By the Horns

by Rachael Slate

  Death.

  A repercussion Nat was okay with when it involved only herself. But if she entangled Kassian in her plans…

  Nat choked on her thoughts. She’d signed her contract with a clear head. A heavy heart, but a clear head. She’d given up on a future with Kassian the moment she’d sliced her palm on the Matchmaker’s blade.

  Kassian and the Matchmaker could take the Snake from her at any moment. They probably should, because she had only agreed to possess the spirit to fulfill her own, personal oath.

  Kassian pushed off from the bunk beds and headed for the door.

  “Where are you going?”

  “To meditate. Can’t relax in this coffin.” He left without a backward glance.

  Meditate. Right. She wasn’t the only one with obligations. Funny, the vows she and Kassian had taken had led them both to the same path and, yet, they existed on different threads of the same tapestry. Their paths might cross, might even weave together for a short time, but they would go their separate ways soon enough.

  As soon as Nat mastered the Snake, she was outta here.

  Screw the consequences.

  Kassian was right. This cabin resembled a coffin, and with nothing better to do than stare at the rusting, peeling, white-washed walls, fresh air was the better alternative.

  She followed Kassian through the maze and onto the main deck. He wandered off to the bow, sat, and sank into his meditative pose.

  She eyed him with envy.

  “You haven’t even given a proper hello.”

  She jolted at Price’s voice to her right. Damn, she hadn’t noticed him. The ass. She whirled to face him. “I didn’t realize one was required.”

  “Not for me. For Horse.” He flashed her a grin from where he reclined on a plastic lounge chair as though this were a cruise ship.

  Oh. He was correct about their spirits, but Price being right about things got on her nerves.

  His blue eyes twinkled with mischief. “Well, Snake. It’s in there, somewhere, right?”

  The “in there” part was true. Yet Snake’s quiet attitude seemed a little off.

  “Yep.”

  “Well, can Horse say hello?” His sensual lips quirked. The reminder of her former attraction to him made her stomach churn. That, and the gentle rocking of the boat.

  “Oh, come on, Nat. We weren’t so bad together.”

  She wrinkled her nose. “We were horrible.”

  “Okay.” He shrugged. “But our suck-ass past doesn’t mean we can’t be friends.”

  His push for friendship set off alarms inside her gut. Was he another of the Matchmaker’s tests? Well, at least, he wasn’t half the temptation of Kassian.

  “Friends? You shot me. We’ll never be friends.”

  He sighed, his shoulders slumping. “Fair enough, but you’re a smart girl. You know how this job works. Even if you never believe me,” he combed a hand through his long locks and shot her a sideways glance, “firing that gun was the hardest thing I’ve ever done.”

  She stiffened. Half of her believed him because she did know what the job was like. If she’d been ordered to shoot him, she would have done it. No questions asked. The other half froze in shock because she’d never witnessed even a smidge of the emotion in Price he was currently bearing in front of her. Those blue eyes appeared…vulnerable. Who knew? He might actually be human, after all.

  “So, who ordered you to do it? The Matchmaker? The Council?”

  His gaze lowered and a chuckle shook his shoulders.

  She huffed and took it all back. Price was a smug bastard.

  He groaned and stretched out on his back on the plastic lawn chair. “You know exactly why I can’t answer that, sweetheart.” He smirked. “If I told you, I’d have to shoot you again, and not miss.”

  “You’re an assho—”

  “But you forgive me.” He grinned wide. Disarmingly charming. Perhaps he had a point. She would never give up the details of any of her missions, not even under torture. That was what made them Lotus.

  “Not quite.” Snake stirred inside her and their circumstances edged into the forefront of her mind. She might not trust Price—yet—but he was a Chosen. She stuck out her hand. “Hello, Horse.”

  He slid his large, warm hand into hers. Tingling ran from her fingertips up her arm. Snake uncoiled inside her and slithered outward.

  Price’s Horse cloaked him. Holy cow. Or rather, Holy Horse. She stumbled back, but he steadied her with his grip on her hand.

  The beast assumed the form of an enormous wild mustang, a head taller than Ox, but leaner. Sleek, black coat. Powerful flank. His wide-spaced pearlescent eyes blinked at her with glittering intelligence. Wow, he was so much more beautiful than she’d pictured. Even when they’d been together, she’d never met Horse.

