Tonight, I'd be searching the rooms of women who might have ordered my death.
Tomorrow, I'd sit for ten hours waiting to see if someone tried to kill me.
The air in the room had changed completely. The temperature felt even colder. Every movement more deliberate. These weren't men going to work—these were predators preparing for a hunt.
Voices dropped into low, focused murmurs.
Hiro glanced my way, eyes steady. “Looks like we’re teamed up tonight.”
“Yeah,” I breathed. “We are.”
“I’ll see you outside.”
“Alright.” I rose.
The room emptied.
Kenji stood too, but his gaze stayed glued to me—nervous, conflicted, pulled taut like a violin string.
For a moment, he just stood there. The Dragon who'd just dominated an entire room of deadly men now looked almost. . .lost.
His hands flexed at his sides.
Once.
Twice.
Then his expression cracked.
Just for a heartbeat, I saw past the fury and authority to the man underneath. The one who was terrified of losing me. The one who had to send me into danger tomorrow while he watched from three minutes away.
"Tora. . ." My name came out rough, almost broken.
Before I could say anything, he reached for my hands, tugging me to him. His arms locked around me next, and he kissed me hard enough that the entire space faded away.
One of those kisses meant to brand memory into my skin.
When we pulled away. . .I saw it again. . .behind him. . .the dragon shadow curling over his shoulder, watching me.
“Are you okay?” Kenji whispered, even as that shadow loomed behind him like a warning.
“I’m fine.”
“This could be dangerous.”
“I’m going with Hiro and the twins. I’ll be fine. You’re the one stuck in a theater with Hina and the other two. They’re women, but that doesn’t mean they’re not dangerous.”
“I’m more than prepared to deal with them if they try anything.” His hands cupped my face. “You keep your phone on you. Call me the second something feels off. Hiro will protect you with every breath in his body—but I still need to hear from you.”
His eyes searched mine, terrified despite the hardness in his jaw. “Promise me.”
“I promise.”
We kissed again slowly this time, desperate, aching, as if both of us knew we were walking into separate storms.
Then he guided us away.
Together we headed off.
