Page 12 of Foxes of Legend

When we pulled apart, I craned my neck back to look up at him.

Kairos cleared his throat from the kitchenette, “Dove, do you want some coffee?”

Enko leaned forward slightly, whispering, “Be wary, it’s like sludge. I don’t think he’s ever made coffee before.” He gestured to a full cup on the coffee table that had been his.

Enko stepped around me, our bodies brushing against each other once again, sparking sensations in me. Unlike Kairos’ electricity, Enko’s was burning passion. Something about it just feltright.Familiar. Safe.

“Sure, I’ll have a cup,” I told Kairos politely.

Enko raised his eyebrows dubiously before retreating into the bathroom.

“Black, please,” I said as he moved to add sugar.

He passed over the cup. “Like your clothes?”

My cheeks heated and I turned my back to him, unsure if it was an insult. When I grew up in the shrine, sugar was a luxury. Even after a year in the real world, I still preferred the simpleway. As my lips tasted the coffee, I was met with delight, despite Enko’s warning.

A loud reveille ofthe Rise of the Valkyriesbegan to play, loud horns playing over a speaker somewhere to announce the morning. As I checked the time, I stuffed my feet into my shoes. “I should probably get going. I don’t want to be late on my first day.”

“We’ll walk with you, Dove. It will teach people around the academy not to mess with you,” Kairos told me.

Enko exited the bathroom, shaking his head as he approached. “I don’t think that’s a good idea. It’ll just as easily put a target on her back. Someone might screw with her to get to us.”

“Everyone is going to find out eventually, Enko. I’d rather be by my Fated’s side.” Kairos and Enko shared another one of their silent conversations before Enko agreed with a nod. “And where is Seven? He didn’t come back last night?”

Enko shrugged.

The three of us walked together through the academy. Enko passed me a banana, insisting that I take a few bites. “It’s not going to be easy on your first day.”

I ate as we walked toward the field at the back of the academy, passing a huge board filled with names and numbers. I halted as I looked up. Foxfire Academy required three years before graduation. At the very top of the third-years, my Fateds’ names.

Seven: 978

Enko: 665

Kairos: 613

“What’s that?” I asked them.

“Leaderboard for demon kills. It’s supposed to motivate students,” Kairos said scornfully. “They use blood magic to connect your kills.”

At the bottom of the list, along with the other first-years, was my own name.

Dove: 5

The five from the admissions exam. More students arrived in the hall as the morning grew later, all passing through to the doors behind us. Many recruits stopped dead as they saw me standing between Enko and Kairos.

“Who is she? Their Fated?”

“She must be powerful.”

“She sure as hell didn’t show it in the admissions yesterday. Doesn’t have a fox form.”

“Or she didn’t use it to hide how powerful she is.”

“Maybe she didn’t want all you creeps to see her naked.”

A golden fox with three tails trotted forward, approaching us. Sparks shot from her fur as she morphed into a human again. The transition was so smooth, she had years of experience shifting. Her smooth canter turned into a catwalk. Her body was exposed for all to see, earning whistles and flirtation from the crowd. Her skin was unmarred and smooth. Beautiful.Perfect.

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