Page 36 of Foxes of Legend

I found the courage to meet his eyes, inclining my head in a nod.

“If you have multiple mates, that means you’re powerful. And we are going to need power for what’s coming.”

My brows raised. “In case you missed the message, I don’t have my first tail. I’ve never shifted into fox form.”

“That’s not uncommon in these situations. If your magic releases when you are too young, the sheer power of it could kill you. Your mates can help soothe that transition. It’s important you have them to support you. Even Seven, though you two don’t seem to get along.”

A question hung at the end of his statement. I barely withheld a scoff. This was about him being friends with Seven. “Seven rejected me, not the other way around.”

“Like it or not, we don’t choose our Fated. You will heal your bond with Seven. That’s an order. Not doing so could put you at risk for your first transformation.”

When I opened my mouth to argue, the Archfox turned the monitor around so that I could see the beginning of a paused video of security footage.

It was the fence on the perimeter of campus. The Archfox pushed play, and after a few seconds, I appeared on the monitor, my white hair almost glowing in the dark footage as I walked diagonally along the screen.

“What were you doing out there?” The Archfox asked, pausing the video.

I gulped at the lump in my throat, the dryness in my mouth. “Just going for a walk around campus,” I lied.

He pulled up another clip of a video of me jogging back the other direction.

The Archfox frowned. “This is on the outside of the fence, Dove. I already know you broke academy rules, so I would appreciate it if you refrained from lying to me. You left the grounds, broke security protocols that are in place for your safety. I have every right to expel you right now.”

My breath caught, my mouth hanging open as I searched for any defense.

He hit play, seeing me collapse over the edge of the fence, getting caught and hanging upside-down.

“As it is, your secondary round of blood tests came back positive for the Fated match in all cases.” He paused. “I won’t be expelling you, but next time your punishment will be more severe than this. The security is in place for a reason. You are to sign out at the gate, like all other students from here on out. As this is your first infraction, you are not allowed to go off-campus without one of your mate’s supervision.”

“You’re not expelling me?” I said, careful not to roll my eyes about the chaperone part.

“No.” He shuffled some of the paperwork into a folder.

I wondered if I should be looking at the Holiest of Holy Foxes so often, but he didn’t seem to mind. “Thanks.”

“No need to thank me, Dove. It’s purely strategy for me. Elder Peter reported that you saw the body of the dead student. How are you handling seeing that?”

I shrugged. “Nothing I haven’t seen before.”

Concern welled up in his eyes. “Right, your temple. How could I forget?” He shuffled through some papers on his desk. My file. “We have many resources for therapy, Dove. You’ve been through a lot of trauma for being so young.”

“I’m fine.” He watched me as though he wanted me to continue spilling my heart to a virtual stranger, so I asked, “Is that all, Your Holiness?”

“Have you mated yet? Gone into heat?”

I shook my head, my eyes back on the floor as heat pooled in my face. My eyes jerked to the door. “I should get going. Kairos and Enko are waiting.”

“I’d like you to meet with me occasionally to check up.” As I agreed with a nod, he continued. “Good. I expect you and Seven to be on better terms by then. Enjoy the rest of your weekend, Dove.”

I exited the room, giving one last bow of confusion before closing the door.

“Dove? Are you okay?” Kairos asked immediately, reaching for me and wrapping his arms around me. “What happened with the Archfox?”

Enko waited too, stretching from one of the chairs as he approached us.

“I disrespected him in the shrine. I didn’t know it was him. I thought the Archfox was old,” I explained.

“He was,” Enko said. “Died suddenly three months ago and a new Archfox was chosen by the Council of Elders.”

---