by J. E. Cluney
“So this is a kitsune,” Leon gasped against my lips as we both came up for air.
I shuddered as I felt my climax nearing, and I arched back, planting my hands on his chest as I quickened my pace. I drove down on him, hard and fast, his dick filling me up with each deep grind. He was meeting me with desperate thrusts, his head tossed back as his orgasm was drawing near.
My nails dug into his chest as I gasped and moaned, my soft cries intensifying. So close.
Fuck.
The white light tore through me like nothing else, and I writhed on top of him as his hands guided my hips down onto him a few more times.
My tightening walls were too much, and he moaned loudly as he came inside me.
I sat atop him, my head lolled back as waves of utter heavenly bliss rocked through me, tingles coursing through my body as lights flashed before my eyes.
The sensation was stronger than any orgasm I’d had before, and the euphoria hung around like a sex-filled cloud, hugging me tight and keeping me in a state of contented pleasure.
“Jesus Christ,” I heard Leon’s voice, but it was muffled as I stayed inside my orgasmic cloud. I didn’t want to come down from this high, it was too pure and perfect.
But every high falls.
I blinked as I looked down at Leon absently, those azure eyes half closed as he watched me with a satisfied smile.
“I’ve never felt anything like that before,” he mumbled, his words slurring. He was obviously feeling the same epic effects I was.
I grinned as I lay down on top of him, our bodies heaving gently from the mini workout.
“Neither have I,” I chuckled. “I thought it must be your angel side.”
“No, it’s never been like that before,” Leon sighed, his arms wrapping around me and holding me against his chest. He nuzzled my hair, and I found the sweet sensation quite welcome. I’d never really stayed around after sex, enjoyed the cuddles or whatever. It was fuck and kill most of the time.
But this? It was nice. In a strange way.
“Wonder why it was so good then,” I mused.
“Your magic flared up. It was… amazing,” Leon breathed.
“How so?” I frowned, turning my head to look up at him.
“You took on the kitsune form in an aura way. I know kitsunes can actually shift, like werewolves, but you just had this powerful aura that encased you,” Leon murmured as he stroked my cheek.
“What did it look like?” I asked, intrigued. I could shift too? I didn’t know that.
“You had ears, a snout, four tails, it was like when it flared up at your motel room, just more intense, more vibrant and strong, like it was cloaking you,” he shook his head in awe. “I’ve never seen anything like it.”
It did sound pretty epic to be honest.
But being able to shift? I wanted to know how to do that. A part of me felt like that desire was wrong, the part that was still stuck in the mindset of the huntress. The mindset that all supes were bad.
But this was me now.
The real me.
“Can you teach me how to shift?” I asked as I traced the muscles in his arm.
“Sure, Damien and I can teach you, I imagine it’s the same as werewolves in concept.”
Did they sprout wings too? Being part angels?
A knock on the door made me scowl, and Leon cursed as he pulled the blanket over us.
Tristan swung the door open, a sly grin breaking across his face.
“I knew you liked her too,” he laughed. “But jeez, so soon? Learn to share!”
“There’s plenty of me to go round,” I said as I sat up, the blanket falling away from me as I clambered off Leon.
Tristan’s grin turned to a delicious expression of him biting his lip as he stared at my naked form.
I’d always been overly comfortable in my own skin.
“Nice tat,” Tristan said, and I rolled my eyes but thanked him.
I had a small butterfly tattoo on my shoulder blade, a symbol of how we could become something so beautiful if nurtured, but how brief it could be. I’m not sure why that meant something to me, but it did.
“Well, I’m going to clean up, I’m guessing breakfast is ready?” I said as I picked up my clothes and headed for the bathroom off to the side of the room. Having an ensuite sure was nice.
“Um, yeah,” Tristan said, his eyes following after me like a horny dog. I considered telling him he was welcome to join me, but then breakfast would go cold. And I was hungry.
