Total pages in book: 104
Estimated words: 104141 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 521(@200wpm)___ 417(@250wpm)___ 347(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 104141 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 521(@200wpm)___ 417(@250wpm)___ 347(@300wpm)
He obeyed, yet kept his gaze on her.
She lifted her view to the Claws. “So I need to—”
“Hold on. We want to say something first.” Hiro stepped forward and tapped his cane on the floor.
She chuckled. "Okay, Hiro. I’ll let you hurry up and speak since you clearly have a Chicago Players Ball to attend. I can’t believe you double booked on this important night.”
Smirking, Hiro adjusted his fur coat. “I don’t know what that ball is, but I bet everyone looks good there.”
“Damn right they do.”
“If you keep being nice like this, I may even let you wear my fur coat.”
“Then, I’ll make sure to be on my best behavior.”
“Mmmm.” Hiro flashed those diamond fangs. “Don’t be too good this evening. Promise me. We’ll be wicked together.”
“Promise.” Nyomi snapped her fingers. “I see you are trying to win this contest, but you’ve got serious competition. Thankfully, I have six trophies because I knew you all would show out.”
“Ha!” Hiro pointed at me. “I told you that there would be prizes.”
I rolled my eyes.
“Anyway.” Hiro cleared his throat. “We want to say thank you for what you’ve done. This space looks amazing. I know the food and drinks will be incredible. We all appreciate everything—”
“This space?” She looked around. “Oh. You all think this is where the party is going to be?”
The Claws bobbed their heads.
“Come on now.” She chuckled. “It’s just fucking candles in here. This is where you were all supposed to wait. I wanted to see your faces when we walked in.”
“Really?” Toma smiled. “There’s more?”
“Of course.”
Kaede shrugged. “But, we would have been happy with this.”
“Hell no. Not for the Claws.” She wagged her finger. “You must be honored. Right?”
And surprisingly, they didn’t nod, speak, or even move. They just stood there like orphaned boys who had never had a birthday party in their childhoods or had even been invited to an event worth speaking of.
Nyomi continued, “If we’re celebrating the Claws, then we have to go big or fucking go home. Seriously. I spent all day working on this with different teams.”
Even Hiro stood there speechless, appearing afraid to talk because he might cry or something.
It made me uncomfortable to see their hearts on display like this, so much that I turned away and put my gaze back on the goddamn slave who continued to simply watch my Tiger and nuzzle against her.
My jaw tightened. My hands stayed loose at my sides, my breathing even, my posture relaxed. To anyone watching, I was simply standing there—calm, unbothered, mildly curious about whatever Nyomi had planned for the evening.
Inside, I was calculating how many of the slave’s bones I could break before she turned around.
As if my Roar could still read my energy, Reo's mouth thinned by a fraction.
“Alright.” Nyomi held up one finger. "Give me a minute. Several hours ago, I came up with this idea and had them build something. I want to check and make sure everything is ready. I'll be right back."
She started to turn, and the slave shifted to follow—already rising to his knees and preparing to crawl after her like the faithful little pet Hiroko had trained him to be.
I held out my hand. "No, Tora. I'll hold him while you go check."
Nyomi turned back around and looked at me.
I continued to keep my expression neutral, easy, almost bored. "So he's not crawling back and forth. He’s had a hard enough day. You go check. I've got him."
For one heartbeat, I could see a little doubt flicker in her eyes.
“Trust me, Tora.”
Then she smiled and held out the leash.
I took it, making sure our fingers brushed during the exchange. The chain was still warm from her grip.
"Thanks, Kenji, and please be nice."
“Dragons are always nice.”
She frowned. “Well. . .be even nicer.”
“Yes, Tora.” I held her gaze a beat longer than necessary, letting her see nothing but patience, sweetness, and calm.
She eyed me for a second, turned, and walked toward the double doors. Those sexy heels clicked.
Toma opened the door for her but made sure not to peek in.
She disappeared inside.
Toma closed the door behind her and stood in front like a sentry. Daisuke came over too, creating a human wall.
Reo quickly went to the other door and shut it, making sure he could see both entrances.
Hiro pulled out a knife from under his fur coat and came closer.
The rest of the Claws’ expressions shifted to menace as they stalked forward too.
Fast, I leaned over, wrapping the chain around the slave’s neck, and yanked him up until his knees were an inch off the ground, snapping the slave's head back with a vicious jerk that compressed the chain tightly against his windpipe. His eyes blew wide.
A strangled gasp ripped from his throat as the metal links dug into flesh.
"You have my grievances for Hiroko." I crouched low, bringing my face level with the slave's. "I am truly sorry. Whatever your arrangement, whatever she asked of you—I understand. She was a formidable woman, and you served her well."