All Foxed Up

by Emma Dean

  “We can talk about this later,” Kenzie called back to Finnick. “Maybe we can think of a proper reward for making him sit through it.”

  The diagnostics were halfway done thanks to Samuel’s top of the line everything.

  “So…I felt something weird with Ash after the memory charm fiasco,” she confessed to Selene. “It was like...dropping a stone into a pool. When it settled it felt like it was always there after the ripples smoothed out. Do you think it’s the mate bond?”

  Her sister considered the dark-haired fox. “That one first, huh? Not Finnick?”

  Kenzie shrugged one shoulder and tapped her fingers on the table as she considered them both.

  Finnick was currently checking the windows while Ash studied every nook and cranny of the surprisingly clean warehouse.

  “I don’t really understand what happened. It wasn’t like I said, ‘I accept the mate bond’ out loud or anything. But after everything that we went through, I didn’t ever want to let him go. It was terrifying to think of what things would be like without him in the world.”

  Just remembering that feeling made her shiver with dread.

  Selene smiled sadly. “I’ve heard the mate bond is like that. It ties the shifters together with their mate, or mates, in ways no one else can comprehend. It’s…the closest thing to true love that exists.”

  Kenzie tilted her head and looked back at the diagnostics. Oh good, it was done. Now time to install it on Samuel’s server.

  “I don’t know if that’s necessarily true in this case,” Kenzie murmured. “I told him I loved him – well, kind of. And then that stone. But how can I tell if he’s accepted it or not? That’s just Ash too. I can feel them all with varying degrees of intensity. It’s really confusing and I’m not a huge fan of how it pushes me in a certain direction. Would I have ever looked at any of them twice if the universe hadn’t shoved us together?”

  Selene gave her that knowing little smile that reminded Kenzie of Grandma Edith. “They would have stolen from you regardless, and you would have had to work with them. Do you think it would have worked out like this without them telling you they were your mates?”

  Tapping the keys she considered. “They’re definitely hot. I thought that the moment I saw them even if I wanted to wring their stupid necks. We might have fucked, but forever?”

  Her sister leaned against the desk propping her head up on her hand to stare at Kenzie.

  “Okay, it would have taken a lot longer though! And three of them?”

  Selene shrugged. “Ash and Finnick would have happened anyways I think. But Hunter? How’s that going anyway? He seemed very amenable the other day. Is he less awkward with you?”

  Kenzie laughed and put in her password. “Hell no, but I kind of like that about him.”

  Her sister grinned at that. “Me too.”

  “Looks like the program is running,” she muttered. “The second I activate it, only we can be in here. Let’s warn the boys.”

  Kenzie looked up and froze when she saw Ash and Finnick sprinting towards them. Her mind was screaming at her to do something, but her body wouldn’t move.

  Finnick grabbed her and they slammed to the floor next to Ash and Selene right before a giant fireball burst into the warehouse.

  “What the fuck was that?” Kenzie asked, coughing as she rolled over onto her stomach. Selene looked disheveled but otherwise fine.

  “Fae,” Finnick gritted out, helping her to her feet. “We have to get out of here. There’s no way Ash and I can take care of a fae let alone a demon.”

  Selene let Ash help her to her feet and then she snapped her fingers. Blue fire burst into flame, hovering in a ball right above her palm. “You have me here and this time I can do magic.”

  The doors flew off their hinges and Kenzie ducked as heat washed over all of them before Selene got her shield up. She ran to the computers, typing in the new code as quickly as she could. If she could just get Finnick and Ash approved maybe it would work the first time.

  “Kenzie, goddammit!” Finnick tackled her to the floor right before the computers were blasted into shrapnel.

  Something sharp hit her arm and then the smell of blood filled the warehouse. Kenzie grabbed the metal shard and yanked it out. Finnick was unharmed. So were Ash and Selene.

  Looking up at what walked in the door though…Kenzie knew that might not be the case for long.

  They were so totally fucked.

  Chapter Twenty

  Kenzie

  What came in through the door was something Kenzie never thought she would see in her lifetime. Four tall, ethereal men and women entered the warehouse. All of them had pointed ears.

  Fae.

  The one at the front grinned at her before he sent another wave of fire at them.

  Autumn Court then.

  A woman, hair so pale it was nearly white with blazing blue eyes, followed closely behind the male, ice trailing after her. And it spread across the floor like a disease.

  Winter Court.

  Another female tried Selene’s shield with water magic, attempting to drown them all and the fourth male controlled the vines that choked the warehouse doors, crumbling the structure where it could.

  Spring and Summer.

  “You’re the witches the Alpha hired,” Autumn said. The vibration and gravel in his voice made Kenzie shiver and Finnick held her close – like he would shield her from that fire with his body if he had to.

  Kenzie had only ever seen one of the fae once. Otherwise they mostly kept to themselves in the weird plane of existence that was layered on top of theirs. But everyone knew about their archaic structure from stories and such. The fae just lived so long. Change didn’t come easily to them if ever.

  But their power wasn’t what was currently scaring the shit out of her. It was that these four were clearly from different courts. And the different courts did not get along. So what did this even mean? Why were they here, gunning for Samuel hard enough they were willing to take out the matriarch of the Kavanagh clan?

  “Got anything for fae magic?” Ash asked, practically picking Selene up to get her on her feet. Finnick and Ash pushed them both behind them and Kenzie panicked.

  Knowing her foxes they were ready and willing to give up their lives for her and Selene.

