Page 53 of Fire of the Fox

He shook his head.

“Fine.” I caught a glint of something around his neck. When I looked down, a warm grip wrapped around my heart like fire eating away at a stack of paper. He was still wearing the necklace I’d given him. Smiling wide, I nodded toward it. “You still have it. I’m glad.”

He tilted his head back slightly as if to show me that the necklace was still in good condition. Seeing him again, with my necklace on, was like basking in the sun.

Clearing my throat, I looked out at the creek, toeing loose a pebble near the stream. “Rune said you’ll be at his party. Hopefully you’ll be, you know, less furry and more fleshy for that.”

He looked down at his fur covered body, trying to find something wrong or out of place.

Laughing, I gently poked his forehead, and he looked up at me. “I didn’t mean that in a bad way. Your coat is beautiful. I’m just excited to actually see you face-to-face and talk to you.”

The lighting in the woods was starting to grow dim with the approach of evening, so despite my hesitancy to leave the fox so soon, I started to pack up my belongings.

“Well, Mr. Fox, I should head back to my dorm. It was good to see you again, and I look forward to our next meeting, too.”

Smiling at him, I stood and swung my backpack over my shoulders. His eyes followed me as I waved and walked back toward campus. When I was no longer able to see him through all the trees, I was left feeling cold and alone. It would’ve been so easy to turn back around, but it was getting late. I’d have to wait another month and a half to meet him in his human or Fae form instead of his animal one.

I could totally wait that long.

Maybe.

Chapter Twenty-Two

THE SKETCH OF Rune’s mug taunted me. It was a beautiful design, one that would make a great mug, but clay was my enemy. I didn’t want to screw this up.

Mustering my focus, I worked the clay, molding it. Once the shape was right, I grabbed a needle tool to draw out the fox on the front of the mug, biting my lip as I concentrated. It spanned almost all the way around to the handle on both sides. By the time I finished drawing in all of the details, I released the breath I’d been holding, more than happy with the way it was looking so far.

As soon as I finished glazing my fox with color, class ended for the day. I gathered all of my things and made my way outside. As I headed to the English and Language Arts building, my phone vibrated. Rune’s name lit up the screen.

Come to the house tonight around 5. We’re gonna be reviewing everything you’ve learned, and we’re gonna go over some new stuff.

A nervous and giddy buzz filled me at the sight of his text. More and more each day, I found myself looking forward to Rune’s texts and meetups. He was stirring something inside of me with each of his jabs, his smiles, and his endless encouragement. I wasn’t used to feeling whatever this was, but I refused to pay any more mind to it. He and I were just pretending. Knowing it wouldn’t lead anywhere due to his no-dating policy, I couldn’t fall for him. I just had to play the part.

When all of my classes were done for the day, I headed straight to Rune’s. Once there, I approached the house with the sound of my heart pounding in my ears, and it felt like I was trying to walk through quicksand. I really needed to rein in my emotions so that no one could tell what I was starting to feel.

When I knocked on the front door, it was only seconds before Marlow opened it. He stood there in his Fae form. His brown and gold skin shimmered, and I could see the moisture that had gathered on his skin. His eyes were glassy like a salamander, and each eye stared off in opposite directions, making me recoil slightly. To make matters worse, he didn’t speak. He puckered his lips in an imitation of a fish, and he started making strange gurgling sounds.

Bassel came up behind him and pulled him back away from me. “Go back inside, Marlow. What would you have done if it wasn’t Bria at the door?”

Bassel shook his head and rolled his eyes as Marlow walked away from us. Marlow wobbled further into the house, leaving drops of water in his wake.

When Bassel looked at me, he gestured over his shoulder. “Sorry about that. It’s supposed to rain later, and when rain is in the forecast, Marlow acts extra weird.”

I shook my head and gave him a small grin. “It’s okay. At least you’re never bored with him around.”

He stepped aside to let me in. I walked past him into the living room. Akira appeared from the kitchen hallway, carrying a tray that held a plate of cookies and five coffee mugs. Upon seeing me, his eyes brightened, and he set the tray on the coffee table.

“Hey Bria,” he said. “Look, I made homemade cookies.”

I perked up at the mention of sweets, and my stomach growled at the sight of the oatmeal raisin deliciousness.

“Why don’t you go get Rune so we can start?” Bassel said to me as he flopped down on the couch. He reached for his coffee mug before looking at me again. “He’s in his room.”

I glanced down the hall. My heart quickened with where my mind went at the mention of his room. The combination of me and Rune alone in his bedroom, made me feel exposed and flushed. I’d never been inside the private space, and the thought of going there now brought on nerves I didn’t know I had.

Rune.

Alone.

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