Page 136 of Tsumiko and the Enslaved Fox
Realization shook Gingko, and his voice cracked. “A … a tail?”
“Yes.”
“You can give me a tail?” It seemed too good to be true.
His dad said, “If you can claim it, it is yours.”
A challenge. But not much help. “I don’t get it. H-how?”
Michael jumped in, sounding like a textbook. The guy had missed his calling, stuck out here in the middle of nowhere. As often as he lapsed into lectures, he belonged in some reaver academy classroom.
“The addition of tails is a sign of both physical maturation and the acquisition of skills. Most associate the number of a fox’s tails with their potential.”
“The more tails, the more trouble,” Tsumiko said.
“So the saying goes,” agreed Michael. “According to our household records, Argent had five when he was captured, but he manifested a sixth at the birth of his son. I’m not entirely sure anyone has bothered to check since then.”
Argent snorted.
“I suspect he has since added to his flourish.” Michael addressed his dad. “I’m amazed your enslavement didn’t hamper your progress.”
“It did. It does.” With a soft growl, Argent said, “I would preferthisdoes not make it into the household records. An emergence is a private moment for the fox clans, rarely witnessed by humans.”
“Understood, old friend. Would you prefer I leave, Gingko?”
He managed a small shake of the head.
Michael accepted warmly. “I’m honored to be included.”
And then Gingko’s dad did something new. It was as if his blaze ignited. Icy blue flames flickered over pale skin. They couldn’t have beenreal, since they didn’t hurt Tsumiko or Michael, but Gingko could feel them—ticklish, tantalizing. And tempting.
“Foxfire?” whispered Tsumiko.
But his dad ignored her. Pressing his forehead to Gingko’s he said, “Follow it. Borrow it. Use it to find your way.” Then Dad took his hand, guiding it around so that Gingko mirrored him, one hand covering the full-blooded fox’s lower back. “Like this,” said Argent.
Gingko started as fur erupted under his palm. Since when did Dad flaunt tails while in human form? This was wilder than a pack of wolves. And thanks to several years running with them, he understood the intimacy involved in touching tails.
He started to pull away, but Dad held him as a second tail appeared. Gingko could feel how it was connected low on his father’s back. And the split between the two. Mindful of his claws, he explored, but it was intensely awkward.
Still, where else could he turn with really personal questions about his fox half? Maybe this was the sort of lesson all dads gave their sons.
Argent added a third tail and a fourth, his gaze locked on Gingko’s the whole time. And it occurred to Gingko that the only reason he was seeing his dad like this—bare-chested and blazing—was because of Tsumiko. She might not have freed Dad yet, but she’d made it so he could be himself. A true fox, rippling with power, radiating confidence.
Really, she was the reason he was here, too. Coming into an inheritance he never knew was his. She was up on tiptoe, eyes closed, with a tiny furrow between her brows, like she was concentrating. Except she was alsoshining. As if the young woman was made of moonlight. He blinked, but the impression didn’t fade. Wow. Kel would go crazy if he could see Tsumiko like this.
With a huff, Argent pulled Gingko more firmly against his body. “She is doing all she can. Leave her to her prayers and focus on finding their answer.”
A fifth and sixth tail sprouted in quick succession, and Gingko was impressed. But that wasn’t the same as understanding how his dad managed the trick. What if he floundered around, groping his father to no end? He could fail.
“Dad?”
“Yes?”
“Is this okay?” Gingko asked.
Those damnably expressive eyebrows arched. “Yes.”
“Because … we’re family?”
