Page 113 of Kimiko and the Accidental Proposal
Adoona searched her face and nodded. “Listen and consider. Kikuko is human, but she pursued a reaver and won his affection. Without her courage to defy tradition, you would not be here to pursue your own unlikely match.”
Kimiko blinked, then blinked again as tears threatened. Never. Not once had it occurred to her that she was following in her mother’s footsteps. Mama, who loved people and gossip and taking charge. Mama, who was hasty and stubborn and quick to befriend.
“Suuzu, am I like my mother?” she asked tragically.
The phoenix brushed her cheek with a hasty kiss. “I maintain my position—you are like Akira. Now take heed, for Harmonious has nearly finished building anticipation for Eloquence’s grand entrance.”
He and Adoona drew her into the center of the room and remained on either side. Kimiko faced her parents and Harmonious, who welcomed her belated arrival with a broad wink.
“The time has come to present my son,” he boomed. “Eloquence is escorted by my dear Anna.”
As every head turned, Kimiko went up on tiptoe, eager for a glimpse of the reclusive second wife of Harmonious Starmark. No one knew anything about Ever’s human mother. Harmonious always laughed off questions, saying Anna preferred a quiet life and thanking the world at large for respecting her privacy.
Eloquence’s questing gaze found Kimiko’s, his face brightening enough to warm her cheeks. And then he bent to speak into his mother’s ear. Not that he had to bend far. The woman at his side was quite tall and definitely not from their part of the world.
She was rosy-fair with hair the soft yellow of a sunrise sky, loose and straight as a mare’s. As she came nearer, Kimiko could see that her eyes were blue. A striking beauty, like a storybook queen. Most startling was her age, for while Anna Starmark was clearly a woman grown, she looked no more than twenty.
Kimiko was grateful that Isla had told her that this woman’s life was linked to her bondmate’s. Anna probably looked exactly as she had the day Harmonious began to tend her. A sobering thought.
Would Kimiko’s family grow old around her, while she remained unchanged, a living relic of the early days of the Emergence? Another thought came, more vexing than it should have been. Was she doomed to be mistaken for an adolescent boy for centuries to come? Perhaps Eloquence would agree to an extended courtship, giving her time to gain some semblance of maturity.
Figuring this was one of those times when she was meant to take the lead, Kimiko stepped forward and offered her palms to initiate the formalities. “Your son speaks of you with obvious affection.”
Anna’s smile was grave. “Twoof my sons are utterly smitten, and I have no doubt you will rally the rest in support of your pursuit.”
Her Japanese was perfect, if a bit formal. And it was a little difficult to tell if the lady thought Kimiko’s pursuit was a good thing. She tried to get a read off Eloquence and found he’d adopted the receptive posture they’d practiced yesterday. She firmed her own stance, and his demure smile held approval.
“Your kin are shrinekeepers,” Anna said.
“Kikusawa Shrine.”
“When I first came to this area, Kikusawa gave me shelter.”
Kimiko asked, “You lived at our shrine?”
“I considered it home.” Again, that grave smile, and Anna’s fingers tapped lightly upon the circlet of stones at her wrist.
Attention drawn, Kimiko saw that the bracelet was one of a matched pair. Each clear stone gleamed with an inner light, as if she’d captured starlight within the crystals. This woman wasn’t just a reaver; she must be a beacon. Suddenly, Ever’s fanciful description of his mother holding stars in her hands made sense. In the eyes of her child, she would shine.
“Kikusawa gave me shelter,” Anna repeated. “But I repaid them poorly, for I brought nothing but trouble.”
“I didn’t realize. My grandfather was more familiar with the shrine records than I am. I don’t remember any mention of a reaver named Anna.”
The woman traded a long look with Eloquence, who dipped his head.
“Ever tells me that you love the Star Festival,” said Anna. “Since your visit, he has been full of questions about angels and starfolk and saints.”
“The Star Festival has always been an important celebration for my family.”
“And for our pack,” interjected Eloquence. He nudged his step-mother. “For good reason.”
Kimiko was sort of relieved to see Anna’s expression morph into fond exasperation. She was less stiff that way, more normal. Maybe even approachable, once they got over the awkwardness of beginnings.
Anna said, “It might interest you to know that once upon a time, I was Miss Anna Green.”
“I see.” But of course, she didn’t. The English name stuck out, her accent somewhat different than Isla’s. Kimiko wasn’t sure if it signified a regional difference or indicated some earlier era.
Eloquence stepped in. “Before Anna met Dad, her family name was Green.”
