"Almost there," Hikaru replied. His disembodied voice echoed around Suzume.
As if summoned by his words, the bamboo forest came to an abrupt end. The night was still and the only sound was the chirp of insects.
"I think we lost him," Suzume said, with an audible exhale of relief.
"Wait here, just in case," Rin said before stepping out from the archway of bamboo.
Rin lifted her fox head, sniffing the air. After a few cautious moments, she gestured for the others to join her. Outside the forest there was nothing but a long stretch of rolling hills, nothing to disguise them for a league. Suzume hurried across the space, wanting to be back in the shelter of treetops as soon as possible. Her gaze kept drifting to the cloudless night. If something was flying overhead, they'd see it in an instant.
Halfway across a cloud passed overhead, casting a long shadow over them. Behind her she heard the clink of a sword being drawn. The long serpentine shadow was directly over her and she tilted her head back to see a flash of blue scales against the dark sky. She squeezed her hands into fists to suppress the sparks that already threatened to ignite all over her body.
Maybe he didn't see us. But how could he miss them, when they were out in the open?
An ear-piercing roar shook Suzume to her core.
Or he did.
The others closed into formation around her, weapons drawn. As if they could protect her from what was coming. Suzume reached for her staff, but feared drawing it. If she fought now, the power would only leap to her defense and she feared the consequences if she did. So she dropped her hand to her side instead, relying on her friends for protection.
The dragon took a dive from the sky, on a crash course with their group. He skimmed over the tops of their heads. The rush of the wind as he passed tossed Suzume's hair back, and she whipped her head up to watch his progress as he landed a few feet away.
In a puff of smoke, he transformed from a serpentine dragon to something more human. From a distance, Suzume could see his icy blue eyes. He stormed toward them, one hand extended, partially transformed, and tipped with razor-sharp claws.
"Out of my way," Kaito growled at Noaki and Tsuki, who stood directly in front of her.
"Not gonna happen I'm afraid," Tsuki said. Even though she couldn't see his face, she imagined he had a grin.
"Then I'll make you move."
The dragon lunged for the two swordsmen, claws clashing with blades, the sound ringing out into the night. The two of them circled the dragon, whose face had partially transformed into something dangerous and beastly. Elongated fangs protruded from his mouth, his face was covered in scales, and his eyes were a dangerous blue. He spun slowly in a circle while the swordsmen held up their weapons, on guard.
"I do not wish to fight you," Noaki said.
"Too late for that," Kaito said as he lunged once more for the swordsman.
Even in a fight of two against one, the odds were in Kaito's favor.
Suzume's hands were slick with sweat as she gripped her staff. She let it go though, she wouldn't use it against him. Not at the risk of hurting him once more. She stepped out from the protective barrier Rin and Hikaru had put between her and the dragon.
"Stop!" she shouted.
Kaito froze, his hand in the air prepared to slash at Tsuki. His piercing blue eyes caught hers and narrowed.
"What are you doing?" she said to the dragon, hands on hips, arms trembling. She'd wanted to make a clean break. But knowing the dragon, that was never going to be possible.
Kaito lowered his hands to his side. "Excuse me?"
"Why did you follow us?"
He shook his head and stalked over to her, grabbing her wrist and yanking her close to him. "Is this a joke? You snuck away in the middle of the night. What else was I supposed to think other than you were kidnapped?"
Sparks danced between them as her fire could not be suppressed against the threat of his icy grip. It would be so easy to fall into old habits, let him lure her back in with an argument that he would inevitably win. She had left without a goodbye for this very reason. She yanked her hand away.
"You knew I wasn't kidnapped." She glared back at him.
A few errant sparks sputtered out and died, fading into the dark. Kaito glared at the space between them.
"You have a knack for trouble," he said but the old joke was half-hearted at best.
"Well you see that I'm fine, so you can leave now." She turned to walk away. If she looked at him, she might still give in and stay with him. Not because she thought he'd ask her to stay, but because she was afraid her own resolve would crumble. It would be so much easier to fall into his arms and become his pet, kept hidden away forever. But that's not who she wanted to be.
Kaito balled his hand into a fist. "What are you hoping to prove?"
She turned around to face him once more, her face flushed with anger. "Do you really not get it?"
"I see that you're still too reckless for your own good. I'm bringing you back before you get hurt."
He reached for her once more and she picked up her staff, blocking him with a flaming barrier that she had not intended to use, but was grateful for just the same. Ice coated his hand as he grasped the staff.
