Tears of the Neko by Taylor Ryan Read Free Book Online Page B

tried to rinse one last
time.
    But she didn't come in. Instead, he heard and
scented another neko at the doorway--the one he'd run into
yesterday.
    "Can you stand guard here for a minute?"
    "Guard?" And he could tell the other hybrid
was poking his head into the bath.
    "The new little neko--you know the one from
yesterday--he's bathing, and he's a little shy. Just don't let him
run off. Here's his leash. Take him back to the storeroom when he's
done."
    "Sure," the male voice chuckled, but then
Kayden heard the voice call back to the woman. "Hey, Yas, is the
kit okay?"
    "Yeah, why?"
    "I just..." the other neko paused and Kayden
froze, knowing exactly what was wrong. The other neko could smell
the blood in the air still.
    "What?"
    "Well, did someone cut themselves?"
    "Not that I know of," And Kayden could almost
see the woman frowning.
    "Yas!" the chef shouted.
    "Coming!" the woman yelled back. "Can you
check on him?"
    Kayden didn't hear a response, but knew he
didn't have much time. He scrambled into the new pants and shirt,
afraid they would come in to check on him any second.
    "Hey, kit," the male neko's voice called.
"You okay in there? I'm coming in, alright?"
    He quickly scraped at one of the small
scratches he'd gotten from climbing the tree yesterday, ripping it
open enough to cause a little bit of blood. Maybe they'd leave him
alone if they thought ...
    Kayden cowered as the larger neko stepped
closer. He made a show of dabbing at the tiny cut on his arm with
the towel.
    "Hey, you okay?"
    Kayden nodded quickly. He couldn't bring
himself to look up at the other hybrid, his body was shaking in
fear, worried they'd discover his debasement. He could tell the
other neko had noticed the swipe of blood, and when he glanced up
he could see the large hybrid frowning, trying to decide
something.
    Kayden suspected that the other neko didn't
believe that the small, rapidly sealing scrape was the source of
the scent, but as Kayden remained still under the hybrid's
scrutiny, he sensed that the other neko couldn't tell where else
the blood could be coming from. The neko eventually shrugged,
grabbing up his old clothes and towel and throwing them in the
large communal laundry basket in the corner to be washed by the
laundress.
    He flinched when the huge hybrid reached for
his arm.
    "I don't want to lead you like a dog with the
leash," the hybrid stated softly, looking a little sad. "Will you
walk nicely back to the storeroom?"
    Kayden nodded slightly, allowing himself to
be lead back to his tiny storeroom.
     
    ****
     
    "He's been very calm and quiet, my lord.
Doesn't speak at all," Ysmenia stated as the young count came to
check on his gift the next morning.
    Harrison nodded, knowing the boy didn't
speak. He'd hissed at Roman, so he made noises, but obviously
either couldn't speak or chose not to. So much had been going on
yesterday, it was hard to remember which--maybe Farth hadn't known
either. If the boy couldn't talk, it would make him an even better
present for Damien.
    "He seemed pretty tired all day yesterday,"
Ysmenia continued, "I sent him to bathe again and get dressed by
himself, but I did have Ellis guard the bathing room door, just in
case."
    Ysmenia hesitated, "Ellis did mention he
thought he smelled blood on the kit when he was standing
guard."
    Harrison frowned, "Blood? Is he hurt?"
    Ysmenia shrugged. "Ellis asked him and so did
I, but he only shook his head. We saw some cuts on his arms where
he had scratches. It looked like maybe he picked at the scabs. That
must be what Ellis smelled."
    "Odd," Harrison mumbled, rubbing his chin.
"Kayden," he said sharply to get the boy to look at him, and the
boy only cast his eyes slightly up. "Are you hurt?"
    The black mop of hair shook furiously.
    Harrison shrugged. "Well, I guess he's okay
then."
    "He's been extremely cooperative, but he
didn't eat much yesterday. He ate a little more this morning."
    Harrison glanced down at the ebony haired
neko kneeling at his feet, with the