Page 62 of Foxes of Legend

“Let’s see how it works,” Seven suggested after classes the next day, taking out his own sword and letting it swallow any surrounding light. Enko was at practice and Kairos had gone to visit his family.

I shook my head, looking at my pristine weapon with dismay. “I don’t want it getting messed up.”

“What good is a sword if you are afraid to use it? Your magic will protect it; it's stronger than a normal blade. Besides, I’ll hit lightly. It’s not like a real fight,” he goaded. “You should get to know your weapon before you fight demons with it.”

Seven guided me through a new set of stances and swings before our swords even touched.

“You trained with a katana?”

He shrugged, “Specialty Weapons Training, you’ll see soon enough. You get basic experience with all major weapons. Just in case you need to improvise in battle.”

As we sparred, I could sense the sword, an extension of myself. The sword danced, sparkling through the air as itdingedagainst Seven’s. The power took him by surprise and he strengthened his block. “Good.”

When we finished training, the empty locker room allowed me to get a quick shower to wash off the sweat. I carefully grabbed my clothes from my locker as I finished, hanging the towel as I slipped into my pants.

Now that I knew my Fated mates had seen the hellfire burns on my back, it didn’t matter who else saw.

“Ew!” a girl said from next to me as she saw my scars. It was one of Mel’s friends. I covered myself with a towel as I changed into a new outfit, ignoring her. When I pulled out my katana that I had carefully hung, she continued: “And she picked a katana as her weapon? What a cliché! I feel so bad for the top three students at this school having to put up with her as a Fated for the rest of their lives.”

“Well, not all Fated stay together,” her friend said beside her. “Once a female goes into heat and has their offspring, a Fated is well within their rights to leave if they are unhappy.”

“Kairos must be so grossed out by her back. He always looks so perfect,” she continued like I wasn’t there. “At least he has Mel to keep him company tonight.”

I did my best to ignore them, and they did their best to taunt me. Kairos had seen my scars. And he had shown something when he saw my scars. But it wasn’t disgust. They all wanted to go after who had done it to me. Helping me to get my revenge.

I finished dressing and tossed the towel into the hamper, following them out of the locker room into the gym.

“Want me to kill them for you, Fated?” Seven asked as I exited the locker room, causing the two women to scream in terror as they ran away.

I grinned. “No. Did you hear everything?”

Seven shrugged. “The Shadow Vale distorts sound.”

“You were watching me shower?”

He winked. “People say things about me too.” Seven said as we walked. “How I’m a murderer and a rogue kitsune. What you must have thought of me…”

I nudged against him, looking at him seriously. “That you were utterly gorgeous and deadly. My perfect type.”

“Well, you got one part right.” A cold breeze ran a shiver through me and Seven’s leather jacket appeared over my shoulders.

The trees became more and more bare as winter approached. Blue skies tried to pierce through the overcast gray.

I stuffed my arms through the sleeves, only to find that the jacket covered my hands entirely. I shoved it upward and snatched Seven’s hand before he could refuse. He only wore his t-shirt, but his hand was warm.

The walk was silent until we arrived at the pavilion with the statue of the fox where everything had happened between us.

“The things you hear about me…” Seven began.

I pressed myself close to his side as we stood in front of the statue. “I don’t believe it, Seven. I know how everyone at the academy spreads vile lies.”

“Fated,” he said, looking down seriously. “They’re not all lies.”

I couldn’t hide my shock, instinctively pulling back from him as I met his eyes, searching for the truth.

He didn’t look at me, instead staring at the fox statue. “My entire family was killed. Not by demons, but by a rogue kitsune. I was the only one to make it out alive.” He paused, glancing at me. “Naturally, people blamed me for their murders.” His head shook. “I killed her. My own mother. I should have done it sooner. She was sacrificing us for her ninth tail.”

“Seven—” I wrapped my arms around him. “I’m so sorry.”

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