Page 45 of Foxes of Legend

Seven frowned, meeting my eyes. “I’m not going to dote on you like the other two. You get what you get. Understood?”

I nodded. Despite his negativity, all I could feel was excitement. While it might not be perfect yet, it was a start.

“I expect you to begin weapons training with me. I know Enko is doing your strength training and Kairos is doing your hand-to-hand combat.”

The last part tacked on hinted he might be jealous despite his endless reassurance that he wasn’t.

“Tomorrow evening, 5 o’clock on the field. Don’t be late, Fated.”

28

Dove

“Are you sure he won’t, like…” Sana trailed off, watching Seven cross the field over to us at the small outdoor arena ring.

“—Kill us,” Brynn finished, nervously clutching her foam weapon. White gauze bandaged her wounds, the edges of the deep scars protruding at the edge near her shoulder. With the help of her earth fox form, the healing progressed quickly.

“He’s the best at the academy. Don’t you want to learn from the best?” I asked, not quite believing the words myself as I repeated Seven’s, which is why I had invited them in the first place.

“You can trick Sana, but I saw him almost kill you in Varma’s class,” Brynn reminded me.

Truth be told, I was a little scared myself after the last time. But not of death. Of that moment of losing control right there in front of the entire academy. When the two of us truly came together as Fated mates.

“He wasn’t going to kill me. He’s my Fated.”

“Right, like your other Fated who put Vince in a coma,” Brynn whispered, shooting me a look. “Sorry, but just because they won’t hurtyoudoesn’t meanwe’resafe.” Brynn’s thumb flicked between her and Sana.

A deep voice grumbled from behind us, “You’re safe.”

Brynn screamed, leaping several feet up into the air, her sword flying off into the distance. Sana kept her cool, wearing the outfit I had given her and seeming far more comfortable in the blasphemous black than before.

I smiled at Kairos, letting his arms wrap around me, his lips pressing to the top of my head.

Seven glared sharply as he reached us, spending extra glaring time on me because I had his special hatred. “Who said I was training these other two kits? One’s enough.”

Brynn nodded with a little too much enthusiasm, “You’re right, I should go. Have fun—”

“Brynn,” I insisted, holding her arm, matching Seven’s glare. “Are you ready, or do you enjoy being ten minutes late?”

Seven’s face pinched into a snarl, but began the lesson. He went over some different moves, using Kairos as his practice opponent. When I fought against Sana, I could tell she had improved since the last time. We sparred for half an hour, while Brynn observed Seven and Kairos. Sana got a few free shots as my eyes kept drifting over to my Fated. It was practically a professional weapons match; the two men sparred in full force, sweating and absolutely glistening with godlike power.

“Fess up, Dove,” Brynn said from beside me.

“Huh?” I said, forcing my eyes to my friend. Sana watched me with a huge grin.

Brynn snorted, gesturing to my Fated. “Your eyes are begging for those two to strip down.”

My eyes widened in shock, “Not in front of you,” I grumbled, the foxfire zinging with jealousy.

Brynn laughed, nudging me, “Aw, how cute. You’re so defensive.” She gave me a reassuring smile, “I’m kidding, Dove. I wouldn’t even think about it. Besides, your mates all scare me half to death. Especially the big one. Speaking of, where is he?”

“Skirmish practice and weight lifting. The season is about to start and he’s bulking up for his first matches against other academies. And Enko is sweet, really. He just has a feral side like all of us.”

Brynn’s eyebrows raised. “Is it even possible for him to bulk up? The man’s a freaking colossus.”

Sana came to my other side as we watched the two men fight. She cleared her throat awkwardly, jerking her chin up at them, “Have you...you know…mated yet?”

Seven and Kairos both stumbled, making it clear they had been eavesdropping.

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