Page 43 of Foxes of Legend

“I’ve told you all I know. The gate in Lethe is tearing, weakening by the day. The demons are already spilling out faster than we can handle. We have alumni from around the country helping and we still can’t get it under control. We need everyone trained, anyone who can equal out the battlefield,” Rhys seethed as he continued his quick pacing, only slowing to shoot me a few glares.

He was privy to confidential information as Archfox that I was sure he was concealing from me. I remained silent, hoping he would slip up in his anger.

But he regained his composure rapidly. He took a long slow breath, and looked at me with a passive smile. He approached me when I didn’t respond, placing his hand on my shoulder. “You can sense Dove’s energy, Seven. I know you can. The goddess answered your prayers and gave the greatest gift.”

Everyone else would take it as the Archfox blessing them.

“Did you forget who you’re talking to? I know you don’t fucking believe in the goddess. And I thought I told you not to say her name,” I said, jerking out of his grasp.

His eyes flicked to the door before glaring down at me. His voice came out in a sharp whisper. The one he used when I was reckless and caught by human police at sixteen and he had to bail me out of jail. “Keep that mouth of yours shut. Goddess or not, demons are here trying to wipe us out. We can’t afford any cracks in our armor before we go to war. I need to know you have my back.”

I stormed toward the door to leave. “You know I’ll be there when you need me, Rhys. But leave her out of it.”

“For now, fine. But know that I’ll do whatever is needed to end this war, Seven. The goddess had a thousand years.” Rhys smirked before turning to look out over his domain of the academy like he’d become the new god. “Now, it’s my turn.”

27

Dove

“Get out of those wet clothes, Dove. I’ll get you some dry ones,” Kairos said as we entered the dorm.

The frozen rain reached my bones after the heat of Seven’s ministrations cooled. Enko kept his arms wrapped around me in my shivering, his heat spreading through me as he carried me into the bathroom. When he placed me on the ground, both men waited, blocking me from closing the door.

“If you’re not going to let me walk, do you think I can get undressed on my own?” My teeth chattered, immediately yearning for Enko’s high temperature.

The comment left them both dumbfounded as they staggered backwards with a few unintelligible murmurs. Apologies, I hoped.

“I’ll start some water for tea,” Enko suggested in an alarmed voice, seeing my shivering as a catastrophic disaster.

When I exited the bathroom, my hair dried and wearing warm clothes, Seven had arrived. He crossed his arms, leaning against the wall near the kitchenette. He felt out of place in the dorm, uncomfortable in his own home. Enko and Kairos sat on the couch and I could feel their eyes flicking in our direction as I approached my dark mate.

“What?” Seven snapped.

I blushed, shaking my head. “You didn’t have to come for dinner if you didn’t want to.”

Seven snorted, “It’s my dorm. I can be here, even if this contrived family isn’t for me.”

He glared over my other Fated mates, then returned his derision to me. As though the idea of the four of us living together repulsed him. Disgusted him.

It wasn’t until that moment that I realized that’s what I wanted. For me to be close to my Fated males at all times.Because they’re mine,came that faraway yearning within me.

Seven didn’t want that. I knew having three Fated would mean sacrifice. How could I wholly dedicate myself to all? But somehow I knew that I could love all three. If only they felt the same.

“Why is she crying?” Seven panicked like he’d accidentally kicked a puppy, searching desperately for help from Kairos and Enko.

Kairos approached from the kitchen, sensing the tension. He touched the small of my back, asking, “Is everything okay?”

I nodded sharply. “Great. Seven doesn’t want to live with me.”

“I did not fucking say that,” Seven barked defensively.

“You didn’t need to,” I retorted and stormed toward the couch where Enko sat, leaving Kairos alone with Seven in the far corner of the room.

A few moments later, Kairos and Seven walked over. Kairos took the armchair. Despite there being at least one other seating option, Seven sat on my other side. Kairos had a grim stare, watching Seven’s every move. I wondered if he had staged the whole thing, maybe bullied Seven into it. I almost laughed aloud at the thought of someone bullying Seven.

Even now he screamed danger. He kept his weapons on him, not allowing him to sit comfortably. His short sword jutted outawkwardly between us, ensuring he had some personal space as we watched a movie. But I could hardly pay any attention when Enko’s fingers trailed over my shoulder and Seven scowled at his hand.

I excused myself to the bathroom, taking longer than necessary as I listened to their voices carrying to me.

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