by Claire Luana
But Kai had waited long enough. Nothing was certain anymore. Not her future, her kingdom, not even their very existence. If their world was plunged into darkness tomorrow, she was damn well going to experience its joys tonight.
“No more waiting,” she said, tracing her fingers through his flaxen hair, down his temple, lingering on the sweet flesh of his lips.
“Are you sure?” His eyes smoldered as he held himself back from her, searching her face for her honest answer.
Kai was struck by how profoundly she had come to rely on Hiro, to trust him. He was the firm foundation among the storm of circumstance raging around her. But tonight, he was the storm that raged inside her. And she wanted nothing so much as to be lost.
“Yes,” she said, standing on her tiptoes and crushing his lips with a kiss.
Hiro swung her up into his arms as effortlessly as if he were lifting a doll. He strode to the bed and placed her gently upon it, settling down next to her, moving the trailing heat of his kisses past her ear and down her neck. As his calloused hand stroked up her leg and found the opening of her robe, her thoughts dissolved completely, giving way to the enveloping pleasure of his body against hers, his hands tracing paths of fire across her skin.
They needed no words as the last line between them dissolved, demolished by their mutual need for comfort, for connection, to remember the beauty of love and life and what they fought for. Whatever came in the morning, for one night at least, they would know each other fully.
Hiro ran his hand though Kai’s silver hair as they lay tangled in each other’s arms.
“What are you smiling about?” he asked, running a finger across her freckled cheek. Kai couldn’t keep the grin off her face.
“I wish I could freeze this moment.” Kai sighed. “For the first time in weeks, I don’t feel completely overwhelmed.” Her smile slipped as she thought of the angry mob that had swarmed her gates only hours ago.
“You’re losing it,” cried Hiro. “Don’t think about it! I thought you were freezing the moment!”
She laughed. “I’m hopeless.”
Hiro’s stomach rumbled and he swung out of bed, walking to the table. “If the moment is gone, then I’m going to get something to eat. I’m starving.”
Kai’s cheeks flushed as she took in his naked form. He was the first naked man she had seen…in the flesh. Paintings and such didn’t count. Although Hiro looked like he could have stepped right out of a painting, all tan skin and lean muscle.
He slipped back into the bed with a plate of food in one hand and a bottle of sake and two cups clasped in the other.
“You were peeking,” he said as he set them down on the bedside table. He lifted up the cover to take in Kai’s own naked body.
“Hey,” she cried.
“If I’m to marry you, it’s only fair to know what I’m getting into,” he said with a laugh.
“I think you just found out,” she said, suddenly unsure. The experience had been wonderful for her, but had Hiro enjoyed it as much as she had?
“If I wake up with you beside me every morning, I will count myself the luckiest man in the world,” he said, kissing her gently. Hiro reclined on the pillows and grabbed one of the cold buns off his plate, popping it in his mouth.
She grabbed the indigo bottle of sake and poured them each a cup. “Here’s to hoping there’s still food to cook a month from now,” she said.
“No,” Hiro said, his green eyes locked on hers. “Here’s to the best queen in a century, and the smartest and most determined woman I know.”
The words washed over her, soaking into her weary soul. Her lip started to quiver, and before she could stop herself, tears welled in her eyes.
“Oh boy,” Hiro said, setting down his cup and pulling her close. “What’d I say? What’s wrong?”
Kai wiped her eyes, trying to stop the flow. “Sometimes I don’t feel like any of those things. This is so big. How can I have the fate of Miina, of the very world, on my shoulders? I don’t think I’m even supposed to be queen if I can’t moonburn. And then there’s Chiya…”
Hiro looked at her, sympathy written across his face. “We know this light is extremely powerful. More powerful than burning.” He reached out and touched the scar on her chest gingerly. “I still think it’s a gift.”
“Some gift! I don’t know how to use it! I can’t sleep without waking up in the spirit world and almost being devoured by tengu!”
“Yes, but you will figure out how to use it. How to master it. And this Hamaio has been helpful, right? Given you valuable information?”
“I suppose,” Kai said. “Mostly she’s helped me not get killed.”
