Page 42 of Foxes of Legend

Kairos continued, “This wouldn’t have happened if you hadn’t been denying fate, feeling sorry for yourself. Goddess only knows why, you’ve been granted the most perfect Fated in the world.”

Seven’s eyes were only for me. Within that blood-red raging fire of his eyes, I could see a glimpse of hurt. “He ordered you?”

I nodded. Seven roared, spinning around and punching at the column, adding to his list of injuries. His vicious glare snapped back to the three of us as he hopped off the edge of the pergola.

“We’re all going to have dinner together tonight. You’re welcome to join us,” Kairos said, more like a threat than an offer.

Seven narrowed his eyes, glancing at me for a half a second before giving a short nod. “I’ll meet you in a bit. I have something I need to deal with.”

Enko kept his hold on me as we watched Seven go.

26

Seven

I would wring his fucking neck for this. Our brotherhood was over. How dare he interfere with my business. My life.My Fated.

I slammed the door open, letting it bang against the wall and interrupt that presumptuous ass mid-sentence. His face froze in his shock as he examined me. He must have seen my wrath, because he turned to the two kitsune in front of him, both covered in bloody clothes.

Rhys cleared his throat. “Go to the medical wing. I’ll repost the contract tomorrow. Someone else will take care of it.”

The two scuffled out, neither daring to glance up at me as they bowed and closed the door behind them.Good, my reputation precedes me.

Rhys gestured to the seat across from him, righting himself. “You can’t continue to disrespect me, Seven. I am the Archfox now.”

I strode forward, slamming my hands on the desk. “Disrespectingyou?”

“You should be studying. Or are you planning on redoing another year because you can’t memorize the names of a few demons?”

He wasn’t making it any easier not to strangle him. “Did you order my Fated to heal her bond with me?”

“Yes. And it looks like it worked. You have some color in your face, Seven. Did the two of you take my advice?”

“You ordered her, Rhys. Fuckingorderedher when she grew up in a temple. You knew she wouldn’t disobey the Archfox.”

He smirked, gloating in his egotistical meddling. “You’re welcome.”

“I asked you to stay out of my relationship with her,” I said, growing more frustrated by his insufferable high-headedness since he’d been chosen as Archfox.

“Relationship? Is that what you call it? She said you rejected her. She needed to be soothed. You have been called for an important duty, Seven. It’s time to grow up and let go of the past. I can’t take care of you forever.”

I snapped. “You always think you know what’s best for me, but she’smine.And you’ll stay the fuck out of it or I’ll challenge you.”

That wiped the smirk off his smug face. He didn’t stand a chance against me in a fight, even if he did have more tails than me. He was a healer, not a true fighter with his element. He paced in front of his wall of windows. “Is she now? I think the goddess intended you to share.”

My chest vibrated defensively, muscles tensing as I quelled the fight in me.

“I shouldn’t have ordered Dove. Is that what you want to hear?”

“Don’t say her name,” I spat, sliding my short sword back into its sheath. I hadn’t even noticed taking it out.

Rhys faced me, frowning as he watched the weapon. “You're absolutely feral. Not surprising. She is incredibly powerful, Seven. But I need her. You know I wouldn’t let anything happen to her.”

“You don’tneedher for this. You have thousands of stronger kitsune to fight your war. Leave her out of it.”

“She will be protected—”

“She wouldn’t be the first one to get caught under the tracks as you race into war. And what is coming, exactly?”

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