  After letting out a low nicker, Horse inclined its head and tossed its silken, inky mane. The spirit stepped forward and exhaled through its nose, mouth shut. Warm air puffed across Nat’s hand.

  Snake’s scales rose on her skin. Shimmering red and gold. Horse and Snake assessed each other. Snake’s forked tongue flicked out to sniff Horse, who whinnied in response. While Nat and Price had a tainted history, Snake seemed content to greet its old friend.

  Price uncloaked Horse and regarded her. “Wow. So, Snake, huh?”

  She hummed at the scales vanishing from her skin. The spirit did everything she asked, but despite her reasoning about its calm nature, something still bothered her. Price was less judgmental about Snake than Kassian, so he might be able to reassure her this was normal. “Yeah. Snake’s a pretty quiet spirit. Is it supposed to be like this? The others seem so…in tune with their spirits.”

  He sleeked back his hair. “Depends, I guess.”

  How helpful.

  “Look, I haven’t spent much time around the others, and all I know is, you have to bond with your spirit.” He shrugged. “That takes time. I wouldn’t worry about it.”

  Hmm. Seemed like sound advice, then again, Price never worried about anything.

  “Your hosting the Snake wouldn’t have anything to do with your father, Xing, would it?”

  She flinched. “What the hell do you know about my dad?”

  “More than I’d like to.” He surveyed the space around them as though gauging whether Kassian could overhear them, but he was deep in meditation. “He contacted me about the húli jīng. Wants to cut a deal with their Queen.” He snorted. “Like I’ve ever met her.”

  “Well, apparently you’ve fucked enough of them to be considered an intermediary.” She squeezed her fists and forced her brain to be serious again. Whatever her father sought with the fox spirits, it couldn’t be pleasant. “Do yourself a favor. Don’t ever speak with my father again.” The last thing she needed was the weight of responsibility over having to save Price’s ass. In fact, she shouldn’t have warned him, but if she hadn’t, he would probably get himself killed. She refused to be responsible for any of her father’s victims.

  “Okay, good to know.”

  She narrowed her gaze at him. “Why don’t you live with the others at Kek Lok Si?”

  He folded his arms, focusing toward the ocean. Aha. The question made him uncomfortable. “I don’t like to be tied down.” He paused as though rethinking his words and then grinned. “Well, actually, I do. Wanna head below deck?” He winked and jerked his chin toward the stairwell.

  She rolled her eyes. “Not even in your dreams, buddy.”

  ***

  Kassian fought to tune out the conversation between Nat and Price. The man’s constant flirting didn’t irk him as much as his uncertainty about Nat’s feelings toward Price.

  Had she loved him? Did she still?

  One day, Sheng would demand Price choose sides—either his, the Hai San Kongsi, or Delun’s, the Ghee Hin. Tiger or Dragon. Each of the ten Chinese Zodiac animal spirits had to choose one leader to follow each time they assumed a new host. Ox, Rat, Monkey, and Snake had chosen Tiger. Rabbit probably would t
oo. The other spirits were still up for grabs, most of them currently unaccounted for. Sheng would likely give the other half to his brother, Delun.

  But, Emperor help him if Price chose Sheng. Since Nat had joined with Tiger, he, Nat, and Price would have to live together, possibly for eternity. The awkwardness of that threesome threatened to choke Kassian out. He slammed his eyes shut and sought the place in the back of his mind where clarity awaited him.

  Ox pawed the ground, lowing with soothing reassurance. Kassian was more than a host to the warrior spirit. They were friends. One and the same. At first, blackness greeted his subconscious. As he sank deeper, images blurred into focus. As usual, his fears and concerns greeted him first.

  The fear of hurting others with his strength.

  The fear of being too late or too inadequate to save Mei.

  Lastly, the fear of never knowing himself. Of finding true clarity.

  He fought past them, seeking his path. After Sheng had introduced him to Ox and Kassian had learned to meditate, the beast had shown him images. Visions of his future. Each spirit animal possessed unique gifts, and this guidance concerning Kassian’s life happened to be one of Ox’s.