“Think about it. You know more about the tengu and the breakdown of the seals between the worlds because of this. Any insight is valuable.”
“I don’t like having something inside of me that I can’t control,” Kai admitted.
“I understand,” he said. “But some of the best parts of life are the parts we don’t control. Things will work out how they’re supposed to.”
“I don’t know how you can be so damn optimistic,” she said. “But I guess I’ll take it.”
“You’re not alone in any of this. I’m right beside you. And so are Emi, and Nanase, and Chiya, and all the rest. Whatever you ask of us, we’ll be there.”
Beside her. She liked the sound of that.
Kai stroked his face, his stubble scratchy on her palm. “I couldn’t do this without you.”
“You won’t have to,” he said. And then he kissed her again, the taste of sake sweet on his lips, and thoughts of war and demons fled from her mind.
CHAPTER 29
Kai woke that morning to a brief moment of bliss. Snuggled under her warm goosedown covers, Hiro’s serene face on the pillow next to her, everything felt right.
Hiro stirred next to her, brushing away strands of golden hair. “Hello, lovely,” he said, reaching out to stroke her cheek with his thumb.
She smiled and looked at him, trying to memorize the contours of the moment. “Hello,” she said. “Back to reality.”
“Not yet,” he grumbled, wrapping his arms around her and pulling her to his warm body. As his lips met hers, the door to her bedchamber burst open. Ryu and Quitsu bounded across the room and onto the bed. The frame creaked as Ryu landed by their feet.
“Woah!” Kai exclaimed.
“Rise and shine, lovebirds,” Quitsu said, bouncing a little.
They laughed, and Hiro ruffled Ryu’s mane. “Feeling neglected?”
“I don’t value private time with this one,” Ryu said, tossing his head towards Quitsu, “as much as you do with that one.”
“I’m a kind and gentle lover!” Quitsu said, waving his bushy tail in Ryu’s face.
Ryu snarled at him and Quitsu jumped away, chuffing in laughter.
“This place is going to the seishen,” Hiro said, throwing back the covers. “We’re up.”
Kai had asked her allies to meet in the library at the first bell to discuss their travel plans. Hiro went back to his room to change and Kai dressed in a simple white tunic and gray leggings. Quitsu sat on the table and looked at her with what could only be described as a smirk on his face.
“What?” she finally said, trying to keep the smile from playing across her face. “Am I not entitled to one minute of happiness before I’m killed by tengu and the world as we know it ends?”
“Just one minute?” he asked. “I would have expected better from Hiro.”
“Quitsu!” she said with a scandalized laugh.
He cackled as he jumped off the table and trotted out the door.
Kai reached the library a few minutes early. Master Vita was sitting at the large table, studying the illustrated scroll.
She kissed the top of his head and sat down. “I’ve hardly gotten a moment to see you,” she said, feeling guilty.
“Don’t trouble yourself, my dear. You’re busy running a country and saving the world. I understand that
you don’t have time to visit like you did when you were a novice,” he said. “Besides, your mother visits all the time. And having her back is a better gift than I could ever hope for.” Master Vita had been Kai’s mother’s tutor when she was a young princess at the citadel. He had helped her fake her own death and escape with Kai’s father. Kai knew Master Vita considered Hanae a daughter.
“I know. We both thought we had lost her,” Kai said. “And I thought I was going to lose you,” she added softly. Since Kai’s mother had returned, she had been able to treat Master Vita’s consumption. He wasn’t the picture of health, but he was no longer living on borrowed time.
“We do have much to be fortunate for,” Master Vita said.
Kai nodded and was surprised to find she agreed. At times, her situation felt hopeless, but she was still surrounded by people she loved and who loved her. They could do this.
“Did someone say, ‘fortunate’?” a voice called from the end of the library. “Because it’s fortunate your two best moonburners are back to bail you out!”
Two women in moonburner blues strode into the library, their silver hair glinting in the moon orb light. “Stela! Leilu!” Kai cried, leaping up to embrace them both. “What are you doing here?”
“You didn’t think we would miss all the excitement?” Stela asked, her striking eyes glittering.
