Total pages in book: 160
Estimated words: 161615 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 808(@200wpm)___ 646(@250wpm)___ 539(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 161615 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 808(@200wpm)___ 646(@250wpm)___ 539(@300wpm)
He’s loyal to Kenji. Absolutely, unquestionably loyal.
Then, he looked at me and his mouth tightened.
He doesn’t trust me. Interesting.
That's what his expression said.
Not hostility.
Just. . .withholding judgment.
Kaede placed that glass eye in better view as if he wanted me to truly see it.
Oh my.
The glass eye was exquisite. Elegant and definitely custom-made. A crystal-clear iris with a sapphire pupil and gilded rim. Beneath the surface, threads of gold and mother-of-pearl shimmered.
The eye alone could have been showcased in the Louvre.
However, the glass eye also made me wonder what violence had taken the real one. A blade? A bullet? Torture? And when? How young had he been when someone tried to end him and failed?
Kaede showing off his glass eye to me. . .I'd witnessed this move before. Caleb Ward had done the same thing with his limp, playing up the injury to seem non-threatening before he struck.
But Kaede wasn't trying to appear harmless. He was doing the opposite—showing me his scar like a resume. A reminder that he'd survived something that should have killed him. A warning that underestimating him was fatal.
Hmmm. I still don’t think he’s the spy. Just pretty, clever, and probably very fucking lethal.
Reo went to the next Claw. “This is Daisuke. He is Hiro’s Shadow specialist.”
I didn’t know what a Shadow specialist was, but I bet it dealt with hiding in the darkness and observing. It made sense if that was true because Daisuke wore charcoal gray and was nearly invisible despite sitting right there.
How is he doing that? Blending into the setting like a chameleon. This is fascinating.
Daisuke had a black mohawk that cut a sharp ridge over his head. His eyes were still along with the rest of his body. He ignored me and put his view on Kenji as if waiting for the Dragon to let him know when he needed him.
He’s. . .protective of Kenji.
I could see that immediately.
But toward me?
Uncertainty.
He’s thinking. . .why is she in here? We don't know her. Can she be trusted?
Like the other Claw, he said nothing to me.
Just watched.
The Claws don’t trust easily at all. Or. . .they just don’t like me.
I wanted to shrink under their stares, but I wouldn’t dare. Instead, I met them head-on.
I’m the fucking Tiger. . .so. . .don’t you mess with me either. . .
On another note. . .I could feel Kenji's gaze on me the entire time too.
Not a protective gaze.
Not even one that said he was worried.
It was hungry.
The Dragon was watching me hunt, and it turned him on.
Okay. . .the Dragon loves seeing his Tiger bare her claws.
My thighs clenched under the table.
No. No. Stay focused.
Reo pointed to the next Claw. “This is Toma. He’s a Weapons specialist.”
I took him in. Purple hair. Tattoos crawled up his neck and disappeared beneath his collar. When Toma faced me, his grin went too wide and too wild. Additionally, he was handsome in a dangerous way—sharp cheekbones, eyes lit with mischief and violence.
He didn’t sit like the rest of the Claws. Instead, he was sprawled in his chair like he owned it. Still, his gaze was sharp and menacing.
He’s in testing mode.
I didn’t know why I thought that, but it was just what came to me.
Toma’s gaze shifted to Reo for a second and then he put his gaze back on me like I was a new game piece on a board he’d mastered—curious to see whether I was a pawn or something much more disruptive. “What do you want us to call you?”
Yes. . .he’s testing me.
I smiled back, doing my best to match his energy. “Nyomi is fine.”
“No. It should be one of your nicknames.”
My pulse kicked, but not from fear. From the thrill of being hunted while hunting. I leaned my head to the side. “And what are my nicknames?”
“There are many being whispered. Tiger. Outsider. Temptress. Chef. The Dragon’s Heart. The Dragon’s Noose.” Toma's eyes never left mine.
He’s testing to see if I’ll hide behind Kenji.
“Hmmm.” I considered the names. “I like all of them for different reasons, but perhaps, we can start with Tiger for now. I also love Tora.”
“Tora, huh?” That mischievous grin widened. “But do you bite?”
I began to open my mouth, but Kenji beat me to the response, and his voice went deadly. “Keep talking and it won’t be the Tiger’s bite that you would worry about.”
The grin instantly left Toma’s face. He kept his gaze on me and laughed, but it wasn't welcoming. It was a challenge as if he were saying, ‘Eventually, I’m going to see what you're made of, little Tiger and the Dragon won’t be around to help you.’
Kenji sneered at them all. "She will only be addressed as Nyomi at this time. Nothing else. I hear anyone say Tiger or Tora and there will be a problem."
Oh God. Can you let me get to know them?