Page 194 of The Dragon 2

“Exactly.”

She tilted her head. “Still. That’s kind of powerful. Your brother’s out here breaking binaries in the most dangerous rooms.”

I gave a proud nod. “He doesn’t care about rules—never has. He loves what he loves. Fucks what he fucks. And somehow, in a world built on obedience, he’s completely free.”

Nyomi’s gaze softened. “So are you.”

I met her eyes. “No. Iwantto be. But I’m not, although. . .”

“What?”

“You make me believe it might be possible.”

She blinked.

The saxophone moaned behind us.

I pointed to the other trays. “What else do we have?”

“You are horrible with surprises.”

“Everyone says so but tonight even I can see it. You have me too excited.”

And with that she began lifting the other trays and I would eat while she let me know what I was lovingly devouring. “Here are candied yams glazed in warm bourbon butter and dusted with cinnamon sugar.”

Fuck me.

I was already salivating and I hadn’t even fully swallowed them. Just when I thought I had a favorite dish, she kept blowing my mind more and more.

“And then,” she said like it was the climax of a symphony. “Five-cheese mac and cheese. Cheddar. Gouda. Mozzarella. Jack. Cream cheese.”

I stared at the tray.

It was a fucking painting. Burnished golds—glistening, bubbly, and textured with crisped edges. “This is what Reo needed to check for poison. Isn’t it?”

She chuckled. “Yes. He had to get a second helping just to make sure the poison wasn’t in there.”

“I bet he did.” I frowned.

The jazz hummed.

I forked a portion of the mac and cheese onto my plate, the cheesy strands pulling apart in an intoxicating display of decadence. My mouth watered with anticipation.

Nyomi watched me, and for a moment, I forgot everything I was.

The heir.

The predator.

The Dragon.

All that fell away, one molten layer at a time.

Groaning, I took a spoonful of the macaroni and cheese and the moment it hit my tongue. Creamy didn’t even begin to describe it. Cheddar hit first. Sharp. Then smoky gouda. Then mellow cream cheese. The top? Crisped like it’d been kissed by fire.

I closed my eyes and let it melt on my tongue, chewing slowly, savoring every bite. “Tora. . .I don’t know whether to thank you or propose.”

“Saying thank you is enough.”