Page 10 of Foxes of Legend

She poured me a mug and I cursed myself for not getting it myself.

“Cream, sugar?” she purred, fluttering those long lashes at me.

“Both, please.”

Enko and Seven’s beds had been made, the dishes were done, and our pizza boxes were in the trash. She’d spent the past half hour tidying up our bachelor pad pigsty. “You cleaned? You don’t need to do that.”

Her mouth made a little O, her head shaking as she bowed. “I didn’t mean to offend you. I was only trying to help.”

“I’m not offended, but you shouldn’t have to clean up after us,” I fumbled over the words as she bowed her head a second time.

We sat on the couch, each sipping our mugs and slipping glances at each other. I caught her several times, and after the unbearable silence, she finally spoke.

“When will the others be back?” she asked.

Was she done with me already? Between the panic and disappointment, I took a long sip of the coffee. It was the most delicious thing I’d ever tasted. Because she made it perfectly, or becauseshemade it forme?

“Enko has practice until five. Seven’s on his own schedule, might be out all night.”

She nodded, taking a long drink, and I found myself watching her, silently begging her to speak to me. Dove set down her mug on the coffee table, her hand flattening her white waves as her eyes darted around the dorm. “How long have you three known each other?”

“A little while after we first shifted. I was eleven. Our blood tests confirmed we share a Fated.”

“The Elder wants me to get tested again,” she said, shifting her gaze to the door. “There may have been an error in the test.”

“That’s standard procedure. The three of us will get tested again as well.” I calmed her fears as I memorized every bit of her. “And there’s no error. You’re perfect.”

She reached forward, hiding behind the coffee cup. I was being too forward. We knew nothing about each other yet. I flipped on the TV to end the agonizing silence, and she went over to her bag near Enko’s bed. Cue my panic until she returned with a book, curling her legs under her and flipping open to a page near the end.

“Demonology?” I asked, desperate to know her better.

“For class tomorrow,” she responded simply, her eyes returning to the book.

Doing my best to not annoy her, I watched the TV, catching her sneaking peeks at me as we sat.

Enko returned a little before six, carrying several takeout boxes. He had showered at the academy gym and changed into clean clothes. Considering it wasn’t his normal routine, he must have been trying to impress Dove. Normally he had no problem coming home reeking of old sweat from practice.

Dove jumped up, rushing to the door and helping Enko with the tall pile of four boxes, even though his monster-size could probably do it one-handed.

“Thanks. I’m glad you’re still here,” Enko said, wearing a cheery simper that was unlike him.

She let out a small musical giggle. “Where else would I be?”

My fists clenched. We would be competing for her attention. And Enko was in the lead right now. I had known that I would share my Fated since I was a teenager, but only after seeing it in action did I understand.

“What have you two been doing?” Enko asked.

“Studying,” Dove answered. “And TV.”

“No luck with Seven?” Enko directed the question at me. I shook my head, but his attention was already back on Dove. He gestured to the boxes. “I wasn’t sure what you liked for food.”

They set the boxes on the table, and Dove returned to her seat in front of her empty coffee cup. Enko sat next to her so fucking casually, locking me into my position in the armchair because of how much space he took up. I wanted to sit next to her, have her between the two of us, but there wasn’t enough room.

Enko opened the boxes. He’d gotten chicken wings with dipping sauce, salad, pizza, and steak with mashed potatoes. He was going all out for her.

“You can pick whatever you want, Dove,” Enko told her, passing her a plate.

Dove’s eyes lit up at the food, then her chin dropped to her chest, a pinkish hue arising on her cheeks. “You don’t have to do that.”

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