Ahhh. Memories.
"So. What can I do for you, Headmaster?"
"Just sitting here in shock that you actually called me Headmaster."
"Well, you told me to leave the uncle part off. Uncle Headmaster? Nah. That sounds kinda pornographic."
"Quite. Do you know why I called you here?"
"You missed me?"
"Surprisingly enough, I did."
"Awww."
"But that is not the reason. You have one more guess."
"The herpes thing?"
"That was you?" He leaned forward and gave me a shocked expression.
"What? No."
The crafty old bastard winked at me. "I didn't think so. No person of your intelligence, despite her love of mirth, would ever use one of this schools most sacred challenges to insult a rival. Would she. Because said student would understand that I would be required, as a matter of principle, to reduce her to a smoldering pile of ash, yes?"
"Definitely. If I hear anything, I will definitely let you know who the perpetrator of such a heinous crime was. They should definitely get their ash handed to them. See what I did there?"
"I did."
"So why am I here?"
"The cave."
"Exqueeze me?"
"I was informed that you inadvertently learned the location of a certain hole in the mountain that a little fox should stay very far away from."
"You know about it?"
"As has every headmaster before me. It is one of the reasons why the school is in this valley."
"Why?"
He leaned in even closer. "Because…it is none of your business. You were warned by the gua–Lateran brothers. Now I am warning you, Kaede. Stay away from the cave."
As imposing and frightening as he was, he might as well have hung a big neon sign over the entrance that read, "No Girlz Allowd." It had officially become a moral imperative that I find and identify the contents of the cave. It was a kitsune challenge. Do it but don't get caught. Maybe he wanted me to know what was in the cave. Judging by the look on his face, he definitely didn't, but he was a good actor. So, the possibility was there.
"Fox's honor, Uncle."
"You're going to have to do better than that. I've known too many foxes."
"On my honor as a student of Aesir Academy, I shall leave well enough alone and not disturb your dirty little cave."
"Kaede. It is an order. I will beg and plead with you if I must, but I can't stress enough nothing good is inside that cave."
He definitely wants me to look. "Okay, Uncle."
"There is only death."
"Gotcha."
"Get out."
"Okey dokey." I grinned at him and lifted my butt off the leather seat, saluted, and headed for the double doors. Twisting the handle, I used all my pitiful strength to push it open and slip between them, letting it fall closed behind me. Just before it clicked shut, I heard the headmistress' voice.
"You were right. That one won't listen. Not even to you."
I really wanted to go back in and find out what else they were going to say about me behind my back, but there was no way to get back in.
Where the hell was she hiding? Under the desk? Bow chicky wow wow. You go, Uncle. Wait. Ew. She's a mountain troll.
Shrugging, I headed back toward the dining hall. Hopefully Sabine and the Sabinettes were done with dinner and I could scarf some nom-noms before dinner was over. I hated fighting on an empty stomach.
I'd almost made it into the dining hall when one of the twins stopped me with his chest. My head slammed into his pecs when he stepped from inside the door. Luckily it was Remy. Rome probably would have swatted me in the head just to make sure I got a concussion.
"Sorry," I said and shook my head.
"It is all right." He made no move to walk around me.
"Are they still open?"
"For another hour, yes."
"Can I uh…go in?"
"Yes?"
"Can you uh…move?"
His chuckle held a small feeling of menace, sexiness, and some subtle overtones of chocolate harvested by virgins in the rain forests of South America. He was definitely dangerous, and Danger-Makes-Me-Wet was my Native American middle name.
David! I shook my head again to clear it for completely different reasons than being a crash test dummy.
"You need to be careful."
"I know. I said I was sorry for running into you."
He chuckled again. "That is not what I am talking about."
"The cave? Yeah. I know. Just had a meeting with the headmaster."
"That, too. But still not what I'm referring to."
"Your brother?"
He sighed, tired of the guessing game. "Come on. Let's get you some food. Maybe you'll be able to think better with a full stomach."
I blinked in surprise, staring at him as he turned and walked back into the dining hall. "You're going to eat with me?"
"No. I'm going to have some coffee and talk at you while you eat."
"Oh."
He pointed at one of the tables and walked over to it, settling his large frame in the wooden chair. He noticed me standing there and motioned for me to get my food.
I didn't have to be asked twice. Told twice. Whatever. I was starving. Practically running down the buffet, I shoveled food on the plain white china, grabbed some silverware and a glass of juice, and headed back to the table. I nervously glanced around as I sat the plate down, worried someone would see us together. By someone, I mean David.
"Don't worry. I'll tell him we talked."
"You could tell?"
"And smell your fear."
"Ew." I sniffed my pit.
"How does a tiny thing like you pack away so much food?"
"I store most of it in my cheeks," I answered and sat down.
"I have seen your ass. It isn't big, either."
Unrolling my silverware from the linen napkin, I stopped to cock an eyebrow at him. "You guys have a sense of humor?"
He was dangerous, and sulky, but fuck if the smile didn't light up his face like Times Square on New Year's Eve. "We've been known to crack a joke or two."
