Hiro's mouth had fallen open, displaying those diamond fangs. He had his cane lifted halfway, as if he had been about to tap the floor and forgotten to move. “I can’t believe you built this for us. I can’t fucking believe it.”
The twins had gone silent in a way that was far more telling than their usual fragmented chorus. One's hand had found the other's shoulder, while that twin held his brother's wrist.
Kaede and Daisuke exchanged stunned glances.
My Tora.
This was a perfect moment, if not for the slave kneeling by her side. At least he’d kept that three feet of distance, yet his gaze remained on her feet and it unsettled me.
I can’t fucking wait until he’s gone. I should have killed him.
Nyomi's voice pulled me back to the moment. “Hiro, what are you doing?!”
I looked in that direction.
Hiro had already dropped his cane and taken off his fur coat. He was now stepping toward that massive claw in those heeled boots.
One of the twins picked up the coat and cane.
Nyomi's voice sharpened. "Hiro?"
"I need to touch it."
Rushing forward, Toma nodded his head. “And then we’ll climb it.”
“What?” Nyomi let go of my hand and headed forward. The slave quickened his crawling. She shook her head. “Hey! You are not climbing that claw."
The rest of the Claws hurried forward.
Kaede unbuttoned his jacket. “I bet I can reach the top first!"
“No way!” Daisuke shoved him to the side. “Everyone knows that I’m the best climber.”
“You’re not.”
Nyomi raised her voice. "No one is climbing this!"
I grinned.
My Tora was still learning.
She’d put a large structure in a room full of overgrown boys who had spent their entire lives learning how to kill things, of course they would want to climb it.
Even more. . .I yearned to climb it too.
The violin carried the melody in slow, steady pulls, each note stretching just a little longer than expected before easing into the next. The sound achingly curved through the ballroom.
The piano followed close behind and the bass remained low and steady.
"Toma." She pointed one finger at him. "Put your boots back on. What the fuck?”
Toma blinked. “It can hold us.”
“I don’t think so and besides we are having a party.” She continued forward as all the Claws began to gather around one huge talon, slowly kicking off boots and shoes. “Unless you want to stop the party right here.”
That got the reaction she wanted.
They all paused from taking off their shoes.
