Page 2 of Kimiko and the Accidental Proposal
Clarion opened her eyes, and he chuckled. “Do you hear your sire? He plays for you.”
She squeaked and squirmed. Only then did Eloquence notice the source of her dismay, a figure standing quietly at the end of the porch. Watching him. And probably waiting on him.
With a soothing rumble, Eloquence strolled on. “Good nose, little one. You found a stranger, but he’s a friend to this pack. Trust your Uncle Quen.”
Her answering gurgle put a smile on his face. And a pang in the secret places of his heart. Prospect was so lucky.
At the moment, all Eloquence could claim was a vague sense of being cornered. But he covered his surprise, tossing off a casual gesture of welcome and peace. “Good day, Spokesperson Twineshaft.”
TWO
The Starmark Tribute
“Or good evening, if you prefer,” Eloquence continued. The deepening blue of the sky would soon be showing stars. He drew up before the spokesperson for the cat clans. “My brother may hold out hope that Clarion will inherit his talent for music, but I think she shows a tracker’s instinct.”
“My apologies for disturbing your dance partner. Whatever her path, I am sure she will be a credit to her den.” Hisoka offered a finger, which Clarion promptly grasped and gummed. “I was hoping to meet you, Eloquence. Can you spare a few minutes?”
He dipped his head. It was only polite … and probably a great honor. But Quen was a little wary of Hisoka’s pleasantries. They often led to suggestions that were more like requests, which could be taken as commands, and always—always—demanded a great deal of effort to see through. Like the time the cat had suggested Harmonious learn Spanish. So of course Dad made sure thewhole packwas fluent.
“I wanted to personally thank you for agreeing to join the inaugural class at New Saga High School. I’ll rest much easier knowing you’re involved.”
In point of fact, Eloquencehadn’tagreed; Dad had volunteered him. And if his father had been able to spare the time this evening, Quen had planned to argue his way out of the commitment. Hisoka probably knew, or at least guessed as much. So Quen filed his grievance at the source. “I'm too old for this.”
“But you look the part.”
Hardly a compliment. “I’ve waited for attainment longer than anyone. That’s embarrassing enough without being pushed into a group of human children.” Bitterness sharpened his words. “They’ll assume I’m like them.”
“Yes, they will.” Hisoka’s hand settled on his shoulder. “I would have thought you’d appreciate the respite, given the usual round of social obligations triggered by a young male’s advancement.”
Eloquence’s eyes stung. He couldn’t tell if the cat was being coy or if he was truly ignorant. Since all of Quen’s older sisters were bonded and building dens of their own, it waspossiblethat Hisoka hadn’t realized he had nine older siblings. “I will be spared. I am the Starmark clan’s tribute.”
“Yes.”
So hedidknow. “Then why…?” Emotion cracked his voice in an embarrassingly adolescent manner, and his face burned. The more he insisted he was an adult, the more childish he sounded.
Hisoka eased even closer and carefully took Eloquence’s hand, the one that wasn’t supporting Clarion. “This has been an awkward season for you—not quite full-grown, yet full of years. I’m glad your father will finally acknowledge your maturity.”
Eloquence nodded jerkily, but he kept his gaze fixed on his niece’s face. She’d drifted back to sleep after Hisoka reclaimed his finger.
“I do believe you’ll find common ground with the humans in your class. In one year, they’ll graduate, but they don’t really know what they want, let alone how to achieve it. And they’re under a lot of pressure to make the right choice, to distinguish themselves, to succeed. Except most of them really only feel trapped and confused.”
“Are you saying that's how I feel?”
“I am saying that this is the usual state of mind for those who stand between adolescence and adulthood.”
Irritation flashed so hotly, it was a good thing Eloquence was holding a baby. He forced himself to stay calm lest his spoiling mood rouse her. But even the fact that he was shorter than Hisoka was becoming a source of frustration. Why did the cat know all his sore spots?
“While I want Dad’s blessing, I don’t need it to know that I left childhood behind long ago.” His chin lifted. “What is the median age of your Amaranthine volunteers?”
Hisoka’s gaze never wavered. “All of our student representatives have passed but are close to the two-century mark.”
“And how many have reached their attainment?”
A slight hesitation, a wry smile. “Nearly all.”
“Am I your only straggler?”
“Yes.”
