Hiro laughed. A real laugh that shook his shoulders and made him look younger. He stepped forward and wrapped his arms around her, and I watched my brother hug my woman like she was the most important person in his life.
And. . .against all possessiveness. . .I smiled.
When he let her go, she went over to his guns and squeezed her finger again. Blood was still dripping from the wound, and she didn't bother wiping it away. She just pressed her finger to the top of Hiro's first gun and smeared the blood across the silver.
Then the second.
Hiro took the guns from the servants and stared down at them. His expression was unreadable, but I saw the way his hands tightened around the grips. The way his jaw tensed.
A second later, he brought the guns to his mouth and blew on them.
Once.
Twice.
Drying the blood.
Reo stepped forward. He handed his guns to the servants and looked at Nyomi with an expression I couldn't quite read. "I'm honored that you're going to do this for me."
"No.I’mthe one that’s honored. You’re the Roar after all."
Reo fucking blushed.
I rolled my eyes. “Stop making my Roar soft, Tora. I’m supposed to take him into war.”
“Sorry.” Smirking, she squeezed more blood from her finger. The wound was still open, and the blood came easily now. She smeared it across the top of Reo's guns.
One.
Then the other.
The red stood out stark against the silver.
“Thank you.” Reo took the guns, blew on them, and then watched the blood dry with the same focus he brought to everything else.
Nyomi looked at him. "You're a powerhouse, and the smartest person in this room."
Hiro huffed.
Nyomi kept going. "I love you too, Reo."
Reo's mouth opened slightly. Surprise flickered across his face.
"I care for you just as much as I care for them."
Reo nodded slowly.
"Be the competent Roar that you are. Think steps ahead. If you get feelings, if you feel edgy about anything—get all of y'all out of there."
Reo stood. He tucked his guns back into his holster and gave Nyomi a small bow—formal and respectful. "I will bring them home. I promise."
Then he turned and left.
Hiro followed him out.
The servants filed out too.
The room went quiet.
