Page 69 of Foxes of Legend

Damon shook his head, “After all I did for you, and this is how you thank me? Where would you be without me, Beast?”

“You have no plan to accept our offer. We’re done here.” Seven said, the only one to stay somewhat calm during the encounter.

“Not quite,” said the Lord of Nightmares.

Enko roared ferociously, grasping the sides of his head and falling to his knees as he screamed out in pain.

Like a doe hearing a gunshot, I searched the room for the shooter until my eyes landed on Damon. His wicked leer smacked into me.

I dashed across the room, grabbing the lapels of Damon’s suit. “Let him go. Stop hurting him!”

My gaze volleyed between my fallen Fated and the Lord of Nightmares until Enko’s cries finally ceased. I moved toward Enko, but a hand caught my wrist. A flow of comfort, luring me to relax.

Several bodyguards strode up, blocking my Fated as they tried to interfere. The Lord of Nightmares spoke in a whisper. “A powerful demon searches for you. Your head carries a large bounty, and more for anyone that can bring you to him alive. And now, the ripple of your recent transformation alerted demonkind. I would make any deal to keep you safe, my little bird, but I need you to be careful.”

His hand stretched out slowly toward me, the knuckles of his index and middle finger brushing against my cheek.

I lost myself in Damon’s gray eyes, captivated and comfortable in his presence. “Be careful with who you trust.”

Enko wrenched forward, but three guards locked him in place. “As if she can trust you. Don’t touch her!”

I snapped out of it, pulling myself away from his touch. He was a Mind kitsune, able to pervert my emotions.

Damon sighed, lowering his hand, frowning at Enko. “Once a beast, always a beast. Let me know if you ever need more civilized company, Dove.”

“If by civilized you mean holding us hostage here, then I’d rather remain savage.”

The Lord of Nightmares’s lips pressed into a thin line as I stared him down, my wrath seeping from what he’d done to Enko.

“Wrath doesn’t suit you, Dove,” he responded to my thoughts. He crossed the room to where a guard lightly held Seven and held out his hand. “I’ll inform you if anything comes up. You’ll get your mercenaries. Get back to the academy, all of you.”

Damon left the room, nodding at the guards when he was at the door, and my men were released.

“What the hell were you thinking following us in here?” Kairos scolded me as the three ushered me outside the club. As the Land Rover came into sight, Damon’s mysterious message lingered in my thoughts.

“What did Damon mean by all that?”

“He’s doing what the Lord of Nightmares does best, fucking with your head. Don’t tell me you’re actually taking him seriously. I mean, his name is one letter off fromdemon,” Seven snapped.

41

Dove

As we walked across the dark street, I smelled the toxic brimstone. The night sky blazed on the horizon.

Hellfire.

We dove into the car and sped toward the spewing of lethal fumes at the edge of the academy.

I pulled out my sword. All three guys looked at me, Enko opening his door of the black Land Rover. “You’re not going to fight, little fox.”

“You’re not going to stop me. You three said it yourselves, I helped last time.”

“You helped with some magic that you don’t even know how to use yet. Magic of that magnitude only happens during your first transition into fox form or when you gain a tail,” Kairos noted as he tried to gently persuade me into the passenger seat, pushing my blade back into its scabbard.

“It’s too dangerous. We will handle this.” Seven shoved my legs in and shut the door uncouthly. I gasped with indignation.

I opened the door and gave them all a healthy scowl. “Nobody else should die while I hide away.”

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