Total pages in book: 104
Estimated words: 104141 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 521(@200wpm)___ 417(@250wpm)___ 347(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 104141 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 521(@200wpm)___ 417(@250wpm)___ 347(@300wpm)
I hope you feel it.
But just in case, I have delivered this gift to you as well.
I smiled at the card and could hear him saying it.
I read the next part.
The pin in this box is shaped in the kanji for soul.
魂
The crystal used to form it is called Charoite. It is a rare purple gem found along the Chara River in Siberia. The Russians call it the Soul Stone. It is given when one soul recognizes another going through a deep transformation. It carries the wearer through change, releases fear, and aligns the body with what the spirit already knows.
I couldn’t wipe the grin off my face no matter how much I tried.
Reo, you are spoiling me too.
My hand drifted up to the neckline of my dress where I’d placed the pin. I looked down at it.
It was the deepest violet with veins of lilac and lavender moving through it.
I looked at the rest of the card.
Additionally, your HEART powers have been upgraded.
You may now add men to your detail at your own discretion as well as assign duties to your men around the island and the mansion without checking in with Kenji or me.
You have your own authority within this house, and it is no longer borrowed from ours.
Also, it has been brought to my attention that yesterday, you walked around the island getting things done on your own.
This will never occur again.
You have your own cart now with a driver. Anytime you wish to move, simply tell your men, "Prepare the cart."
It will be ready.
When we return to Tokyo, the same will apply with a vehicle. Tell your men, "Prepare the car." The car will take you wherever you wish to go.
If you need anything else, you have only to ask.
Your Roar.
I placed the card back in my pocket and a silly chuckle left me.
Alright, Reo. Thank you for your soul. I’ll take good care of it.
The elevator slowed.
The doors slid open onto the main floor of the mansion.
I stepped out, and the world rearranged itself around me.
The first staff member I passed was a young woman carrying a tray of folded linens. Her eyes flicked to my chest, found the pin, and immediately bowed without breaking stride. "Tora."
"Good afternoon."
She gave me a nervous smile and kept moving.
The next was a man in a black uniform polishing the brass of a side table. His gaze hit the pin. His shoulders dipped. His hands paused in their work just long enough to mark the moment. "Tora."
"Hello."
He blinked a few times and returned to his polishing.
By the time I reached the side entrance where my cart waited, three more staff had done the exact same dance. Eyes to the pin. Shoulders down. Voices low. Tora.
Do they know that Reo gave this to me? What’s going on with the pin? I’ll ask Kenji about it later. For now, I should check on my slave.
The afternoon sun pressed warm against my shoulders as I stepped outside, spotted the cart, and laughed.
Reo. . .
There was no mistaking that this cart was mine. Where the staff carts on this island were simple white, this one had been painted orange and had bold black tiger stripes along its sides in long sweeping curves. The cushions inside were black with gold hearts stitched into the headrest.
Now, when in the hell did you get this done?
The driver sat at the front in a black uniform with a tiger-striped heart pinned on his lapel.
Wow. You get an A+ for all the details, Reo.
As I approached, the driver turned in his seat and gave me a respectful nod. "Tora."
"Hello. I would like to go to the villa toward the East where a woman named Hiroko lives. It’s—"
“The Roar already let me know of its location.” The driver started the engine.
Of course Reo did. Mr. Anticipate Everyone’s move.
I laughed and climbed in.
My men followed.
That was when I noticed the kids.
Three of them stood on the side—two little girls and a boy. None of them were taller than my hips. They stood at the edge of the path with their eyes on the cart.
I could tell that they were desperately trying not to giggle at the silliness of it all.
The tallest girl had her eyes wide. The boy was bouncing on his heels. The smallest one had both hands pressed flat over her face with her fingers spread so she could still see through them.
I lifted an eyebrow at them. “Do you like my tiger-cart?”
That broke the smallest one. She giggled into her palms.
The other two cracked immediately.
I lifted my hand, curled my fingers into a claw, and let out a small playful roar. "Rawr."
The kids lost it. All three of them dropped to the gravel in a heap of giggling little bodies.
The driver pulled the cart forward, and I waved goodbye to them.