Page 94 of Dragon 7

“I must agree.” Yoichi inclined his gold kitsune in agreement. "It will be a Fangs party with significantly better music."

"And better women," Satoshi added flatly.

"And better food," Rin finished. "Our Tiger is undoubtedly planning the menu as we stand here."

Reo raised one finger. “Not to disappoint anyone, but. . .my birthday is coming up so. . .if you’re invited to our Tiger’s Cheese party first. . .well. . .know that the Fangs party will happen after. Have patience.”

Several chuckled.

Beside me, Kenji groaned in annoyance. "She is not planning anything. She has other concerns tonight."

"Respectfully, Kenji. Tora is planning." Kaoru's voice carried perfect confidence. "She is in that basement right now with a notebook making lists. Hors d'oeuvres. Signature cocktails. A theme. Probably a color palette."

Yoichi chuckled.

Kaoru continued, "She is a woman of impeccable taste. She knows we are the Dragon's Fangs. She knows what we deserve. She understands the hierarchy."

Satoshi nodded. "And we must have her grandmother at the Fangs party too. She’ll be an honorary guest. I’ve already put in the special order for her grandmother’s gifts that I. . .hope her grandmother will like."

“Enough.” Kenji let out a breath behind his mask that landed somewhere between a growl and a sigh. “We are at war right now.”

I rolled the lollipop against my back teeth and shook my head behind the Hannya.

Fools. All of them. Our Tiger knows better.

Nyomi had learned. She had been corrected. She understood the hierarchy now and would not betray it twice. Our Tiger was sitting in that basement at this very moment with her notebook, drawing little claws beside our names, planning the menu for the Claws Cocktail Party: Part Two.

The elegant sequel.

There would be cornbread drizzled in hot honey for Toma. There would be macaroni and cheese in a small ceramic dish for Aki and Yuki, with two spoons and a large bowl for Reo. There would be glazed yams in warm bourbon butter for Daisuke. There would be something pristine and beautiful for Kaede on a white plate with no crumbs.

And most of all. . .there would be a single perfect lollipop for me. Gold. With my name on the stick in her pretty handwriting.

The Fangs could fight us for it.

We would win.

I almost smiled behind my mask as I shifted my eyes to my brother. He stood on my right with his mask still in his hand. The Wanyūdō stared up at him from his palm.

All I could do was study my brother’s face.

Same set of his jaw.

Same flat black eyes.

Same silhouette.

But underneath all of that, the foundation of Kenji had shifted.

I could not name or describe this shift. I could only feel it the way one experienced an earthquake in a bedroom— the wall, ceiling, and furniture looked the same, but the building had changed because of the vibration and nothing would ever be the same for that space again.

Why does he smell different? Where did those lines on his palms come from? What the hell did the Silent Ones do to my brother and our Tiger?

I shifted the lollipop against my back teeth. The candy went a little softer. I lifted my eyes higher.

Then, I felt something else among us.

What is that? I’ve had that odd sensation around me since I woke up.