“Demons to kill? Sign me up,” Leilu said.
“I’m glad you’re here,” Kai said. ”But…I don’t understand.” Stela and Leilu had been assigned to the palace in Kistana as the Miinan ambassadors to Kita. While Kai was happy to see them, she hadn’t called them back.
Stela grinned. “Nanase contacted us and asked us to return. She said you needed some help for your…secret mission.” She arched an eyebrow. ”And she can’t spare any burners from the citadel with the spotted fever in the city.”
Kai squeezed Stela’s and Leilu’s hands. “It’s so good to have you home.”
“It’s good to be home!” Leilu said. “We’ve missed so much. Demons. Lost gods. Earthquakes. And…we hear you’re engaged? Does he know that if he hurts you, he’ll have a long line of moonburners waiting to kill him?”
“Trust me, he knows,” Hiro said, striding in with Ryu at his side. He hugged Stela and Leilu, winking at Kai over their shoulders.
Emi and Daarco arrived next, Emi greeting Stela and Leilu with hugs and squeals.
“Is this a meeting or a slumber party?” Daarco remarked to Hiro.
“Who’s your surly friend?” Leilu asked, linking her arm with Emi’s.
Emi made the introductions, and the rest of their group arrived. Hanae, Nanase, Chiya, Jurou. Colum strode in last to the questioning looks of the others.
“I asked him to come,” Kai said. “He was the only one who didn’t almost die on the last mission. He’s a part of this if he’s willing.”
“As long as you’re still paying, Queenie,” he said, flipping the coin he always played with.
“I’m paying,” she said.
“Are we getting paid now?” Stela asked, laughing as Kai rolled her eyes.
They filled the chairs surrounding the huge table and talked through the details. Kai and Hiro would lead the two missions. Hiro to the north to find Taiyo, Kai to the south to Tsuki’s rescue.
On Hiro’s team was Daarco, Emi, Stela and Leilu. Chiya, Colum and Jurou would accompany Kai.
“You need at least one sunburner with you during the day in case the tengu attack in the light,” Jurou had argued. “Unless you want to take Daarco on your team.”
Kai had looked skeptically at Jurou’s thin, bookish form, and then glanced to Daarco. She didn’t like either option. Perhaps she didn’t need a sunburner since she could use her new powers in day or night.
“You wouldn’t deprive a historian of a chance to see history in the making, would you?” Jurou had finally said, and Kai relented. Colum had surprised her after all. Perhaps Jurou would prove helpful.
The teams would leave at sunup, as soon as Nanase gathered their provisions and weapons.
When Kai and Quitsu walked into the armory after dinner to retrieve their supplies, Stela and Leilu greeted them swathed in thick fur coats.
“Is it too late to switch to the tropical island expedition?” Leilu asked ruefully, her face framed by the fur trim of her hood.
Kai laughed and pulled Leilu’s huge form into a hug. “You’re a moonburner, remember? Every night can be a tropical beach for you. Keep yourself wrapped in warm air.”
“What about the days?” Leilu pouted.
“You tell Hiro and Daarco to take good care of you during the days, and you take care of them at night. Everyone comes home with all their fingers and toes, all right?”
“I have to say”—Stela lowered her voice, taking her massive coat off—“I am curious to learn more about Emi’s fellow.” She nodded her head towards Daarco, who was examining his own furs with a scowl.
“Keep an eye on him,” Kai said. “I think Emi will keep him in line…but he’s unpredictable. Just make sure he remembers that the tengu are the enemies, not us.”
When the rest of the teams arrived, Nanase went over the weapons, supplies, and food that she had gathered for their expeditions. Master Vita had come through on his research and had located precise coordinates for both groups. Hiro’s team was heading to the high northeast pass of the Akashi Mountains. Kai’s team would fly over the Tottori to the southwestern shore of Kita.
Kai approached Nanase. “Thank you for getting all of this ready so quickly. You’ve given us every chance. It’s up to us to take it from here.”
Nanase turned her intense hawk’s gaze on Kai. “Remember your training, listen to your gut, and you will be fine,” she said.