  The first time, he’d viewed the bleak picture of his future if he didn’t veer from his corrupt lifestyle. Armed with new purpose, together, he and Ox had altered the visions.

  The table of liquor bottles they’d overturned together, alcohol glistening on glass shards. The endless women’s skirts he’d closed his door to, shutting them out.

  After he’d passed those tests, Ox had led him toward enlightenment. He’d found meaning and purpose.

  How did Ox perceive Kassian’s broken vows? Would the beast revoke his visions? His fears knotted together inside his chest. The images swirling in his brain spiraled like a kaleidoscope.

  Please, Ox.

  Just as he was about to give up hope, the pictures condensed. A figure hovered at the horizon of his path, facing away from him. As Kassian zoomed in, the figure turned.

  Nat.

  She wasn’t alone. In her hand, she gripped her fan. Her lethal weapon. She raised the fan above her head, poised to strike. Beside her, a man knelt. Kassian squinted to view the man’s identity, but it blurred beyond recognition. He cried out for her to stop but, in her eyes, he didn’t perceive Nat. Coppery eyes glinted at him instead. Snake.

  Her lips curved as she slashed the fan’s blade across the man’s neck. Bright red splattered her face and body.

  Kassian jolted out of his meditation. “Fuck.” He rubbed his eyes to erase the image, but it remained. Burned into the back of his brain. What did it mean? That Nat would kill someone?

  Even worse, it seemed Nat had enjoyed the killing. Had fucking loved it.

  How? How could Nat do such a thing with…joy?

  He gave his head a violent shake. Who was the man? Price? Nat had behaved like she wanted him dead, but she might still have feelings for him. She hadn’t argued about bringing Price along with them. Did she still care for the man or did she hope to toss him overboard? The hell if Kassian knew which.

  Another question nagged at his brain. In his vision, Snake had been in command. Apprehension slid up his spine, icy cold. Why would Nat allow Snake to take control and murder someone? Unless…

  Snake would seize her. All of her.

  Fuck, no. Giving Nat the Snake wasn’t just a bad idea, it might be damning too.

  Not on my watch. He inhaled and exhaled. This vision hadn’t yet come to pass. Ox had shown it to him to prevent the execution from happening. Kassian would teach Nat control—how to snap Snake back inside its cage.

  He’d protect her and, dammit, he’d protect Horse too. So long as Price was Chosen, Kassian owed him his loyalty. His vision wasn’t proof enough to bring to Sheng or the Matchmaker…yet. If Snake made so much as one false step, Kassian wouldn’t hesitate to turn the spirit in.

  Kassian rose, stretched out the stiffness in his limbs, and sought the man. He found Price in a lime green, plastic lounge chair on the port side. He reclined in his swimming trunks, soaking up the sun’s rays. His two fox spirits occupied chairs on either side of him, mimicking his sunbathing in their skimpy bikinis.

  “We have to talk.”

  Price tipped up half of his shades to peer at Kassian with one blue eye. “Is this about my ass?”

  “Huh? No, it’s—”

  “Because I was never as furry as Nat implied. Besides, my lady friends like it smooth, right girls?” They giggled in response, and Price added, “Everywhere, if you know what I mean.” He winked at them.

  “Ugh, thanks for the mental image even bleach won’t erase from my brain.”

  “You’re welcome.” Price flipped down his shades. “Didn’t realize you swing both ways, but that’s cool.”

  What the hell was with everyone assuming he was into men? Kassian rolled his eyes. “No, what I meant was—”

  “Oh. Hey, man. It won’t happen again.”

  Kassian tensed. “What won’t?”

  “Uh, well in that case, nothing.”

  Kassian crossed his arms and glared down at the dumbass.

  Price slid his shades to the top of his head. “I may have suggested to your, ah, fiancée, that she bunk with me instead.”

  Kassian glowered, but Price held up his hand, one finger bent at an abnormal angle. “Yep, yep. I got the memo. Nat sure has a funny way of clarifying things.”

  “Let me pop that back in for you.” Ignoring Price’s protest, he snatched the man’s pinky and jammed it back into the joint. To his credit, Price just gritted his teeth.

