Page 9 of Curses & Kitsune

“Raiden. Help me. Please.” There’s no response.

I can’t watch. I don’t want to see.

But, god, I’m so hungry, and the pump of the blood through her veins sings to me.

“Prey,” I snarl, and I bare my fangs and lunge.

Chapter 4

Jinta’s voice jolts me awake, but I only caught the end of whatever he said.

The bed is empty. Jinta’s gone. My wolf rumbles in my chest. Something’s wrong. Lurching from my seat, I knock on the bathroom door. I try the knob when no one answers, and he’s not there either.

“Raiden. Help me. Please.” Jinta’s desperate cry blares through the bond.

Wherever he is, he’s terrified. If anyone’s hurt him, I’ll rip them to pieces!

“Hang on, I’m coming!” I throw open the door. Jinta’s scent spirals through the halls, and I jog to pursue it. His scent disappears into a patient’s room. I hurl myself into the room.

A woman screams and thrashes in the bed, arms raised and shaking as she attempts to push a man off her. No. Not just any man. Jinta! I barely recognize him as he bares his fangs and snarls, eyes blazing red.

“Hey!” I throw myself at him, clawing at his robe and hurling him backwards. With a snarl, Jinta kicks and claws like a wild cat being held by the damn scruff. His claws fly across my skin, tearing my clothes and drawing blood. “Jinta, enough!” The kitsune must have her claws in him. “Jinta, stop!” With my rabid mate locked in my arms, I wrestle him out into the hallway, and I slam him against the wall.

Jinta lunges before I can stop him. His jaws lock around my arm and chomp down. A roar of agony tears from me as his sharp fangs shred flesh and crunch down to the bone. As much as it hurts, I make myself go still to conserve my energy. If I struggle, he’ll strip the flesh off my arm. My eyes sting as Jinta snarls around my arm, the vibrations of it rumbling in his chest.

Then, he sucks hard. My breath hitches as Jinta starts to… drink from me. Like a damn vampire. What the hell? I didn’t know kitsune did that. Jinta’s snarling dies to what almost sounds like purring as he drinks and drinks. His eyes close, and he moans contentedly as he feeds on me.

His bite feels like a fire burning under my skin, making my molars crack as I gnash my teeth to keep from screaming. His sickness yesterday makes sense now. He can’t tolerate human food anymore. Tamano demanded a sacrifice to appease her rage. She has a taste for human blood and now, so does Jinta.

Fuck. This is going to wreck him when he realizes what he did. I can’t tell him, for his own sake.

Finally, Jinta releases my arm, and I gasp my relief and cradle my arm to my chest. Jinta wipes his mouth, smearing blood over his fist. He bares sharp fangs at me. “You taste so good. I can see why he likes you so much.”

Anger makes my fingers curl. “You can’t have him, fox.”

Jinta laughs, the sound sharp and cruel, so unlike Jinta’s melodic voice. “Oh, but I already do. He’s awfully easy to control. Weak and unsure of himself. Nothing like Namikawa. Soon, I will bend him to my will. And there’s nothing you can do to stop it!”

“Like hell I’ll let you take him from me!”

Jinta stumbles. His eyes flicker from red to brown and then to white as they roll back into his head.

“Shit!” I lunge to catch him as he faints. The fever that was consuming him is gone, leaving his skin cool. That fever… could it have been a symptom of the kitsune’s bloodlust? Damn it. I wish I knew more about this curse. Namikawa kept this side of himself totally secret.

I can’t let Tamano torment my sweet mate like this. Jinta needs my help, and soon.

I hoist Jinta into my arms and carry him bridal style through the halls. “Come on, Sunshine. I’m getting you out of here, and I’m going to help you.” I kiss his forehead. “I promise.”

The light of dawn glows on the horizon when I pull up to my apartment building. The bite on my arm healed and no longer hurts, and Jinta slumbers beside me. He looks so peaceful. I don’t want to wake him up, not when I’m unsure when we’ll have another peaceful moment. I did this to him. I gave him this curse. What was I supposed to do, let him die? That was out of the question.

Maybe I’m the one who should have died. This life of mine is too dark and twisted for someone as bright and beautiful as him.

While I’m stewing in thought, Jinta’s eyelashes flutter as he wakes. I brush my knuckles over his cheek. “Hey.”

A pleased, sleepy sound escapes him. His brow furrows in confusion as he glances around the car. “Wait. Why are we here?” Before I can answer, he grimaces like he’s tasted something foul. He touches the edge of his mouth and dried blood flakes onto his fingers. Awareness brightens his wide eyes, all traces of sleepiness gone. The panic sets in, quickening his breathing, making his eyes gloss over.

“Hey, Jinta—”

He lurches from the car and stumbles out onto the pavement. He’s still wearing his hospital gown, but the streets are empty at this hour. “Just give me—” He doesn’t finish his sentence, marching into the building. He rushes through the empty lobby and leans on the wall while he waits for the elevator.

---