Page 11 of Foxes of Legend

I cut in, “You’re going to have to get used to getting spoiled with so many mates.” She looked over as though she’d forgotten I was there, biting the edge of her bottom lip.

“It’s just food. I can get you something else if you don’t like anything,” Enko said, stealing her attention back.

“No, no, it all looks delicious!” Her head shook frantically.

“We can share it then,” Enko offered.

Dove agreed hesitantly, scooting closer to him.

It was like I wasn’t fucking there. I might as well have run off like Seven.

“Kairos?” Dove cooed my name softly, a wisp of sound on the wind, alluring and angelic. She pursed her lips, her gaze darting around the room uncertainly, and Enko was giving medude-what-the-fuckeyes.

“Sorry, what?”

“Dove asked if you wanted to sit there?” He gestured to the spot that had opened next to her, that rage flickering in his eyes for half a second before he reined it back.

I jumped up excitedly before I remembered I was supposed to be impressing this woman, putting on a cool charm five seconds too late. “I’ll get us drinks.”

I grabbed a few glasses and a pitcher of water from the fridge, snagging a soda at the last moment because I wasn’t sure what Dove wanted—taking a page from Enko’s book—before sitting next to her.

“You grew up in a temple?” Enko was asking when I returned, grabbing the water and a glass from me. He was always a health-nut during the season.

“I don’t like to talk about it,” Dove purred, selecting a glass and holding it out to Enko as I sat next to her.

“Pretty terrible there, then?” I said, leaning back and trying to sling my arm around behind her, only to find that Enko’s was already there, leading to an awkward arm-battle that I ended up losing.

Dove leaned forward and glanced back. My arm retreated like a wounded soldier. It’s like I totally lost my cool around her. Instead of the charming guy who could get any woman I wanted, I was the bumbling idiot who’d never even spoken to one before.

“It was peaceful in the shrine.” She paused, lost in a memory. “Until it wasn’t.”

She retreated behind her beautiful brown eyes, locked in a place she couldn’t escape. She excused herself, thanking Enko for his bed and disappearing under the covers for the rest of the night.

7

Dove

The next morning, I awoke early, the sky barely lighter than the night. Enko’s fluffy bed tried to lull me back to sleep, along with a glorious smell of smoky cinnamon that I knew was his scent encasing me. But the excitement of my first day at the academy dawned upon me.

The room was still dark, with Enko’s soft snores coming from the couch, both his feet hung over the armrest, unable to fit his gigantic body onto the decent-sized couch. Seven’s bed was empty, untouched from the night before. Kairos was missing as well.

Combat and Weapons Training was first. I picked out an outfit. With my clothes balled in my arms, I aimed for the bathroom.

Kairos exited the moment I reached for the doorknob and we both froze, staring at each other.

“Good morning.” I tried to sound casual but my voice was too high-pitched. He was dressed in a dark t-shirt and gym shorts, his hair combed back into a sleek style despite the early hour.

He nodded in greeting, edging around me to the kitchenette as I closed the door. As I had discovered the night before, there was no lock. I guess there was no need for Fated to have locks.Afraid to take my eyes off the door, I showered and dressed with haste, keeping the scars on my back facing the wall behind me.

They were my Fated mates, supposed to accept all my flaws. But I still wasn’t ready for anyone to see that part of me yet. Know about my past. I blew my hair dry and pulled it up into a ponytail.

Enko stood up as I opened the door, smiling widely.

“Morning,” I mused, bowing my head in greeting as the temple had trained me. An old habit that was locked into my personality by this point.

He pulled me into an unexpected hug. My pajamas were sandwiched between us, but I inhaled his smokey cinnamon scent like a drug after spending the night sheathed in it.

“Mmm…” Enko rumbled, “Good morning.”

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