  “She has a mind of her own.” Kassian paused to search for the words. “You should stay away from her, and not only because you’d like all of your digits intact.” He jerked his chin toward the man’s crotch, then rubbed at the back of his neck. “She’s still learning to control Snake, and ah, well, we don’t really know what the spirit is capable of.”

  Price barked a laugh. “Nat may be many things, mate, but a cold-blooded killer isn’t one of them. Oh, she talks a big talk, but she’d never pull the trigger. Not on me.” He leaned back and chuckled.

  Kassian wasn’t convinced. “What if the Matchmaker told her to?”

  Price folded his hands behind his head. “She hasn’t and she won’t.”

  Crossing his arms, Kassian frowned at the man’s confidence. His vision had been clear. Nat would kill someone. If the Matchmaker didn’t seek Price’s death, then whose?

  “What if…Snake ordered the hit?”

  An even louder snort of laughter erupted from Price. “I appreciate the concern, but that wouldn’t ever happen, either. Horse met Snake without even a hint of animosity between the spirits. Besides, Snake’s not strong enough to do it.” He waved off the threat. “Nat will get the hang of controlling it soon.”

  Kassian frowned. Had Nat talked to Price about Snake? He huffed, clenching his fists. If she had, then she might be having doubts she hadn’t expressed to him… His conviction steeled. His visions weren’t wrong, not when they were this strong. Nat was going to kill someone and Snake was going to make her do it.

  The question remaining was…

  Who?

  Kassian stormed into the cabin. A whirlwind of anxiety clung to him—a deep furrow marred his forehead, his shoulders bunched, and the veins in his forearms popped as though he clenched his fists. Nat paused with her hairbrush halfway through her hair, her legs dangling over the side of the top bunk. He didn’t glance her way as he stepped into the adjoining bathroom.

  The spray of the shower sputtered a minute later. She continued brushing her hair until he strode back into the room, pacing.

  “Okay, what?” From her perch, she leaned forward and rested her elbows on her knees, hands cupping her chin.

  He raked his fingers through his still-damp hair. The locks spiked stiffly. He cast her an accusatory glare. “You can’t control the Snake, can you?”

  Whoa. She reared back. Which hurt more�
�the jab to her pride or the disappointment confirmed by his pinched brows?

  “I’m learning, sure.” She had no counter for his claim, but like Price had assured, she hadn’t hosted the Snake that long. Why the censure?

  “I don’t like this.” He blew out his breath. “When we reach Penang, I think you should give up Snake.”

  “What the hell? No way!” She leapt off the bunk and landed, her finger jabbing his hard pecs. “I assumed we were over this.”

  “So did I, but…”

  She dropped her hand to her side. This was new. “What happened?”

  He rubbed the back of his neck and glanced sideways at her, those greenish-brown depths appearing haunted. “Snake’s going to make you do something, Nat. Something terrible.”

  The concern in his frown made her decide to play along. “Why would you say that? Hey.” She nudged his shoulder. “I’m not going to morph into Zhao. Snake is a warrior spirit, just like Ox.”

  “No, it isn’t.” He cupped her cheek in his large hand. “Ox warned me.”

  “How?”

  “Ox shows me things. Like visions.” He cast her a sideways glance as if assessing whether she’d deem him crazy.

  She’d witnessed too much to ever discount the unusual. “Fine. Even if I believed you, someone has to host Snake. Lucy can’t take him back.” She exhaled and sought the right words. “You assume I’m not strong enough, but I am. I need this. I need this chance.”

  “A chance at what? To do what?” When she didn’t answer, he sighed. “I guess this leaves us at an impasse.”

  She slid her hand onto his shoulder. “No, it doesn’t. Teach me.” She swallowed the bitterness of confession. “I was a bit cocky before. Maybe I could use some help.”

  His lips quirked as he regarded her. “Is your pride feeling the burn?”

  “Ha ha. No, but you will.” He chuckled; she elbowed him in the gut.

  His laughter passed his lips with an “oomph!” He clutched his side and toppled to the ground. From the tiled floor, he peered at her. “I’ll help you on one condition. If I’m not satisfied by the time we reach Penang, you’ll consider stepping aside.”