Page 52 of Kimiko and the Accidental Proposal
Someone was going toregrettaking that girl.
Given the number of trackers in town, Kimiko was rather surprised they still hadn’t found her. Maybe Eloquence could tell her more?
A low bark from the back guided her to a straw-filled alcove partially sheltered from the wind by heavy curtains. Eloquence stepped into the open and quietly offered his palms. As soon as hers rested on his, his fingers tangled with hers.
“I apologize,” he murmured. “For asking you to come when you would rather go to your family.”
“My first impulse was to get home as fast as possible. My second was to text Sakiko. She’s fine. So’s Noriko.” She felt foolish and let him see it. “I asked you for time to talk, then tried to rush off. I’m the one who owes an apology.”
Backing up, he drew her into the shelter, which was large enough to accommodate a pair of russet-furred dogs with cloudy eyes and whitening muzzles. “This is Edge and his bondmate Flay. They belong to the Starmark pack. They’ve decided to … conspire with us, I suppose.” His gaze dropped and he gruffly added, “They offer their den for our trysting.”
“I see,” she said. Although once again, she didn’t. “Thank you very much.”
Eloquence seemed flustered. “They’ve always been matchmakers. As bad as my grandsire. Andfullof suggestions. To be perfectly honest, they’ll make terrible chaperones.”
Everyone knew Kith were sentient. But it was also universally understood that Kith couldn’t speak. Unlike the so-called High Amaranthine, they couldn’t take speaking form. Although Kimiko suspected she should be more concerned about his references to chaperones and trysting, she blurted, “What do you mean … suggestions?”
His mouth moved, but no sound came. His hands spread, curled, and wavered without making any sense. Finally, he forced out one word. “Specifically?”
Kimiko studied the two dogs. “Kith communication is limited to rudimentary concepts and inferences gained from the inherent force of personality that comes with sentience.”
Eloquence relaxed a little. “That is an excellent summation of Reaver Armstrong’s lecture. That is the way of things between a reaver and the Kith.”
“It’s different for you?”
He said nothing, did nothing. Had she run up against some sort of clan secret?
This time, she made it a statement. “It’s different for you.”
“May I confide in you?”
She nodded, and he led her deeper into the shadowy alcove, behind the two lazing dogs. Eloquence sat in the rustling straw, using Edge as a backrest, and drew Kimiko down by his side. It was warmer here and well-guarded. A good place for sharing secrets.
“Kith have voices.” Eloquence tapped his forehead. “We can hear those of our clan, our breed, and often of close kin.”
“They speak in your thoughts.”
“Yes. And I speak for them. That’s my role in the pack.” He edged closer so their arms touched. “That’s why my father named me Eloquence. I speak for those who cannot.”
“So you’re in charge of the Kith?”
Edge grunted, and Flay reached over her mate’s back to nose Eloquence’s hair. He chuckled and said, “I’m theirs more than they are mine.”
“And they know about the betrothal thing?” Kimiko responded to his restlessness. As soon as she shifted forward, his arm slipped around her back.
“Rise was there, and he was pleased.” Now that she was tucked up against his side, Eloquence seemed to relax. “Word spreads fast when Kith are involved.”
“I see,” she said. And this time, she thought she did. “Should we talk about what’s supposed to happen next?”
“Yes. Because my father spoke with me on the matter.” His voice was soft, calm, yet somehow cautious. “Dad has no objection to your choice, but he set conditions for me. The chase is yours. You must court me, not the other way around.”
“I’m the suitor.”
He hummed an affirmative. “I will not initiate contact.”
Kimiko laughed. “Like now?”
Eloquence’s eyes widened. “This is not courting behavior.”