I closed the door and got dressed, cleaning myself up with some toilet paper thanks to Leon’s mess.
I should probably let him know I was infertile before he started panicking.
10
Leon.
“I did not see you being the first one to fuck her,” Tristan snickered as I hurriedly dressed myself.
“It just happened,” I growled.
To be honest, I’d surprised myself. This was the chick who had just been trying to kill us last night.
And had killed Wesley.
But she was also a kitsune, and we had to protect her now. She was strangely tempting, as were all kitsunes. They were hard to resist, and I’d felt the pull since I’d first laid eyes on her.
Besides, I couldn’t hate her for a life she was raised in that wasn’t her own. Although forgiving her for the things she’d done? I couldn’t just do that either. The supernatural community had heard of a dangerous huntress killing supes, and some of them had been innocent supes.
But she hadn’t known any better. That was what I kept telling myself.
“Right, you just happened to shove your dick in her,” Tristan scoffed as he glanced longingly at the closed bathroom door. “She’s bold, I’ll give her that. And sexy as fuck. I’d could definitely get me some of that.”
I just rolled my eyes as I stood up, wishing she hadn’t taken the bathroom. Now I’d smell like sex at breakfast.
And after, Damien and I were going to teach her to shift. I’d told her so.
Maybe we could turn this huntress into someone good, open up her eyes to the truth of this world.
“She went kitsune on me while we were doing it,” I murmured.
“You mean the full body cloak thing? Man, you lucky fuck,” Tristan smirked. “I’m curious to see if she’ll end up mated to one of us. They take on lifelong mates, a little like alpha ‘wolves, but they take multiple. In old times, royal kitsune families would choose up to six mates from other supernatural families or even other kitsunes, and they’d have to earn the right to become her mates. Once they were mated, it was for life,” Tristan sighed as he looked at the bathroom. “I’d happily be mated to her, fucking her everyday.”
“That’s all you can ever think about,” I scoffed.
“Apparently you too,” he retorted with amusement flickering in his eyes.
“Kinda hard to resist a kitsune, isn’t it?” I reminded him. “She just starts smelling so good when she’s horny.”
“Yeah, I doubt any supe can resist one,” he shrugged.
“How exactly would I be mated to someone?”
We both turned to spy Sav in the doorway of the bathroom, fully clothed but still hot as hell. Damn, I’d wanted to really explore her, taste her body, but she’d had one goal on her mind.
“Some magical stuff I think, you need to trust your partners or be attracted to them a lot, I can’t remember. Sometimes it’s random I think,” Tristan shrugged.
“Well, thanks for the fuck Leon, hit me up if you’re down again,” she winked at me, and I nearly choked in astonishment.
“You’re a no strings attached kind of gal, aren’t you?” Tristan folded his arms as he cocked his head at her.
“Yeah, I like sex, you’re welcome to get in on it too,” she gave him a sultry smile as she drew up before him. “I do like my demons, I’m curious what a demon-born would be like,” she purred as she ran her fingers up his chest.
“Guess you’ll have to find out,” he qu
ipped, giving her a suggestive smile.
Not like I wasn’t right here.
But seeing her so ready to go again only turned me on again.
Fuck. I barely knew this chick, and I’d just had sex with her.
And the others were all going to know instantly.
Great.
“You walk around naked much in front of strange men?” Tristan asked as she stepped around him.
“I’m comfortable with my body,” she shrugged. “Besides, I didn’t hear you complaining, I can not do it if you like,” she said innocently.
“No complaints,” Tristan said quickly, and I shook my head.
He’d always been such a player, sex ruled his life most of the time. So of course he was infatuated with a kitsune.
But he wasn’t the only one whose attention she drew. I had a feeling even Wes and Damien were drawn to her, she just had that effect.
Maybe it was a kitsune thing.
Or maybe, it was just her.
11
“So kitsunes are infertile until they’re mated, right?”