"Do you want to know why I can't go back there?" Suzume asked as she knocked the dragon backward. He skidded back a step or two. She was lucky that time. He'd not expected her to go on the attack. But before he could recover, she lunged toward him, swiping her staff at him. He dodged her attack, rolling out of the way. She felt her power swell inside her, a raging inferno that was just waiting to be unleashed—Kazue's flame, the power of the kami. Whatever it was, it wanted more than anything for Suzume to prove to Kaito just how strong she had become.
He had to feel it as well, the rise of her spiritual pressure. But he was pretending not to. He only saw her as a fragile princess, a woman incapable of protecting herself, but she had become so much more. She swung at him again, letting rage guide her steps. But Kaito was much faster than her and he was behind her in a heartbeat.
He wrapped his arm around her torso, pressing her staff against her body and pressing her back against his chest.
"I don't care what your reasons are. I know what's best for you."
Her anger rose in her like the tide, and flames burst out of Suzume, turning her into an inferno. Kaito jumped back and away from her before he too was burned. She turned to face him, and saw the flame reflected in his eyes and she saw his fear. The scales receded on his skin and he reverted to a more human visage. She thought Hikaru had broken the spell that caused her to steal Kaito's energy, but the bond was not broken. They were still connected and the longer they remained together the more she would hurt him and herself.
The thought sobered her and she let the flames die out. Kaito was left nearly bent over, clutching at his stomach.
"This is why I'm leaving," she said, gesturing toward him.
Kaito stood up again, as if he had not almost been brought to his knees by Suzume's brief show of power.
"You don't have to use your power," he growled. But she could see the strain on his face and the cracks in his veneer, which showed his real fear of her.
"That's what you don't get. I don't want to give it up. If I have to choose between you and my power, then I choose my power." It was a lie, of course. She didn't want this destructive power, but she didn't want to be a kept woman either.
She turned to walk away, hoping that she'd made her point clear and he'd let her walk away once and for all. But before she could even take a few steps, Kaito chased after her. He grabbed her but this time she didn't feel any of the frost in his touch. It was warm and firm.
It was so difficult not to turn around and beg him to protect her. She was terrified of the power inside her. So scared that she would lose control again, and hurt someone else.
She wished she could live the ideal life he wanted for her—living protected and comfortable, a similar version of the life she had once
had back at the palace. But that Suzume was gone, burned away and nothing but ash.
"Let me go," she said, softly.
As if he was a puppet on a string, Kaito loosened his grip. It shocked her that he listened. His entire body was tense, clenched and angry.
"Do you think I'm going to let you go that easily?" he asked.
"Is keeping me like your pet going to change the past?"
"You're mine." His voice was a growl.
She shook her head. "No, I'm not."
She took another few steps and he followed. "Just stop!" she shouted.
Kaito froze in his tracks. "This isn't funny," Kaito growled.
Suzume turned to him once more. "I'm not trying to be funny."
"Then whose spell is keeping me from moving?" he snarled.
Everyone had the same confused expression on their faces. Then she remembered how after she'd taken Ai's energy she had been able to control her. Could it be she had the same control over Kaito?
"Pat your head."
Kaito's arm moved stiffly to his head and he tapped it once and then twice.
Suzume covered her mouth with her hand. He has to listen to me. There were so many evil thoughts running through her head, all of which would only lead to trouble. As much as she wanted to tease him, and fall back into the same routine they used to have, she knew there was only one command she had to give.
"I'm going to walk away and you cannot chase after me. Do not search for me. I never want to see you again."
"Do you think I'm going to listen to a mere human?"
"You don't have any choice. We're bound together and you have to obey."
Want to know what happens next? Get The Song of the Wind available now.
Also by Nicolette Andrews
World of Akatsuki
Tales of Akatsuki
Kitsune: A Little Mermaid Retelling
Yuki: A Snow White Retelling
Okami: A Little Red Riding Hood Retelling
The Dragon Saga:
The Priestess and the Dragon
The Sea Stone
The Song of the Wind
Diviner’s World
Duchess
Sorcerer (Newsletter Exclusive)
Diviner’s Prophecy
Diviner’s Curse
Diviner’s Fate
Princess
Thornwood Series
Fairy Ring
Heart of Thorns
About the Author
Nicolette is a native San Diegan with a passion for the world of make believe. From a young age, Nicolette was telling stories whether it be writing plays for her friends to act out or making a series of children's books that her mother still likes drag out to embarrass her with in front of company. She still lives in her imagination but in reality she resides in San Diego with her husband, children and a couple cats. She loves reading, attempting arts and crafts, and cooking.
You can visit her at her website: www.fantasyauthornicoletteandrews.com or at these places:
The Sea Stone Page 37