Page 105 of Kimiko and the Accidental Proposal
“Security breech located,” drawled a vaguely familiar wolf clansman with bandages everywhere. “No pictures, Akira.”
This guy knew his name? Akira checked the three crests on his armband, the first of which designated him as an Elderbough. “Boon?”
“You know it!”
He’d only seen this son of Adoona-soh’s once before, at a whelping feast for the child of her eldest, Naroo-soh. Gingko had introduced Akira to more wolves than he could hope to remember, but Boon stood out. Not so much because of his carefree manner, though he seemed like a friendly guy. But Suuzu had kept a wary eye on the wolf all through the festivities.
Boon bent until they were closer to the same level. “Seriously, kid. Today’s doings need to stay under wraps. Let Eloquence and his lady have some scrap of privacy.”
Akira extended his phone. “Sis was feeling left out.”
The wolf snatched it out of his grasp, scanned the exchange, then pulled Akira into a headlock before taking a selfie. With surprising delicacy, he tapped out a message, adding a full range of emotes. “Not every day I get to scold a beacon.”
“Not many to scold.” Akira checked to see what Boon was saying to his sister. “So how’dyouget hurt?”
Boon scratched absently at the edge of gauzy wrappings. “Nothing to worry about.”
Akira guessed Boon had been part of the rescue effort. “Would you happen know anything about Suuzu’s brother and … and his partner?”
The wolf’s yellow eyes narrowed, and he delivered another smart knock to the top of Akira’s head. “You reallyarea security breech.”
“Not forknowingstuff,” protested Akira. “Only if I tell what I know to someone I shouldn’t.”
Boon was back in his face. “And what makes you think I know Juuyu and Sinder?”
“I knew you knew! Is Sinder okay?”
“Patched up and perky as ever.”
Jigsaw details slid neatly together. Sinder had said he was part of an elite taskforce, and Juuyu had mentioned in passing that a wolf had helped him create his necklace. “Are you one of Juuyu’s teammates?”
“Here’s the thing, kid.Iam not a security breech.” Boon deposited the phone in Akira’s coat pocket. “The less said, the better. Savvy?”
With exaggerated solemnity, Akira said, “Your secret’s safe with me.”
That earned him another rap on the noggin, but it was light enough to count as affectionate.
Another possibility occurred to Akira. “Are you the one who added a barrier to Kimi’s room?”
“What’s it to you?”
Akira carefully adjusted his posture, trying for gratitude. “Kimi was glad. You did good.”
“Look at you, flashing etiquette. Seems they teach something useful in that school.” Boon gently adjusted the set of Akira’s shoulders. “You totally have an avian accent, though.”
Was that possible? He’d been living with a phoenix for a long time, but he’d never taken any notice of what Amaranthinedidn’tsay until Kimi brought it to his attention.
Boon chuckled.
“You made that up!”
“Nah. That joke’s older than tides.”
An idea sparked, and Akira considered the impulse to trust. He needed a little help, a little advice, but he hadn’t really decided who was close enough to trust, but distant enough to make secrets possible. He slowly reached out and touched the wolf’s wrist. “Can I ask about something kind of personal?”
Boon immediately lowered himself to the floor. “Anything you need, little bro.”
He laughed. “Gingko calls Kyrie that—little bro.”
