Nine Tails 6: Spirit Shift

by J. L. Weil

“Well, I’m sure it is only a matter of time.”

  Time we didn’t have, I wanted to point out.

  We passed by the fountain in the center of the pathways. Water bubbled out from the mouths of the stone gods that swam in the middle, trickling into a pool of water that shone gold under the sun. “He is exceptionally skilled when it comes to fae magic.” She was a mother bragging about her son, but there was an undertone to her words that advised me to be cautious. “He would make a just and fair king, don’t you agree?” Isleen angled her head at me, a cunning gleam in her eyes.

  Oh yes, she was dangling her son in front of me—a prize any queen would be happy to have beside her. Perhaps if that queen wasn’t me, that was. I forced myself not to roll my eyes. Was whom I chose to rule beside me all anyone in this world cared about? Was I not capable of making my own decisions? I understood their concerns, having not been raised here, but surely an advisor would be adequate enough—a position I only trusted to Devyn so I wasn’t forced to marry immediately. “To be frank, the only thing on my mind is saving this world. The rest will have to wait.”

  She frowned, her nails digging into my arm hard enough to grab my attention and cause my breath to hitch. I didn’t like the flash of anger I caught in her eyes. Under the surface, undiluted rage boiled in her. She was not someone to be trifled with. Careful, my Kitsune whispered. Tread lightly.

  “I was born and raised in this world. It takes more than power to rule a kingdom. You will need to surround yourself with influential people—fae who have this world at the forefront of their priorities. Don’t be foolish. Girls like us, we need to stick together.”

  I jerked my arm away from her and looked her dead in the eyes, my heart racing in response to her subtle threats. I forced my lips to turn up into a smile of sweet venom. “I couldn’t agree more. But I’m not sure you and your husband qualify as people I can trust, considering you abducted me.”

  Isleen didn’t so much as flinch and returned my smile. She lifted her fingers to her lips, sucking on the ends of her long nails. It was then that I noticed the red on them. My blood. “Think on it, dear. I’m sure after you’ve become acquainted with our home and your place here you’ll change your mind.”

  I spun around and stalked off, leaving Isleen glaring after me. My encounter with the lady of Orangeoland stayed with me throughout the day, along with the nail marks she left embedded in my arm.

  DEVYN

  Seasons weren’t a thing in the Second Moon. Our lands didn’t go through winter, summer, spring, or fall. Climate was specific to a region. It might be snowing in Thornland, but it was always burning hot in Orangeoland.

  Sweat beaded across my brow and made my clothes stick to me as we entered the eternally hot land. My body was a wreck, screaming at me to rest. The pixie was dozing, snuggled into Gypsy’s smoky mane. I was more than ready to get to Salvotory Castle.

  The pixie had been right. I couldn’t storm the castle, not without putting Karina at risk, but that didn’t mean I had a plan either beyond allowing myself a few hours of sleep before shit hit the fan. I would need to scout out the grounds and the patterns of Ryker’s sentinels.

  It would take all my self-control not to strangle Kai on sight. The vision Belle had shown me of Kai shifting into me and kissing Karina, it played over and over again in my mind for the last leg of my journey. I had the uncontrollable urge to shatter the world.

  Gypsy shifted underneath me, slowing her gait. The cascade of waves whispered in the distance, the sea. Torika was a coastal city, a harbor where the bulk of trades happened in the Second Moon. It wasn’t Ryker’s primary residency, but the one his wife preferred. I never thought I would be happy to see the city of Torika, but as I came to the edge of the woods and saw the city lights twinkling like a million stars in the sky, elation whipped through me.

  She was not far now. My blood hummed at the knowledge, sensing she was so close but still out of my reach. I dismounted Gypsy and walked to the edge of the cliff.

  Belle stirred. “Are we there?” Her tiny voice carried on the sea breeze.

  The stone castle loomed in the distance, and I couldn’t keep myself from wondering which lit window was hers. “As close as we’re going to get for now.” I sat down, leaning my back against a tree, and plotted. I figured a loose plan was better than no plan, though I tended to do my best work on instinct. But I’d never had someone this important to lose before. It made a difference in everything I did.