I stopped mid-mouthful of delicious maple syrup covered pancake to stare at Tristan as he winked at me.
We were sitting in a dining hall with a long table, with all of us jammed in at one end.
“That’s right,” Mr Oxley nodded as he ate his meal gracefully, using the right cutlery and all. I’d had to watch him and Leon to figure out which one of the forks and knives to use. Who needed a selection of them anyway?
“I stopped getting periods after only a few times when I was a teen, my brother took me to the doctors and they told me I was infertile,” I frowned. I’d accepted I’d never have children, but were they saying that wasn’t the case? I just needed mates first?
Interesting. Not that it mattered, I certainly wasn’t mother material, and I didn’t want to be weighed down by a child.
“You won’t be able to fall pregnant until you’re mated, and you’ll know when you’re mated. Normally kitsunes are mated upon the age of eighteen to selected mates by their families, usually other supes, although they try to get one other kitsune in the mix. This means that they can throw a kitsune young eventually, but the pregnancy rates for kitsunes are very poor. They’re lucky to fall pregnant once every few hundred attempts,” Mr Oxley said matter-of-factly as he cut up another small slice of pancake. He was so careful and precise with his eating, it made me more curious about him.
“Leon said I can shift too,” I remarked as I reached for my glass of freshly squeezed orange juice. Apparently there were a number of fruit trees across the grounds, and Dominic enjoyed picking them and using them for juices or platters.
“That you can, I’m sure Damien and Leon can teach you how to. Wesley could, if he was himself, give him a week,” Mr Oxley flicked his golden eyes to Wesley.
He was perched in a high chair with his pancakes before him, delighted as he stuffed his face.
“Wesley can shift?” My eyes widened.
“He is a phoenix,” Damien said stupidly, and I narrowed my eyes at him.
He just stared me down, and Leon glanced between us uncomfortably. Tristan didn’t seem to care as he continued shoveling pancakes into his mouth.
“Wesley can shift, although it is rare that he does. It can be difficult to shift back from a phoenix form, unlike werewolves,” Mr Oxley’s tone was enough to make Damien look away as he gave the dark-haired man an unhappy look. At least they obeyed him.
“Anything else I should know?” I asked as I took another mouthful of the sweet goodness. Dominic sure was a good cook. He’d disappeared after serving it up despite Mr Oxley offering for him to join us. He’d already eaten apparently.
“The power you carry is incredible, and when wielded, can make you a force to be reckoned with,” Mr Oxley stated. “There is much for you to learn about yourself, but we’ll begin by finding out more about your past, and who you really are,” he said, those golden eyes softening as he gave me his warm smile.
I just nodded, grateful that he was willing to help me.
What did this mean for me? I’d planned on being a huntress all my life, stealing to survive, but that had been ended abruptly with this new development. Where would I go in life now?
I pushed the worries away, instead focusing on the here and now. I’d get answers and go from there. That was a plan.
I sat down in the large library room, the walls covered in ceiling-high bookcases and stacked full of books. The plush red couch had gorgeous golden stitching and intricate embroidery, making me almost not want to sit on it.
Leon took up a seat beside me, his arm brushing mine. Did he think our little fun meant something more?
I wouldn’t deny that, since I did like the feel of him so close for some reason. Maybe my run of hookups was an ending cycle. Could I pursue something more meaningful? Hell if I knew, but I’d enjoy being able to actually spend time with a sexual partner rather than kill them. I’d had a few human partners, but they were one night stands while I was hunting before I flitted out of town. I’d travel days for a hunt if needed, which opened up a new basket of hot men to taste.
Tristan squeezed in on the other side of me, giving me his devilish smirk as he rested his ankle on his opposite knee and bounced the other foot on the floor.
Damien took up standing behind Mr Oxley, who was leaning against the edge of the old wooden desk that was the centerpiece of the library room.
Wesley was sitting on the floor beside the opposing armchair where Dominic was seated.
