Page 56 of Foxes of Legend

“I’m sorry, I can’t help it. It’s pretty cute, actually,” Kairos said, straining to keep his face straight. He had already dressed in a t-shirt and gym shorts while the other two remained naked.

Tears prickled at the corners of my eyes, and before the first tear streamed from my eyes, all the guys went stiff. No entertainment at my expense remained on their faces.

“Why is she always crying?” Seven pleaded.

“What’s wrong?” Enko asked soothingly, glaring at the other two.

“It makes me feel like you think I’m a joke. I should be happy I have my fox form and now I’m embarrassed.”

Enko stepped forward. “You are the most breathtaking kitsune in the world.” He reached to the top of my head and stroked my ears gently. A sound came out of me, like a squeaky purr. Why did that feel so good? “Nothing is going to change that. Not even your fluffy fox ears.”

When a tear threatened to fall, I quickly blinked it away, swiping with one of my hands. The blanket fell off me, and I usedone hand to cover my breasts. When I leaned forward to grab the blanket from the floor, my mistake became apparent.

“What the fuck are those?” Enko growled.

My scars.

I secured the blanket around me once more, avoiding their gazes and my face burned.

“Dove,” Kairos said sternly, his voice furious.

Seven’s mouth hung ajar as he watched me. “Is that…hellfire?”

I wished I could escape, but the three of them blocked the bathroom door.

“Who the fuck did that to you?” Enko demanded.

Seven’s eyes were dark and burning with rage, but he remained silent.

“Demons,” I said finally. “When they attacked my shrine last year. Killed everyone I knew.” I swallowed the persistent lump in my throat, threatening to suffocate me if I didn’t cry. The three men watched me, keeping unnaturally silent despite their entertainment moments before. “I should be dead too.”

“Don’t say that,” Enko said after a pause, fury in his eyes. Not disgust as I had always thought I would see if anyone saw my burns. None of them showed any disgust. Seven’s held concern and Kairos’ distress.

“I was worshiping when the attacks began. Almost everyone else was in bed. I hid in a closet. I didn’t even try to help, to fight back.”

“If you had, you’d be dead too, little fox,” Enko consoled, reaching forward to touch my shoulder, his thumb rubbing in a small circle.

“I should have died. If I was less of a coward, maybe I could have saved some—”

Seven spoke, “It’s nothing short of a miracle you survived, Fated.”

“The demons killed my Elder and burned the temple to the ground. I waited as long as I could to escape. Crawling out into the burning massacre. Sometimes I see it, a nightmare I can’t escape. Him, standing there, crushing the goddess’ statue. My hands and knees covered in the blood of my Elder, my brothers and sisters. Their bodies were so mutilated. I can still hear their screams, smell their blood.”

The guys were all silent, watching me in stunned silence, unsure of what to say. I passed by them, going through my things and pulling out the demonology book that was nearly falling apart after my desperate thirst for knowledge.

The three had followed me there. I opened to that page, showing them the picture that I had drawn so long ago. Enko took it.

Kairos peered over at the crude picture I’d drawn. “That’s a Tier V. Can’t be sure which one though.”

Seven stepped forward, locking me in his gaze. Without a word, he pulled me against him. There was a seriousness to his expression, not a kind or reassuring one. But that of a cold-blooded killer. His hand reached up, cupping my cheek. “We’ll fucking kill him, Fated. We’ll kill anyone who dares hurt you.”

I collapsed forward, hugging Seven, though he hesitated to reciprocate the affection, he wrapped his arms around me too. “I lost everyone. I had to start over with nothing.”

“I know, me too,” Seven said. “It’s not easy. Everybody has demons they have to fight, Fated. The worst ones aren’t from hell. They’re in our heads, destroying us from the inside out. Don’t forget about those demons while you’re fighting monsters.”

“I don’t want to lose anyone else,” I said. “I can’t ever go through that again.”

Warmth spread over my back as Enko joined the hug. “We won’t let that happen. We won't let anything happen to you, little fox.”

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