  She did that. Changed me. Made me want to be someone better than I was. Made me want to be someone worthy of loving her, of being by her side. A dream, perhaps, but it was my dream.

  I sighed as I sat nestled in the moss and roots, taking note of the city guards, of the sounds on the streets, and the castle beyond.

  Nothing had ever seemed so distant.

  KARINA

  “We have a celebration to toast this evening,” Ryker announced, sitting at the head of the table in the Great Hall. His wife sat at his side, a portrait of obedience, but I knew what she really was. The silent viper. I didn’t know who would strike first: Ryker or Isleen.

  They both had their own agendas. Ryker wanted to secure himself a position as my guardian, giving himself power over my kingdom. And Isleen was looking to put her son on the throne beside me.

  I had no qualms about Bash. Despite who his parents were, I couldn’t sense any ill-intent toward me. He genuinely seemed interested in how my Kitsune functioned—a long guarded secret—and if he knew what his parents schemed, he’d made no move to support either. Bash was the enigma of the family.

  I often wondered if allowing Bash to study my magic was breaking a Kitsune code of silence. Would the gods be angry with me? But I figured since the world was at stake, an exception might be made.

  Tonight, Ryker’s usually dull eyes sizzled, and it sent a chill through the air. Whatever he was about to say, it was bad. And it was going to somehow affect me as a part of his devious plan for holding me hostage these past weeks.

  Ryker held up his crystal wine glass, his wife following suit. Her lips curved like a cat who’d just eaten the canary. Reilly, Kai, and Bash each reached for their glasses, and the knot in my stomach tightened. I left my wine untouched on the table. “Tonight we sanction the joining of my son to the heir of Katsura. Karina, the Conclave has blessed the union. You and Bash will take the claiming vow, and together, you will rule this world as king and queen.” He smiled down at his wife, condoning her for her brilliance.

  I choked, my throat going dry. I pushed myself to my feet, nearly knocking my chair over. “The Conclave can kiss my ass. I’m not marrying your son. No offense, Bash.” I turned to the fae with an apologetic frown. “But I did not agree to this. Besides, I’ve already agreed to take the oath with Kai.” I almost bit my tongue on the admission, but I forced the words out, regardless of how sour they tasted.

  Ryker gave a cold laugh. “You didn’t think I actually believed Kai’s little profession of love, did you?”

  I didn’t want to know how he had known about Kai begging me to claim him. I doubt he had informed Ryker of my refusal. So Ryker must be spying on me. It was the only thing that made sense. Even with the faes’ incredible senses, it was impossible for Ryker to have known about that night in my room without one of his sentinels snitching, but Kai did have a reputation. It was naive of us to think he wouldn’t be suspicious about Kai’s arrival. My uncle wasn’t dense. He knew damn well Devyn was on his way, so it was easy to conclude that Kai was here for a purpose.

  Shit. Shit. Shit.

  “Father, this is absurd. You can’t order us to take the oath.” I’d never heard Bash speak to his father with such conviction or oppose him on anything, which led me to believe he had been as blindsided as I was.

  “It comes from the Conclave. My hands are tied.” The twist of his mouth said otherwise.

  Lies, my Kitsune rumbled within me. He is a liar.

  “And who put that little bug in their ear?” Bash c
ountered, his eyes sharpening on his mother.

  Both Reilly and Kai were silent. I looked to them for help, but they each wore expressions that said, You should have accepted my proposal. Then you wouldn’t be in this predicament.

  I wanted to knock their heads together. A lot of good the two of them were. I thought they were on my side. They were supposed to help me handle this court stuff. I huffed and faced Ryker once again, my fingers gripping the tablecloth. “You’ll have to shackle me and force me to take the oath.”

  Ryker’s eyes darkened. “That can be arranged.”

  Isleen, she had set this little arrangement into motion, and our girl chat earlier had been a ploy to see if I was receptive. Obviously, I hadn’t been.

  I looked at the meek woman she portrayed herself to be but saw through the facade. A tiny smirk of victory tugged at her lips. “I’m not a pawn for you to move,” I argued.