"Both of you, or just you?"
"Mostly me. Rome is…Rome."
"Mr. Angrypants."
"Most of the time, yes. Life has not been easy for the two of us. He shoulders more responsibility than I."
"I thought you were going to have some coffee." I started shoveling food in my mouth.
"Yes. I shall."
While he got a cup, I tried to put a big dent in my food. I was over halfway through when he sat back down. "Gods. Did you use a straw?"
"For what?" I stopped chewing.
"To eat with. You sucked down half your plate already."
"I was hangry."
"Hangry?"
"Like hungry but pissed off because you're hungry."
"I like that."
"Feel free to use it." I slowed down my culinary inhalation due to the fact that now there were witnesses involved. Picking at a chicken leg as nimbly as I could, curiosity finally got the better of me. "So, why do I need to be careful?"
"My sister."
"She don't like me."
"To put it mildly."
"Why are you warning me?"
"Because I do."
"What?"
"Like you."
"Why?"
"I've asked myself that question at least forty-two times."
I nodded. "Me, too!"
"I think that might be one of the reasons. Your self-depreciating humor. Your humor in general. Plus, I like how angry you make Rome, even if it makes my life more difficult."
"But you don't like me picking on your sister?"
He sighed. "Gods know she deserves it, but she is different from Rome."
"How so?" I took another bite of my chicken leg. Meat lollipops were my favorite. All the kinds. Wink wink.
"Rome understands the need for self-restraint. He may throttle you if you g
et out of hand, but he would never cause lasting harm. My sister…"
"Not so much?"
"Will kill you, cook you, and fucking eat you. Please stop pushing her buttons."
"She's safe. Not into chicks."
"Not what I meant."
"I know. Tell you what, Remy. Tell her I'll call a truce. She leaves me the hell alone and I won't get under her skin."
He nodded. "Thank you."
Chapter 12
"How much trouble are you in?"
Nearly tripping while jogging, I righted myself and adjusted my stride to match David's. Again, he had snuck up on me without me realizing it. Hiroki nodded and started running, giving us a little alone time. Physical Education was one of the very few classes David and I had together.
"I'm not. Got off with a warning."
"How did he know it was you?"
"I guess the twinsies ratted me out."
"Were they pissed you made fun of Sabine like that?"
"Huh? No? That wasn't what I got called to the office for."
There was a moment of silence while he processed the information. "What did you get in trouble for?"
Shit. Lie or tell the truth? I sighed. We hadn't been dating that long, I didn't want to ruin it by lying to him. "I followed you to the cave the other night."
"What? Why?" He slowed his pace.
"Well… See, I was fine with you going with the boys, but then I overheard your ex mention something about going, too, and I kinda had this little jealous moment and I kind of wanted to kill her, but I opted for following her and then I was chased by these two big dogs. It was a total mess. Two out of ten, would not stalk again."
"Sabine? Led you to the cave?"
His voice was chilly. Icy even. "Yes."
He just nodded and kept jogging.
"You're not mad that I followed her in a fit of jealous rage?"
He shook his head. "No. That was natural. I should have said something to you about her being there, but I really didn't think about it. I'm pissed at her for being followed."
"Oh. Why? What's in the cave?"
"Trust me, Kaede. You don't want to know."
"See, that's the thing. Everybody keeps telling me that and it just makes me want to know more. I mean seriously. I'm a fucking fox. We hate shit like this."
"I wish I could tell you, but I can't. I can only tell you it's better if you just forget the whole damn thing. We're talking dangers of epic proportions here, Kaede. Epic."
"Can you at least give me a hint?"
"End of the world type stuff."
"Oh. That is epic." I blinked in surprise. Maybe I would leave the cave alone. Maybe. Maybe not. I mean, a little peek couldn't hurt. "Yeah. I'll stay away."
"Thank you." He gave me one of his patented smiles.
"So. Full disclosure. I had dinner with Remy last night."
"I know."
"He told you?"
"Of course."
"Did it make you want to follow him to a cave in the middle of the mountains?"
"For what?"
I blinked. He couldn't be that dense. "It doesn't bother you if I spend time with your friends without you?"
"No? Why would it?"
"You trust me that much?" I felt a little guilty for trailing Sabine.
"If it weren't Remy or Rome, or even Hiroki, I might."
"Huh?"
He sighed and turned his head to look at me while we were jogging. "The twins and I…"
"Don't tell me you're into each other…"
"What? No! Well, there was that one time at Band Camp."
"Huh?"
"Kidding. No. We're…pack. Rome is the closest thing I've had to an Alpha in a very long time and they're not even werewolves. I'd share anything with them."
"Even me?"
His silence was enough of an answer. I started to slow down, and he stopped. "What the ever-loving fuck, David? Were you going to tell me this eventually?"
"If… I don't know."
"So, they walk up to you and tell you they wanna fuck me, and you're good with it?"
"If that is what you wanted." He blushed and looked away.
"What if I don't. Wait a minute. There is no what if in that statement."
"Then I would be forced to fight them, knowing without a doubt I would lose."
