or changed after knocking?
She placed her hands over his paw, as if meeting palms, but her fingers pressed deep into dense fur, soft as his gaze. Her trust pleased him as much as his presence awed her. Hisoka Twineshaft was important to everyone, but he was here for her. All the things she’d ever wanted—even impossible, unspecified hopes—were coming to pass because of this Amaranthine’s vision for the future. Hisoka’s presence made the Emergencepersonal. Because her future was no longer bound by traditions, expectations, or years.
“What am I going to do?” she whispered.
Power swirled and condensed as Hisoka assumed his speaking form. Crouching on her sill, he touched her shoulder, then brushed her cheek. “About what, Miss Miyabe?”
“How do you choose what to do when you have all the time in the world?”
“Whatever seems best.” He seemed utterly at ease on his narrow perch. “Short or long, lives brim with potential. What you choose is as important as what you refuse.”
“Are you a bachelor by choice?” Kimiko winced at her own audacity, already signaling apologies for crossing into intensely personal territory.
Hisoka waved aside her embarrassment. “Your curiosity is natural, given your arrangement with Eloquence. And your considerable research …?”
She followed his gaze to the stack of books on her desk—all borrowed from the archive, all containing annotated folk tales of a decidedly romantic nature. “Yes. Isla was up most of the night.”
“If memory serves, many of theSongs of the Amaranthineinvolve the comingling of races.” His eyebrows arched. “And as far as the old songs of the trees go,Golden Lyricis often, shall we say,robustin its descriptions.”
Kimiko’s face was burning. “Honestly, Sensei, it was research. For courting Eloquence.”
He smiled serenely. “Did I not say your curiosity was natural? I’m sure I did.”
“I wasn’t looking for erotic stories.”
“Yet I’m sure you found several.”
Taking an apologetic posture, she mumbled, “You have to admit, it’s a recurring theme whenever trees are concerned.”
“For good reason.”
Something about his inflection gave her pause. “Have you ever met a tree?”
Flared eyebrows lifted. “Only yours.”
“You know Kusunoki?”
“As do you.”
“Most everyone in Keishi knows about our tree.”
“Naturally.”
He was teasing her. Probably. Kimiko raked a hand through the morning mess of her hair and grumbled, “Isla’s never mentioned how difficult you can be.”
“She’s as devoted as her father. Which brings us to my reason for interrupting your repose. Is my apprentice still lazing abed?”
His voice was modulated to carry, and Isla bustled in. “I’m here! I’m ready!”
“So you are.”
To Kimiko’s surprise, Isla bounded to her mentor and leapt into his waiting arms. She looked back, happiness shining along with the stars in her eyes. “Come with us, Kimi! Papka is here!”
Hisoka arranged the girl against his side and extended his hand. “Shall we?” he invited.
As eager as she was to meet Isla’s famous father, it wouldn’t be in her pajamas. “I’ll be right there. Go on ahead.”
It wasn’t until they were gone that Kimiko realized how deftly Hisoka had sidestepped her questions. No wonder none of the ladies of his clan had gotten their claws into him.
