I'd demanded to be part of his decisions. I'd told him we needed to discuss things before he burned over a hundred people.
And he'd kissed me instead of answering.
The Dragon hadn't agreed to anything.
Right as I was about to double down on my demand, someone knocked at the door.
Kenji's whole body went rigid. The dragon-shadow, which had been almost peaceful, flared back to life—wings spreading, jaws parting.
Kenji’s voice came out sharp enough to cut. “What?”
"It's Reo. I didn’t want to bother you, but the Lion wants—"
“Tell him I will talk to him later.” Kenji glared at the door. “I’m busy!”
I almost jumped.
Reo cleared his throat. “Unfortunately, the Lion isn't on the phone."
I felt Kenji go still.
Completely, utterly still.
Even his breath stopped.
Reo continued, "The Lion and his men just landed on the island."
For three heartbeats, nothing happened.
Then Kenji released me and turned toward the door, and the dragon-shadow rose behind him like a tide of darkness, massive, terrible, and ready for war.
Kenji frowned at the door. “Tell the Lion, I will be out to greet him soon.”
What’s going on?
Chapter two
Fractured
Kenji
The Lion is here. What the fuck?
I cleaned up fast.
Wiped down.
My hands moved on autopilot while my mind stayed locked on the conversation I’d just had with my Tiger—the way she'd trembled against me, the way she'd kissed me back but couldn't stop shaking, the way she'd looked at me at the end.
Like she was seeing the end of something she wanted to believe in.
Like she was still choosing me—even while part of her was breaking.
I've got to fix this.
And somehow the fucking Lion was here on my hidden island.
Who knows how he found it?
