Fed stone wins wars.
I smiled to myself.
Thank you, Tora.
I pulled off my black shirt. Too much blood had sprayed all over it, making the fabric soaked. Air cooled my damp skin. My muscles eased under the temperature shift, but the faint stickiness of blood still clung to my chest and arms.
Yoichi approached me with a dark gray towel.
I gave him my shirt, took the towel, and wiped the blood from my hands. The towel grew darker with each pass across my palms and knuckles. “Dismiss the Fangs and Scales. I want every man fed and asleep within the hour.”
Yoichi nodded. “And the Claws?”
I checked them.
Hiro now sat in a chair next to my desk with one leg hooked lazily over the armrest, as he twirled a new lollipop in his hand. This one was white and sparkling blue. Upon seeing me watching him, he popped the lollipop in his mouth and his jaw worked slow on the candy. Meanwhile, his eyes—half-lidded and sharp—never left me.
What do you want, brother?
The Claws had sat down too. Beside him, they shifted in their seats, shoulders squared, boots planted wide, and their hands resting just a little too close to the hilts of their blades. None of them spoke, but the air around them was heavy with the weight of unsaid words.
Whatever this is about. . .it will be stupid.
“I’ll deal with the Claws, Yoichi. You handle everyone else.” I rolled my eyes. “Also, tell the guards on the outer gates to double the watch until dawn. Then rotate them out for rest.”
Yoichi gave a short nod. “Got it.”
“The outer perimeter of the island stays tight. Put a curfew up for all families to keep the guards night shift easier. Also, I don’t want anyone insidethishouse past midnight.”
“No problem.”
“At first light, call the captains. We convene at nine.” I yawned. “By tomorrow, I want updated maps of every port and all Fox-controlled territories on my desk.”
“Got it. See you tomorrow.” Yoichi gave another short nod and began gathering the Fangs and Scales to the other side of the room.
I remained there and put my view back to my desk.
In no time, Hiro had left the chair and headed my way.
The Claws followed him.
When they got to me, I leaned my head to the side. “What’s wrong?”
“Your Tiger left.”
“I saw.”
“I had hoped to speak with her.”
I quirked my eyebrows. “Why?”
“The Claws and I still have our grievances to address.”
My tone was sharper than it needed to be. “She’s not cooking for you all, so drop it.”
“Now that she is the Dragon’s Heart, she must cook for us.”
“What the hell would give you that idea?”
