Page 61 of Curses & Kitsune

I turn my back on my seething parents and walk out, hopefully looking dignified. Once I’m in the hallway, my knees buckle, and the air rushes out of me like I was holding it in. Holy shit. I did it. I walked away from my parents’ offer, and I don’t even feel bad about it. I could have crumbled, could have accepted, and wasted my life chasing after their elusive affection, but I didn’t. I’m officially a badass.

“Good job,” Tamano says, appearing beside me. “It was smart of you to refuse.”

I clutch my chest where my heart races. “Yeah, I know.” I made the right choice, I’m positive.

“What now?” Tamano follows me to the elevator.

“I’ll go back to the hotel and wait for Raiden.” I wonder if he’s found his father yet. I hope he’s okay.

I ride the train back to our hotel. The sun is starting to go down, staining the sky orange. I’m sure Raiden will be hungry, so I order takeout from a restaurant near the hotel. While I wait for the food, I compose a dozen different messages to Raiden, only to erase them. What do I say?

I’m sorry about what I said earlier. Can we talk at the hotel? I hope you found your dad.

I hit send before I can second-guess everything and throw my phone across the room.

My phone buzzes, and my heart does flips.

Raiden: I’m sorry, too. I’ll be there soon.

Tears sting my eyes, and I wipe them away. He wants to talk things through, and he’s sorry. We can work something out. Joy makes my heart sing.

Ok!! See you soon. Love you so much.

Unable to wipe the smile off my face, I practically skip from the restaurant. Raiden wants to talk. He wants to see me. He’s sorry. We can make this work. We can be together. I’m still smiling when I pass through the hotel lobby and call the elevator. My heart feels lighter than it has in hours as I seek out our room number. I swipe the card. The room is dark as the sun has already disappeared. I’m a bit disappointed that Raiden isn’t back yet, but I can wait.

I pass the bathroom door and feel around for the light switch, illuminating the suite. My stomach churns with nerves. I’ll need to stay busy until Raiden gets back. I wonder how soon is soon. I can’t wait to see him.

“Do you smell that?” Tamano materializes beside me, a frown on her face.

“The food? It smells great.”

“No, not that. It’s something else. Metallic, almost.” Tamano’s lips go slack in shock. “Jinta, watch out!”

Something moves behind me, shoes rushing over carpet. I drop the takeout bag, panic gripping my heart. A clawed hand sinks into my shoulder and spins me around. A man stands behind me, a hood concealing his face, but that’s all I see before searing pain slices into my belly again, and again, and again.

Blood soaks through my shirt, and the air leaves my lungs. I clutch onto my attacker’s arm, the sleeve wet with blood, and grunt as he pushes the blade in deeper. Fuck. My insides feel like they’re on fire.

The hood falls down, revealing Ishida’s snarling face. How did he find us? “I was hoping for Noboru,” he growls. “But this is even better. He’ll feel all the pain I felt when my brother was killed. I’ll come for him when he’s drowning in grief and put him down like the dog he is!”

He rips the blade free, and blood spurts from the wound. My knees buckle, and I collapse onto the carpet. Pain eclipses everything, and the wound won’t heal.

Ishida runs from the room, slamming the door behind him.

“Jinta?” Tamano’s voice shakes as she appears beside me. She’s translucent, fading before my eyes. “Shit. It’s aconite. He’s poisoned you, and the blade was silver, so you can’t shift. Jinta, stay awake! Hold on until Raiden gets here!” A pained groan escapes her, back arching, and then she vanishes.

“Tama… no…” I’m all alone as my life’s blood seeps from my body. I can feel the aconite coursing through my veins already, burning its way through my body. I can’t shift. I can’t heal. The pain is a constant, throbbing ache. It’s unbearable. Too anguished to even scream, I shutter my eyes.

I’m going to die.

Panic claws at the corners of my mind as darkness comes for me.

My mate. Where is my mate? I have to see Raiden again, one more time, before—

“Raiden?” I call him across our bond, strained by distance and our fight. “Can you hear me?”

Please, answer me. I can’t let our fight be the last moment we spent together.

I told him I was disappointed in him.

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