And he was still here.
Still smiling.
Still trying to steal cheese.
This is who they are.
"Of course." I winked. "Take all you want. It is your job after all."
Hiro's jaw dropped. "Really?”
“Yes. Really.” I shrugged.
“I had to fight just to get a taste."
"But, Reo has to make sure there's no poison."
“Exactly.” Reo didn't wait for further permission. He grabbed a croquette with his bruised hand and popped it into his mouth.
His eyes closed, and he groaned.
Kenji blinked.
One of the Fangs snickered.
"Well. . ." Reo grabbed another one. "I will surely need a further assessment."
"Told you," Hiro muttered. "The man has a problem with cheese."
Reo ignored him completely, already reaching for a third.
I laughed—and caught Kenji watching me.
In this moment, there was no dragon-shadow.
Just him.
And his eyes lingered on me with an intensity that sent a shiver down my spine—a shiver of warmth, not fear. I found myself drawn into that gaze, into the depth of emotion that swirled there.
"You've been busy," he finally said.
"Hiro and I were planning the cocktail party."
"I can see that." His gaze moved over the prep stations again. The scattered ingredients. The half-eaten samples. Then back to me. "Did you eat breakfast?"
"No. I was too focused on coming up with everything."
"Good."
"Good?"
"I'm taking you away from here. We need to spend some time together. Just us."
My heart fluttered. "Okay."
His voice softened, just barely. "We should talk."
Something in the way he said it made my chest bloom with heat, as if he'd reached inside and touched my heart directly with his fingertips.
