Page 64 of Taken to Nobu
When Kiki steps back, it is as a different woman. The depth of her joy so profound that I am made to feel as a mountain, so effortlessly moved. “We begin tomorrow, Kuana, though do not expect to hold that title for long. I fully intend to have you prepared to join on the hunt after next rotation’s first thaw.”
Joy radiates from Reema’s gaze, and then from her ridges too before she is able to marshal them. “Hexa, my Xhea. I will be ready. It would bring me no greater pleasure than to wear an okami and fight just like you and alongside you.”
Kiki nods and I see water well in her eyes, which she struggles not to clear with her hands. Instead, she blinks many times. She nods again. “Then for now, you are dismissed. Enjoy your last lunar of freedom. The coming lunars you will sleep well and you will sleep hard. It will not be easy and I will not go easy on you simply because I like you.”
Reema bows. “Hexa, my Xhea. Stree’vay yah,” she says, and then repeats very cautiously in human, “zay-enk yoo.”
Kiki beams. “Thankyou. You are dismissed.”
Reema dashes off into the bright solar outside while Kiki holds both hands to her mouth and looks at me, Svera gushing at her side. “This is incredible! Can you not see the impact you’re having? How incredible. I’ll need to document this…”
“Can you see such an impact?” I echo.
Kiki shakes her head and covers her face fully with her hands. My warrior Xhea, for the first time, sheds happy tears. She laughs as she cries and as she cries, I fold her into my arms and hold her head to my chest.
“Shh,” I tell her as she rocks, shoulder shaking with laughter as she finally releases that last and final burden of her grief. “You are here.”
She nods and looks up at me, her chin resting on my chest. “I am here and the future is so bright.”
I brush the backs of my fingers across her cheeks. Of the six, four form claws while two remain faithfully blunted. “Hexa. But it only shines because of your light. We only shine because of your light. And that is why I shine too.”
“Then it will never be dark again.”
“Nox,” I say, allowing my ridges to unleash the full impact of the light that she brings out in me. I shake my head, kiss the tip of her nose. “It will not.”