“The guys may have told you already, but I’m Dominic Reynolds, Mr Oxley’s only staff member and right hand man. I’m also a psychic witch, and he wishes for me to find out more about your past and heritage. Are you willing to undergo some spellwork to uncover this?” Dominic asked as he leaned forward, clasping his hands together between his legs as he gave me a soft smile.
Ugh, why did he have to be gay? He was a sexy piece of witchcraft all right.
I shot a look at Mr Oxley, cursing myself. But his expression was unchanged, and I could only assume he hadn’t heard that. Hopefully.
“Yes, I’m willing,” I nodded.
“Good, now, this may be weird, but you’re not in any danger, understood?” Dominic said as he offered me his hands.
I placed mine in his, nodding hesitantly.
What was going to happen?
I nibbled on my lip as he began chanting in Latin, his chocolate eyes lighting up with a soft purple glow.
My energy pulsed through me, and I closed my eyes as it swirled inside me, responding to his unique touch of magic.
To describe the sensation was difficult, it felt like he was reaching inside me, opening up a doorway deep within my being.
“Savage Harlow is the name you were raised under, but the family name you were born with was Dorian, an ancient line of kitsune warriors that once protected royal kitsunes. Savannah was your birth name, changed over by the man who decided to take you in. He called you Sav, but you chose your name. His brother murdered your parents, believing them to be shifters, but Thomas Harlow discovered the truth when he found the ancient kitsune blade in the home. He decided to take you, raise you as his own, as he knew stories of kitsunes who lay dormant, but their good fortune would favor those they held dear. He also knew you could see supes among humankind, and wanted to exploit that,” Dominic’s monotone voice made my blood run cold, like another power was speaking through him.
“The Dorian lines were skilled warriors,” he murmured.
I gasped as I suddenly found myself in a pristine home, standing beside Dominic.
“This was your home, and your family,” he murmured as he ushered me towards an open doorway.
I uncertainly stepped forth, freezing as I looked into the living room.
A woman who looked identical to me was sitting on the floor, laughing as she played dolls with a young girl. She was no older than three, and she was giggling as they played.
“Sav, do
n’t you want to play with your dads and brothers? They’re just outside,” the woman asked as she set the doll down. “Before your dads head off to work?”
I stared numbly at the beautiful woman, my throat tightening.
So she had been my mother.
“The man who claimed to be your uncle murdered both her and one of her mates,” Dominic spoke up from behind me.
Dads. More than one.
“I have other fathers?” I asked, unable to draw my eyes away from the smiling woman. She was so happy and gorgeous, the mother I’d never known. How could I have forgotten her? I’d been only a small child, but surely I could’ve remembered something?
“Yes, you have others, and brothers,” Dominic answered.
I had real family? Family that was still alive?
The room dropped away from me, and I shouted out as I reached out desperately for my mother.
But the scene had disappeared, and I found myself back in the library room.
“I have family,” I murmured, gritting my teeth in anger. How could the Harlow family do this to me? Hide the truth from me, keep my real family a secret?!
“Yes, the man murdered alongside your mother was not your biological father,” Dominic nodded. “He still lives, along with other men who acted as fathers to you, and brothers.”
“I have to find them,” I said instantly. I focused on Dominic’s face, frowning at the sweat beading on his brow. A trickle of blood ran down from his nose and marred his lips. He wiped at it with a shaky hand, releasing my hands to do so.
“That’s enough Dominic, you’ve pushed yourself past your limits,” Mr Oxley said sternly.
Wait, what was going on?
“Dominic has used too much magic to find some answers for you, that is all he can do for now. We will do our best to find out more about this family of yours,” Mr Oxley stated.
I wanted to argue, but his tone was definite, and I bit my tongue.
Besides, Dominic did look worse for wear.
But I had a real family, family like me. The thought both terrified and excited me.
Would they hate me for what I became?