Page 66 of The Dragon 2

Low soldiers.

Couriers.

Cooks.

Personal attendants.

They were the shimmer, not the strike. The surface before the fangs sank in. They didn’t command but they prepared. They didn’t fight but they armored those who did.

Some stayed in their position forever.

Others—if they proved useful, sharp, and loyal—rose into something more. But almost everyone began as a Scale.

However, these Scales in my suite, were more than attendants, more than simple women. They had been chosen when they were still girls—hand-selected by my father to serve me. Trained not just in obedience but in elegance. Not just in detail but devotion.

Back then, he had called them myhandmaidens. Even then, I knew what he meant. They were truly chosen to be the ones to take my virginity.

But when my father wasn’t around, my mother would teach me how to properly take care of them.

“Power means nothing if no one chooses to stay,” She would brush my hair in the evening, long after the servants were gone. “Kenji, my sweet son, if you giveyour handmaidens freedom then they will serve you not because they are bound, but because they want to.”

Under her secret guidance, I gave them private quarters, free time, autonomy, choice. I made sure they had access to books, language tutors, music, and theater.

Listening to my mother, I never touched them. Besides, there were more than enough willing women for that anyway once I became an adult.

And in the end, my personal Scales, they would serve me to the end and even die for me. Granted. . .if they were ever harmed—if someone dared to touch a strand of their hair without my permission—I wouldn’t hunt that man.

I would erase his bloodline.

Yuki approached first head bowed. She was slender with her black hair twisted into a smooth knot. “We have the remaining items. May we finish preparing you for your meeting, sir?”

I nodded.

Yuki took her time with my dragon cufflinks, sliding them into place with ease. The gold cooled against my wrist. Each dragon’s mouth was open with a pearl locked in its jaw.

She adjusted the angle of one slightly. Her hands never shook. Her eyes never rose to mine. Once she was done, she stepped back and bowed low.

To my right, Mami stepped forward with the bottle of cologne.She misted it once at my throat, once at the edge of my jaw, and another beneath the open collar.

I inhaled slowly, letting the blend settle into me.

Then came the third—Hina.

She was the youngest but her hands were no less steady. She approached from behind and reached up to lift the starched white collar of my shirt. Her fingers smoothed the fabric, folding it into place. Next, she lifted the bow tie from a tray.

I watched her through the mirror as she tugged the silk until it sat flush against my throat and then carefully tied it. “Have you three enjoyed Paris this trip?”

Hani smiled. “We are excited about the opera tomorrow.”

“Yes. The opera,” I gave the slightest nod. “I hope Reo got you good seats.”

Yuki blushed in front of me. “Reo always gets us the best tickets foranything.”

Mami set the cologne down and gave me a final perusal. “You and Reo spoil us.”

I looked at Mami. “I spoil what belongs to me.”

A beat passed.