Page 92 of Fumiko and the Finicky Nestmate
“Some of the guys growl.”
Withdrawing, Hallow asked, “Whatever for?”
“Not sure. Juuyu doesn’t, of course. He can’t. He does make bossy bird noises. Triggering a fight-or-flight instinct … I guess.”
“Understood. I hope.”
This time, Hallow slid his hand across Akira’s throat. The teeth returned, and he carefully firmed his grip.
Trapped and partially draped by a bat’s wings, Akira tried to relax, but a sibilant hiss kicked his heart into a higher gear. Even knowing there was nothing to fear, he was very aware that if he moved, Hallow’s claws or fangs could draw blood.
Jacques had been through this before, so he’d given Akira his perspective, which had been a lot more helpful than Michael’s descriptions of anchor nodes and soul bonds.
“You won’t feel a thing but the fear. So embrace your inner masochist and trust your dom. And Argent. He really is very good.”
Hallow adjusted his grip, using his other hand to cover Akira’s eyes.
It was a helpless feeling. Nothing magical about it. Falling back on his many rehearsals, Akira focused on his desperate need to reach Argent. Was he too far away? It was like flailing blindly in the dark, keenly aware of all that he lacked.
But then a pair of hands slipped out of nowhere, caught his forearms, and pulled him into a vivid dreamscape. Definitely one of Argent’s fox dreams, which were capable of capturing any person, even a dullard like Akira.
He was in the sunlit conservatory back home. Argent’s special haven. The place he’d insisted on bringing Akira for the application of the sigil that linked them now.
“What is wrong? You are distraught.” Argent gripped his shoulders, touched his face. “Akira, are you safe?”
“I’m between Moon and Hallow. Safe behind wards.”
“But you are distraught.” Cupping his cheek, Argent searched his eyes and offered a soft, “Tsk. What is the most important thing?”
“I’m not even sure.”
A silvery brow quirked. “Pell-mell, then. Have it all out.”
Akira laughed weakly, closed his eyes, and messily unburdened himself. “The team is forgetting things. Even me, at first. I was supposed to relay a message. Sinder says, ‘It’s no good,’ and Tabi-oji says my dad is alive. The pollen makes people forget, and he’s the Gentleman Bandit. And there’s more than one dragon, plus an island. I tried to tell everyone what I found out, but I’m the only one who’s immune. Because he’s our dad. And I know why the barriers aren’t working.”
“Is that all?”
“Umm … red flowers. I think they’re important.”
Argent patted his cheek and drew him aside to a bench. He made Akira start over, asking questions until he was sure of the order of events.
“Don’t be too hard on the guys,” Akira begged. “Tabi-oji is using some kind of pollen on them. It makes them forget.”
“I have never heard of a grove with such an effect,” he muttered.
“Pretty sure that’s the point.”
Argent huffed.
Akira dredged up a wan smile.
“I will come immediately. Expect us tomorrow. Until then, stay with Fumiko and Zuzu.”
“You’ll come? Just … just like that?” It sounded too good to be true.
“I am already making the necessary arrangements.”
“You are?” Akira’s eyes stung.
