Page 16 of Foxes of Legend

I agreed, my ravenous stomach pleading to eat. The cafeteria was a huge room with sunlights and doors leading to a small outdoor area. Several lines offered different types of food, but I followed Brynn. We both got lasagna with a salad and went to sit at one of the empty tables near a window.

Brynn opened her fruit punch bottle, taking a long sip and placing it in front of her meal.

The food smelled of savory meat, basil, garlic, and gooey cheese. I cut into the steaming square, ready to take a delicious mouthwatering bite—

A hand appeared at the side of my plate, pushing it off onto the floor, spilling it into a disappointing pile. I looked up into the icy blue eyes of Mel. She flicked her short blonde pixie-cut hair over her shoulder, raising her eyebrows.

“This table is reserved for people who aren’t sleeping with three guys at the same time.” She scoffed. “Slut.”

The group behind her laughed, including her two friends and Vince.

Brynn grabbed her tray with both hands, ready to protect her lasagna before it met the same fate as mine. Every inch of me ached from the long workout that morning. My sore muscles begged me to let this go.

My heart had other ideas. I stood up, gesturing to the table. “What’s your problem?”

Brynn’s eyes widened in fear as I spoke, probably wishing she wasn’t associated with me, but she stayed put.

“Everyone knows that foxes with multiple mates always go rogue. I won’t let you take my Kairos down with you,” Melsnarled. She swung her arm across the table, smacking the bottle off. Almost a full bottle of artificial red fruit punch flew through the air. The movement drenched me and the white tile floors in the sticky substance, splattering like—

Blood.

The white floors, covered in red. Elder Jane’s hollow eyes staring up at me. My hands were coated in her blood.

My heart thumped into my ears, screaming as I stumbled back, my legs hitting a dead body and falling backward. I let out a scream—

Dirty water soaked me as I landed in a janitorial mop bucket and tipped to the side. The sharp plastic hit my back. Screams echoed in the silent cafeteria. Every single person was staring at me until the residual echoes turned to silence.

My voice was hoarse. I had been the one screaming. My heart slammed painfully against my ribcage with each beat, my vision clouded, the fluorescent lights above were too bright.

The cafeteria burst into laughter. Mel laughed harder than anyone. “What the hell is wrong with her? What a freak.”

And like the urge of the foxfire called me, the mess of his black hair, his ruby eyes piercing mine, not a hint of his usual smirk on his face. Seven. I couldn’t place the expression on his face. Worry, confusion? No doubt it was him doing his best to cover his own embarrassment and shame at being associated with me, being Fated to me. Keeping our gaze locked, he stepped forward.

“Dove!” Kairos called as he jogged over to me, carefully avoiding the mess covering the floor. Enko and his approach silenced all the laughter, their glares sent everyone back to their meals. When I looked back to where Seven had been, he was gone.

Enko helped me off the floor, not seeming to mind that I was sopping wet with fruit punch and dirty mop water. I stood there dripping as Kairos rounded on Mel.

She threw up her hands defensively before he could even speak. “She just freaked out, Kairos. She was sitting in our spot and it bothered me so I pushed her lunch on the ground—”

“Don’t talk to me again.” Kairos’ voice was a low rumble, thunder and the crack of a lightning strike.

Mel flew into dismay. “No, you can’t do that. I need you. You said we could be friends—” Mel stopped mid-sentence, turning to me. “You have to tell him what happened.”

“I saw what happened,” Kairos said as he joined Enko on my other side, walking me out of the cafeteria.

“Kairos, wait!” Mel called after us, her shoulders dropping in defeat as the three of us rounded the corner.

10

Dove

“What happened? Is it a fear of blood?” Kairos asked.

I shook my head. “No. Just bad memories.”

“Maybe you should eat in here for a while, at least until things settle down. You attract trouble,” Kairos said as he set down a fresh slice of lasagna on the coffee table in front of me, the smell of the delicious steam luring me forward.

“No,” Enko growled. He had been pacing since we got back to the dorm. “That’s exactly what they want. Mel was challenging Dove’s place today, and I have no doubt she will again.”

---