Shards and Shadows

Zara hadn’t spoken much since Hiroto left the room with Jasmine. Her smile had wilted, her stride had lost its rhythm, and her voice, the one that usually wrapped rooms around her fingers, was silent.

She sat on the edge of the courtyard fountain, staring blankly at the koi fish like they had personally betrayed her.

And then came the sound of boots on stone. Heavy. Unrushed. Like whoever it was had all the time in the world.

“Yo,” a voice drawled behind her, deep, slightly amused. “You always pout when someone picks the other girl?”

Zara turned, lips parting to lash out, but she froze.

Renji Tanaka.

He looked nothing like Hiroto. Where Hiroto was all polished serenity, Renji was chaos wrapped in smolder. His hair was slightly too long, tousled like he just got out of a fight—or a bed. His jaw was dusted with scruff, and a black ink dragon coiled lazily up one forearm.