Page 58 of Foxes of Legend

I shoveled more food into my mouth like the words had starved me. Every bite gave me energy, and, goddess, it was delicious when my Fated cooked for me.

“Did you guys catch what the Archfox said? He called the sacred histories a myth,” Kairos continued.

Seven stiffened with the words. “Maybe that’s because he doesn’t believe in the goddess. Wonder how long before people figure it out. He’s not the best at hiding it.”

“What?” I demanded, glaring at Seven.

He frowned, scrunching his eyebrows together. “I didn’t say anything.”

“You said he doesn’t believe in the goddess,” I bellowed, glancing at Kairos and Enko for backup, though they appeared as confused as Seven.

The others figured it out as I did. Enko turned to me. “You can read our minds?”

Seven shook his head, staring up at the ceiling for a moment. I had heard his thoughts. Just as I had heard Kairos’ the night before.

“The Archfox doesn’t believe in the goddess? How the fuck is that possible? It’s literally theonlyrequirement of the job,” Kairos said to Seven.

Seven threw his hands up defensively. “Nobody is supposed to know that. You cannot tell anyone. It would cause an uprising.”

“You’re damn right,” Enko growled. “He’s a religious leader who doesn’t believe in what he preaches.”

“That explains why the shrine here is so neglectful of the goddess,” I commented.

Enko and Kairos stood on either side of me as we ganged up on Seven, the three of us facing him down on the other side of the table.

“And just how long have you been able to hear our thoughts?” Seven stood up and gestured at me.

“Just since I shifted. I can’t hear everything. And don’t change the subject.”

“Rhys can explain.” Seven came around the table, touching my hands.

Enko shook his head. “We can’t let him stay in power—”

“Seven’s right,” I said, causing both Kairos and Enko to turn toward me in disbelief. “At least until we talk to the Archfox.”

Every word, every movement exhausted me, but I continued to push myself. I had slept all night, why was I so tired?

“Dove, our society has survived because of our belief in the goddess. If we allow this blasphemy to spread, people would give up our way, our traditions. Those traditions are what have kept the foxes alive and what holds the demons at bay.”

Kairos’ words were blurring, the soft morning sun filtering in through the window. The world spun as I fell backward. I giggled as I looked up at Enko, who had somehow reached me just in time to catch me before hitting the ground.

He let out a long exhale and let myself curl into his hot body.

My Fated, a godsend to rescue me. Somehow, the foxfire knew what I needed, and what they needed, too. The magic had found us, misshapen puzzle pieces, and somehow we fit perfectly. Seven’s aloof danger, Enko’s furious strength, and Kairos’ caring control.

Despite how short of time we’d known each other, I already knew our bonds were closer than an obligation to each other. It wasn’t lust. It surpassed even love. It was completeness. It was Fate. We were meant to be together, shards of a broken pot that only fit with each other.

So why did it feel like something was still missing? What was that emptiness within me, that dark shadow that hung over my heart?

35

Dove

“Welcome to Forging,” Elder Peter boomed at the front of the room. As the Elder, it was solely his job to watch the Forgefire and never let it extinguish. Every Elder viewed it as the highest duty for their temple.

I was still exempt from physical classes until the end of the week, but not academic ones. And as soon as I had unlocked my fox form, I could enter the Forge and had been enrolled in the class.

A dozen anvils had been set up in front of the Forge. A halfmoon of lava arced around the furnace behind Elder Peter. Heat sweltered from the front of the room, casting a deep red glow over the stone walls.

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