My stomach dropped.
"But he needed to get off the call. Which means he's probably with the island's doctor right now."
“So, he’s badly hurt?”
“Yes.”
"And Kenji did that to him?"
"Of course."
The words landed like a slap. Heat crawled up my neck. "That's not okay."
"It's our way."
"I get it but. . ." The words flew out before I could stop them. "Reo didn't deserve to get his ribs bruised just because I saw a fire that traumatized me."
Hiro didn't flinch. "Reo disobeyed a direct order from the Dragon. He knew the consequences."
"Consequences? He's supposed to be Kenji's right hand. His Roar. You don't beat the shit out of the people who are loyal to you."
"You do when they go against your word." Hiro's voice stayed calm. "Reo moved that pyre on purpose. He wantedyouto see it."
I froze. "What? Why?"
"I don't know why. But Reo doesn't make mistakes. Everything he does is calculated. He put that fire outside my brother's window knowing you might see it. And for whatever reason. . .Reo thinks your seeing it will benefit you."
"That doesn't make sense."
"It doesn't have to make sense to us. It made sense to Reo." Hiro ran his fingers through his messy hair. "And now he's paying the price for it."
“I like Reo.”
“We all do.”
I shook my head. "I can't just accept his being in pain."
"You have to."
"Why?"
"Because this is who we are, Nyomi. This is the family you're joining. You can't come in and try to change everything overnight. These traditions, these rules—they've kept us alive for generations."
"They're barbaric."
"Maybe." He shrugged. "But they work."
I moved my gaze away from him, and balled up my hands, doing my best to calm myself.
Hiro's voice softened. "Listen to me."
I pursed my lips.
"Your presence is already changing things."
That made me look at him.
"I see it in my brother." Hiro's eyes held a warmth I hadn't seen before. "Kenji is softer with you around. Not weaker. Softer. There's a difference. He's starting to consider things he never considered before. He's starting to feel things he buried a long time ago."