"What?"
"I would lose?"
"You would fight for me?"
"I'd do more than that. I'd probably go down, but I wouldn't be breathing when I did it. I'd keep going until that last breath left my lungs."
"That's pretty sweet, but morbid."
He stopped and I stood in front of him, looking up at his worried expression. "The truth usually is."
Putting my hands on my hips, I nodded. There was more truth to his words than I was comfortable admitting. "So, just so I understand… Let's just say if Remy found me attractive and wanted to be my boyfriend too, you wouldn't bat an eyelash. But, if I didn't want to date him, you'd fight for me?"
"Yes. Rome, too."
"Let's not go crazy with this fantasy. He'd rather throw me off the top of a mountain than spend a second listening to my usually incoherent ramblings."
David chuckled, nodding slightly. "He was like that with me in the beginning, too. He doesn't open up to people easily. Just be prepared when, and if, he does. His friendship is worth the wait."
"Tall, dark, muscly, and broody? Yeah. Bet he's a ton of fun at parties."
David's smile got a little bigger. "Just going to have to trust me on this one."
"Whatever. Good talk. We should do this again sometime. When I'm drunk, because honestly I feel a little gross."
"Understandable. Just wanted to be honest with you."
"But why Hiroki?"
"Because he loves you. I don't think I could ever say no to you and him. I'd just have to pray that you wouldn't leave me for him."
"You just think he's hot."
"He is attractive," he admitted with a grin. I couldn't tell if he was joking or not. I was hoping for not.
"You should see him in panties."
"I'd rather see you in your panties."
"That can be arranged."
"I'd also like to see you without them."
"That can be arranged, too." I hissed a chuckle of fox laughter.
"You even laugh like a fox." He reached out and lovingly caressed my cheek. I shifted uncomfortably in my very tight gym shorts. The conversation, while surreal, had aroused me from the beginning. His touch was almost enough to send me over the edge. I groaned and leaned into his caress, kissing his fingers.
"You wouldn't be kissing those if you knew where they'd been," Sabine said snidely as she and her cronies slowly jogged by.
"The same place that every finger in this school has been? Including your two friends running beside you?"
Not heeding Remy's advice when dealing with his sister, I went a little too far. But, in my defense, she did start it. I was just better at it. I was still soaking David's fingers in sake before I let him anywhere near my hoo-ha. I'd just have to make sure they were thoroughly dry. I already learned that lesson the hard way.
She stopped, spun on one foot, and launched herself at me. David immediately pushed me behind him and stuck out his chest, bracing for the impact that never came. Remy tackled his sister mid-air, landing in the grass of the center of the track. "Run," he snarled over his shoulder, giving me an "I told you so" look.
Using the opportunity, I literally got David back on track and heeded Remy's second piece of advice and ran as fast as my little legs could carry me.
"Sorry about that," David said, easily matching my stride.
"That you used her as a finger puppet?"
"Yeah. Not my proudest moment."
"Did you use her like…I can't think of anything witty. Did you put your dick in her?"
His blush was all the answer I needed.
"Ew. I put that in my mouth."
"I've had several hundred sh
owers between then and now."
"So how long we talking? Last week? Cuz that's how many I would have taken between then and now."
"It was years ago."
"Okay. That I can live with."
"You're a jealous little thing, aren't you?"
"Yep. Mine. You might not care if you share, but Homey don't play dat. Got me, Mr. Lupescu?"
"Loud and clear, Ms. Tanaka."
∞ ∞ ∞
"Please?"
"No."
"Pretty please?" David flashed a smile as we walked into the dining hall. I cocked an eyebrow at him, honestly hoping he didn't think that just because he flashed me that sexy, sultry little smile he would get his way. I wasn't that easy.
He tilted his head down, not taking his eyes off me and giving me puppy dog eyes. Fucking puppy dog eyes! I was helpless as my insides liquified. "Fine. But if Rome gets snippy with me, I'm getting snippy back. And I use scissors."
He beamed. "Tell Hiroki to join us."
We were having dinner. Together. All of us.
Kami help me.
I held three fingers over my head. A moment later, Hiroki was by my side, giving a little bow. "Is everything okay?"
"Yes. You are invited to dinner."
"Hai," he said cautiously.
"That's all you had to do?" David seemed impressed by the whole ordeal.
"Yeah. It's been a while. I couldn't remember if it was three or four fingers."
"Four would have been bad." Hiroki frowned.
"What's four again?"
"Stick to the shadows, strike low, and take the head."
"Oh, yeah. Four is bad," I said to David. He turned white and led us to the buffet.
I winked conspiratorially at Hiroki. He knew damn well that was five. Or, at least I think it was. Maybe it was four. I'd have to ask him later and write it down.
David handed me a tray, plate, and roll of silverware, ushering me to go first. I think he liked to watch me fill my plate.
"I just want to go on record as saying this is a horrible idea."
"But you agreed to it." David grinned at me.
A Tail of Woah: A Reverse Harem Academy Tail (The Fox and the Hounds Book 1) Page 10