“Take care of my city while I’m gone,” Kai said. “And my people.”
“I’ll do my best,” Nanase said.
“And that will be enough,” Kai said. “I trust your judgment. Make the hard calls if you need to.”
Nanase nodded, and Kai knew she understood. The decision to use moonburners and citadel forces against Kyuden citizens was a heavy one. Kai hoped it didn’t come to that, but if it did, she knew that Nanase would use the appropriate amount of force. She felt a moment of profound appreciation for the other woman. She left her country in good hands.
As Nanase turned to distribute the rest of the supplies, Hiro slipped his hand into Kai’s, pulling her to the side of the room.”I feel like we were just here,” he joked.
“Let’s hope this mission goes better than the last,” she said.
“We got the information we needed and everyone came home alive. It could’ve been worse.”
“True,” she said, linking her arms around his waist and laying her head on his broad chest for a moment. “Be safe. Don’t take unnecessary risks.”
“Don’t be a hero?” he asked, stroking her hair.
“Exactly,” she said. He looked down at her, his vibrant green eyes roving over her face, as if he was trying to memorize what he saw. She pushed down the lump in her throat that threatened to choke her. This wouldn’t be the last time she saw Hiro. This wasn’t where their story ended.
“I love you, Kailani Shigetsu,” he said, kissing her gently. She let her world tilt for a moment in his embrace, breathing in the faint taste of mint on his lips, the spicy smell of leather and soap. And then, she broke off the kiss, pulling herself back to the task at hand.
“I love you too,” she whispered.
“We’ll see each other before we know it.”
“Promise?”
“Promise,” he said, taking her face in his hand and tracing his thumb across her cheek.
“Well, I guess…that’s it,” she said, pulling back with more than a little regret. “Time to go.”
“You’ve got to give a speech,” Hiro said.
“A speech?”
“Motivational. Rally the troops.”
She sighed. The constant expected speeches were one of her
least favorite parts of being a monarch. “Honestly,” she said, “who has inspirational words ready at a moment’s notice?”
“I’m confident you’ll think of something,” he said.
She harrumphed but turned to face the rest of the room.
“Listen up,” Kai said, raising her voice. The others quieted down immediately.
“We do this to restore balance to this world. To free allies who will help rid our world of an evil that tries to destroy us. The tengu won’t go down without a fight. Expect attacks. Stay on your guard, trust each other, and we will see this done. I can think of no group of people who I would rather have at my side and trust on the other side of the world than you all.” Her voice wavered. “Come back safe, because you’re all going to have to be in the wedding!”
Stela and Leilu whooped, and a ripple of laughter passed through her friends.
“Let’s kick some tengu ass,” Emi said.
INTERLUDE
Geisa sat unmoving. The pitiful fire before her had long since died away. Outside the cave in which she sat, the northern sun shone weakly, barely warming the frigid landscape. The cave stank from the fetid breath and musk of her creation, which sat stupefied across from her. Before she had smeared the mark on its face and called forth the dark magic of the tengu, it had been an ice bear, a majestic creature with thick snowy fur and sharp ebony eyes. The creature had fought until the end as the dark tendrils twisted into its flesh, transforming it from a free creature into this sad automaton.
Geisa used to love animals. As a child, she had swum every day with the iridescent fishes in the cove behind her house, diving in the clear water for crabs or oysters. When her seishen had arrived, a beautiful silver otter, they had frolicked in the waves, splashing through the surf and swimming out to the smaller islands to sleep the afternoons away in the shade of leafy palm trees.
She shoved the memory down, carefully replacing it in the mental box where she kept all her thoughts of her seishen. They were too painful to be remembered but too formative to be forgotten. She wasn’t sure how the memory had come free; she was normally so careful with her mental discipline. She had to be. The memory of the happy times always led to the blackest moment of her life—when her seishen had been killed, slaughtered in that hell-hole beneath the sunburner palace. That day she had lost her soul. She should have sacrificed her pride, her body, her sanity. Those unimportant trivialities she had been clinging to. Anything to save her soul.
