Page 3 of Curses & Kitsune

Jaw tight, Raiden shrugs. “No idea.”

My stomach swoops with uncertainty. Between the hunters, the Takada-kai, and the kitsune curse, there’s so much stacked against us. “We need to lift the curse soon. The last thing I want is to add to our pack’s problems.”

“Hey.” Raiden tips my chin up so I meet his gaze. “You’re not adding to anything. Namikawa controlled the kitsune just fine. This curse could be just the edge we need.”

Yeah, but Namikawa had been the kitsune’s host for one-hundred years. He’d had time. Time we don’t have with Takada-kai and Blades sulking around in the shadows.

If I can’t control the kitsune, then I’ll just be a danger to everyone I care about. Suddenly, I want to run far away so I can’t hurt him like I just tried to do. “I… need to take a shower.” I make myself stand up and leave the pleasant heat of his body.

Raiden’s eyes linger on my back, like he’s trying to stare through me. “I’ll get started on breakfast.”

Once we’re back at the house, we part ways—Raiden to the kitchen, and I head upstairs to the bathroom. Hot jets of water pelt down on my skin. The heat of the stream helps soothe the tension still clinging to me. The glass fogs up as I lather myself and rinse until I’m clean.

Leaning my forehead against the wall, I squeeze my eyes shut. I can do this, right? I just have to control it. There has to be a way. A hand slams against the glass. My heart leaps into my throat. Choking back a scream, I stumble into the wall. The pale hand slides down the shower door, revealing long, sharp claws that screech over the glass.

“As if you can control me.” The mocking voice of Tamano-no-Mae makes me jump. “That fine mate of yours will realize how worthless you are… after I’ve slaughtered his whole pack and drained their souls from their bodies.”

“You… you won’t do that.” My voice comes out small and pitiful in my panic.

Cold breath hits my neck. I whirl around, but there’s nobody there. “Oh, but I can and I will. Namikawa had the means to give me what I wanted. Chaos. Death. Destruction. But you? You and your pack are far too soft. Boring. I’ll break free and sow chaos all throughout Tokyo.”

“We won’t let you,” I snap.

Two hands pound the glass, propelling my heart into my throat. Through the fog in the glass, two eyes as black as the void lock on mine. “You think that mate of yours cares for you? Wait until I’ve slaughtered his pack one by one. He’ll be forced to make a choice… you, or his pack. And who do you think he’ll choose?”

“No, he won’t!” I cover my ears, trying to shut her out. But what if she’s right? Raiden is the boss of the Namikawa-kai. If I endanger the pack, he’s going to have to choose. Would he really throw me aside? My heart says no. We’re mates. We haven’t claimed each other, but our bond is strong.

The part of me who’s been rejected before starts setting off sirens in my head. I’m struggling to convince myself of the truth, and to move on from the betrayal that cut me deep when my boyfriend cheated on me.

Maybe I never will, and I’ll always be haunted by uncertainty and inadequacy.

The room spins as I suddenly go light-headed. My stomach lurches, sour bile coating the back of my throat. Fatigue makes my knees shake, and I grab onto the railing inside the shower so I don’t fall. What’s going on? Why do I feel so weak?

Tamano laughs lowly. “Perfect, dear. Your doubts only make me grow stronger!”

She’s feeding off me like a damn parasite! “Raiden won’t push me away.” My voice gets drowned out by the rush of water. With my stomach twisting with dread, I lean on the wall and blow out a breath through my tightening lungs.

“He wouldn’t,” I whisper, and this time, it’s only for me.

Chapter 2

Freddie Mercury sings I Want To Break Free as I toss scallions into the scrambled eggs and whisk them. Jinta is taking longer than usual in the shower. He’s usually in and out in under fifteen minutes. I add a splash of soy sauce, roll the eggs, then divide the omelet onto two plates. It smells fragrant, and the texture is good. I glance at the altar where my grandfather’s photo sits. I think he’d be proud.

My grandfather taught me to cook back when he was still a chef. Before my parents abandoned me, I’d spent weekends with him at his restaurant, watching him cook. Things had been hard then, but cooking with my grandfather had been my escape. He always wanted me to leave the yakuza. Easier said than done when I’d owed Namikawa a life debt for my father’s betrayal.

I wonder what he’d think if he could see me now. I’ve gone from Namikawa’s lap dog to leader of the Namikawa-kai. Namikawa’s nothing but ashes, but I’m still not free. For so long, I’d resigned myself to my fate. I’d live and die a yakuza thug, stuck in a life I never wanted since I was eight years old. Then again, I never thought I’d care about someone enough to be making them breakfast and living with them. Not until Jinta burst into my life.

The bedroom door closes, and Jinta’s cherry blossom scent caresses my nose. Slender arms wind around my waist, and Jinta presses his body against mine. His soft, warm hands stroke up and down my chest, and when his gentle mouth brushes over the nape of my neck, a shiver nips my spine.

Turning around, my heart does acrobatics in my chest at the sight of his sweet face, framed by glossy, damp hair. His plush, pink lips look soft from the shower. “Try it.” Grabbing chopsticks, I lift the egg to Jinta’s lips. Dark eyes on mine, Jinta wraps his lips around the chopsticks. My cock gives a heavy throb when Jinta pulls off, chewing. When he moans his approval, a rush of primal satisfaction makes my stomach swoop.

With Jinta’s seal of approval, we sit at the island counter and dig in. Every so often, I steal glances at him while he eats. It looks like he’s feeling better. Relief warms my chest. Or is it heartburn? Hell if I know. I’m seriously not used to feeling so… soft for another person. Somehow, Jinta’s happiness has become intrinsic to my own.

I want to give Jinta Onodera the world because he deserves it, but all I have to offer are bloody pieces of it. My gaze drops to the tattoos that run down my arms, marking me for life. Can someone as pure as Jinta be a part of my world? Or will he leave when he realizes I can’t offer him a damn thing?

My parents left when I was a kid, and that was hard enough. But losing Jinta? I’m not sure I’d come back from that. Jinta came along and brightened my world with his sunlight. Without him, I’ll be lost in the dark.

“Got any super important yakuza boss tasks today?” Jinta asks.

---