  “She’s the queen,” Kai said to Ryker and Isleen. “And you are her subjects.” Shadows clouded his eyes.

  My chin went up a notch. I felt emboldened by Kai’s reminder of my place in this world. “I refuse to be intimidated or controlled by you.”

  The corners of Ryker’s mouth drifted downward. “I thought you’d feel that way. My son knows his duty. In time, you will realize yours as well.”

  I spit at his face. My aim was true, but distance-wise I came up short. Only a few drops hit their mark. “Not likely.”

  Time stopped. I swore no one even breathed. All eyes were fixed on Ryker, waiting to see what the lord would do in response to my display of disrespect. He swiped a hand over his face, revealing a cruel smile underneath. “I’m not sure whether I envy my son or pity him.”

  The rage inside me was so great that I reached for my plate of food without thinking about it, about to unleash a tantrum like the Second Moon had never seen. The censorship on my abilities only fed my anger. Like a starved bear awakened after hibernation, eager to kill anything in its path, I threw the plate with all my might.

  The plate was seconds away from crashing into the wall when my ears picked up the shuffling of hurried feet. Three of Ryker’s sentinels burst into the dining room just as the plate of food smashed into shards, splattering food over the floor and wall. The guards ignored the mess, halting in front of the table. “Sir?” one of Ryker’s sentinels addressed him. His breathing was ragged, coming in quick spurts as if he’d run a long distance.

  “What is it?” Ryker demanded, tight lines pulling at his face. He wasn't pleased his little celebration was being disturbed, but for once, I was grateful for the sentinels.

  “The blight has reached the Clove.”

  Chapter Twelve

  KARINA

  “You’re sure?” Ryker asked the sentinel before him, his large hands curling into fists on the table.

  The sentinel swallowed. “Yes. The land in the Clove is dying. There is no question that the sickness has reached our borders.”

  “Shit,” Ryker swore in a rare display of being rattled. His fingers tapped the tabletop as he stared into nothing. Then those cold, gold eyes turned to me. “You’re going to stop this.”

  “Why would I do that?”

  “Because if you don’t, your mother will die. And she won’t be the only one.” The mood around the table was bleak as Ryker’s implication sunk in.

  My heart leaped into my throat. I wanted nothing more than to watch Ryker suffer, but unlike him, I didn’t have the stomach to watch other people die. He knew how important saving my mother was. My actions leading to my arrival in the Second Moon said as much, regardless of the fact that it had been an accident. In the end, I’d always been headed in this direction. “Even if I could, I don’t have the power.”

  “Ready our horses,” Ryker ordered his sentinels. “Bash, take your mother to her tower and then meet us at the front gate. We ride out within the hour before we lose all light.”

  Wait. He didn’t mean for me to stop it now, did he?

  The guards rushed from the dining room as chairs scooted across the floor. Bash went to his mother. “This discussion isn’t over,” he told his father.

  “I-I don’t know how to ride,” I admitted, ashamed of one more skill I lacked.

  “I can take her,” Kai volunteered, already on his feet and striding toward me.

  “Take me to the Clove?” Everything was happening too fast. Between the claiming announcement and now the blight, I couldn’t catch my breath.

  “Yes,” Kai answered, grim-faced.

  “I don’t understand. Why are we going to where the blight is? Shouldn’t we be avoiding the area?”

  “You want to prove you’re fae. This is your chance.” Ryker made the task sound simple, as if I was daft.

  I shook my head. “I can’t. Not yet.”

  “You will!” His voice was full of thunder and authority.

  “Are you listening?” I shouted back, standing my ground. “I don’t have the power to stop it.”

  “I won’t lose my lands!” he roared, slamming his fists onto the table. Plates and glasses jumped from the tremor.

  “Fine. But don’t blame me when I say I told you so,” I seethed, shoving to my feet and glaring back at my uncle. Quick tempers seemed to run in the family.

  True to his word, a small militia was gathered within the hour. I had been escorted to my room by a pair of guards to change. Tessa dressed me in a leather suit that fit surprisingly well, hugging my hips in a way that I knew made my butt look stellar, which was beside the point. The one person I wanted to appreciate it wasn’t here.

