The Claws don’t trust easily at all. Or. . .they just don’t like me.
I wanted to shrink under their stares, but I wouldn’t dare. Instead, I met them head-on.
I’m the fucking Tiger. . .so. . .don’t you mess with me either. . .
On another note. . .I could feel Kenji's gaze on me the entire time too.
Not a protective gaze.
Not even one that said he was worried.
It was hungry.
The Dragon was watching me hunt, and it turned him on.
Okay. . .the Dragon loves seeing his Tiger bare her claws.
My thighs clenched under the table.
No. No. Stay focused.
Reo pointed to the next Claw. “This is Toma. He’s a Weapons specialist.”
I took him in. Purple hair. Tattoos crawled up his neck and disappeared beneath his collar. When Toma faced me, his grin went too wide and too wild. Additionally, he was handsome in a dangerous way—sharp cheekbones, eyes lit with mischief and violence.
He didn’t sit like the rest of the Claws. Instead, he was sprawled in his chair like he owned it. Still, his gaze was sharp and menacing.
He’s in testing mode.
I didn’t know why I thought that, but it was just what came to me.
Toma’s gaze shifted to Reo for a second and then he put his gaze back on me like I was a new game piece on a board he’d mastered—curious to see whether I was a pawn or something much more disruptive. “What do you wantusto callyou?”
Yes. . .he’s testing me.
I smiled back, doing my best to match his energy. “Nyomi is fine.”
“No. It should be one of your nicknames.”
My pulse kicked, but not from fear. From the thrill of being hunted while hunting. I leaned my head to the side. “And what are my nicknames?”
“There are many being whispered. Tiger. Outsider. Temptress. Chef. The Dragon’s Heart. The Dragon’s Noose.” Toma's eyes never left mine.
He’s testing to see if I’ll hide behind Kenji.
“Hmmm.” I considered the names. “I like all of them for different reasons, but perhaps, we can start with Tiger for now. I also love Tora.”
“Tora, huh?” That mischievous grin widened. “But do you bite?”
I began to open my mouth, but Kenji beat me to the response, and his voice went deadly. “Keep talking and it won’t be the Tiger’s bite that you would worry about.”
The grin instantly left Toma’s face. He kept his gaze on me and laughed, but it wasn't welcoming. It was a challenge as if he were saying, ‘Eventually, I’m going to see what you're made of, little Tiger and the Dragon won’t be around to help you.’
Kenji sneered at them all. "She will only be addressed as Nyomi at this time. Nothing else. I hear anyone say Tiger or Tora and there will be a problem."
Oh God. Can you let me get to know them?
Kenji didn’t raise his voice, but the entire room seemed to lean toward him anyway, pulled in by gravity he didn’t bother to hide. His hand tightened on my thigh and pressed just enough to make the fabric shift against my skin. “I will not tolerate any disrespect to my Heart. Address her with respect, or bleed for the insult.”