  My escorts led me to the stables, where Kai was waiting for me in all black. If it weren’t for the light color of his hair, he would have blended with the shadows seamlessly. His sparkling eyes roamed over my body before settling on my scowling face. “Don’t you look fit for battle?”

  I wanted to slap the half smile off his face. “This doesn’t mean I forgive you.”

  He swung up onto the back of a white and gray spotted mare and then held out a hand to me. “You will,” he said with more arrogance than any one fae should be allowed to possess.

  I placed my hand in his, the coolness from his skin seeping into me. “It's no wonder Devyn hates you.”

  Kai chuckled, hauling me up onto the horse behind him. “There’s a fine line between love and hate.”

  I snorted, situating myself. I curved my fingers around the sides of his waist. “In that case, Devyn must really love you.”

  “What about you, little queen? Do you hate me?”

  Trick question. I wasn’t going to fall for Kai’s games. “I don’t know how I feel about you. Let’s just leave it at that.”

  He looked over his shoulder, giving me a glimpse of his lopsided smirk. “So you’re telling me there’s hope for us.”

  I rolled my eyes as Kai pressed the horse forward. Whether he’d done it on purpose or not, the banter had taken my mind off the blight, even if it was only for a few minutes. I clung onto Kai as the horse underneath us trotted toward the gate where a subsection of Ryker’s militia waited. “Kai, this is insane,” I whispered.

  “Ryker is normally the levelheaded one,” he agreed.

  “I can’t wait until I meet Talin,” I mumbled with sarcasm.

  Kai guided the mare with expert ease, clearly an adept horseman. “He’s allowing you outside the castle grounds. Do you know what this means?”

  My heart leapt and a kernel of hope took root. “My magic,” I whispered.

  He nodded. “Our powers will be returned. The moment you feel a trickle of magic, you get the hell out of here, unless you do want to take the oath with Bash.”

  “I changed my mind. You’re insane,” I hissed. Ryker had brought a small militia of fae with us. Alone, Kai and I couldn’t fight them off. And we couldn’t outrun them, so what did he want me to do?

  Sensing my reluctance, he added, “This is the chance you’ve been waiting for. Don’t waste it. Void straight back to Ashland if you can.”<
br />
  “And what about the blight? Am I just supposed to leave it? And Devyn? You said he was coming here.”

  “It’s no wonder he is always strung tighter than a bow. You’re impossible to deal with.”

  I pinched the fleshy skin on his side, not that there was much to grab. Like Devyn, Kai’s body was toned muscle. Too bad I couldn’t release my claws.

  “Watch it, little queen. I bite back,” he purred.

  Kai was a twisted jerk. Flirting was the last thing on my mind, but Kai had a way of turning the simplest things into something that sounded wicked.

  Kai halted his horse beside Ryker’s at the gate, and two sentinels got off their mounts to pull open the iron bars, revealing the city. I had yet to venture into Torika. My gaze was transfixed by the twinkling lights in the valley below. Suddenly, Kai’s body went stiff under my hands, and I looked back to see Ryker in front of me.

  “Before I forget. I brought you a little gift.” Ryker slammed an iron shackle over one of my wrists and the other half on one of Kai’s. “We wouldn’t want you to get lost, now would we?”

  Anger flared within me as I stared down at the metal band. I hadn’t seen it coming until it was too late. From the sudden coldness radiating off Kai, he was having a similar reaction. When my eyes lifted to meet Ryker’s, I let the venom I was feeling expel. “We both know that’s not what this is for,” I said, twisting my wrist in the air. The chain linking it to Kai’s hand rattled in the air between us.

  “Can you feel it?” Ryker gloated, angling his head to the side. “The stifling of your magic?”

  Could I ever. And I hated every second of it. My Kitsune thrashed inside me, trying to break free of the cuff that bound us.

  With a smug feline grin that reminded me he was every inch a leopard, Ryker strode back to his horse, positioning himself once again astride the graceful mare.

  He was damn lucky I didn’t have access to my powers, because in that moment, I’d have given up my soul for the chance to wrap my fingers around his throat.