  She couldn’t have that.

  “S?” Kenzie asked tightly as elemental magic relentlessly pressed against Selene’s shield to the point her sister was already sweating as she furiously sketched runes in the air with her fingers to enforce it.

  Kenzie pulled out the small knife from her pocket. “Can you contact Samuel? I’ll see if we can get our friendly neighborhood demon to make an appearance.”

  Selene pulled from the universe, drawing on all the power she’d been born to wield and Kenzie could feel it deep in her chest. She supposed she was witch enough for a few things.

  “I can hold them off for now,” Selene muttered. “Once I get this shield completely secure I’ll text Samuel, but Kenz I can only hold it for so long.” Her sister finished off the last rune with a flourish and then gave Kenzie a look that made her stomach dip unpleasantly. “If they continue to work, or weave their magic together, there’s no way in hell I can hold this. It’s too wild and unpredictable and so fucking powerful. I can feel it searching for a weakness.”

  That didn’t bode well. Kenzie studied the fae again.

  They were circling them, predators in much the same way the shifters were, but so much worse. They had the animal instincts and drives, but it was…disturbing the way they thought. The rest of the species were supposed to serve them as they had a millennia ago when fae ruled this plane.

  But now humanity ruled, and all the paranormals hid in the shadows – living along, but not with, the humans.

  “Not to be that guy, but I definitely can’t take one of the fae,” Finnick told them, more serious than she’d ever heard him before. He studied the building and the vines that started to cover everything as the
y creeped toward them. “Call your backup but we need a plan that gets us out even if they don’t make it in time.”

  Ash nodded. “Finnick and I can distract them while you two run.”

  “No,” Kenzie snapped, clenching her hands into fists. “I’m not letting you do that.” She started carving Eisheth’s pentagram into her hand as she furiously tried to think of alternatives.

  The fae who seemed to be in charge widened that terrifying smile to show off his sharp canines. “No one is going to make it out of here alive,” he told them. “We can’t have the Alpha warding against us.”

  Kenzie licked her lips nervously as she tried to ignore him, finishing off the last rune. She’d memorized Eisheth’s pentagram. Calling him would have been easier, but her phone was sitting on the floor outside the shield. This would have to be a request just like the last time.

  Selene tapped out a message with one hand while she gritted her teeth, holding the shield with the other hand. Her sister was powerful but they only had so long.

  Finnick and Ash seemed to bulk up as they prepared for the shield to fail at some point. The two of them were used to working as a team and Kenzie’s mind raced as she considered every alternative.

  “If they get through the shield we need to attack them fast and hard,” Kenzie told them. She pulled a few charms from her bracelet, blood dripping everywhere. Thank fuck she’d stocked up. “These should shield you from most magic for ten minutes. I don’t know how they’ll hold up against fae magic though, but I’m hoping it’ll give us the time we need to get out of here.”

  Everyone took one and all four of the fae grinned at that.

  “Oh lovely, a game,” the sultry Winter Court female said as her ice covered the shield and then shattered into deadly shards. “I was worried this would be too easy. I’m so very pleased the rumors are true.”

  Finnick cocked his head to the side. “What is it you have against the Alpha?” he asked. “Maybe if the story’s good enough I’ll switch sides. I don’t like fighting for a losing team.”

  Kenzie tensed as she slapped the charm to her skin, feeling the telltale tingle as it settled in. She knew Finnick was just getting a feel for the enemy, but he sounded so fucking honest. Even knowing better, he had her doubting.

  “We used to hunt your kind,” Autumn said, ignoring the question. No doubt he thought it was beneath him to explain. He grinned at Finnick. “Does some small part of your tiny brain remember what it was like to be chased by dogs while we rode you down on our horses?”

  Ash snarled at him and Kenzie wondered for a split second if it hadn’t been humans who had slaughtered his pack, but fae.

  The threat had Finnick baring his teeth, all thoughts of playing this cleverly clearly gone in his rage.

  Could anything really take out a fae? Or would it just slow them down long enough for them all to get away?

  Kenzie eyed the computers and the ward system. How could she get access? She could pull it up with her watch. She didn’t need the computers per se when she had a pretty fucking amazing system in the watch she’d designed.

  Selene’s shield cracked and they had seconds. Ash shifted and Selene shot Kenzie a look. She took off one of her bracelets and tossed it to her sister. “When it goes down, run to the desk.”

  Her sister nodded and Kenzie palmed a few charms that would give them a few seconds of cover. “Ready?” she murmured, knowing her foxes could hear her despite the racket.

  Ash nodded, his head coming up higher than her hips. Finnick was going to be the one to fight in his human form…distracting them like he always did.

  Then Selene’s shield splintered as the vines crawled over the sphere and her sister cried out as the power was crushed. Kenzie dove for the desk and tossed it over, pulling her sister with her before the fire crawling up behind the vines could burn them all.

  Finnick and Ash ran in opposite directions, circling the fae. Kenzie knew they wouldn’t hold out long. She had to get the system up and running before her mates were taken from her. She tapped her watch furiously, entering commands at a speed she’d never managed before, a speed born out of desperation.

  Selene wove another spell into the air and purple fog filled the room, hiding the foxes from view, but the faes’ sense of smell was just as good as a shifter’s. Her mates had to be fast. Kenzie tossed a few marbles over the desk for good measure. They exploded in fire and brimstone and she prayed the shields she’d given Finnick and Ash would hold just a little bit longer.

  “Give it up already!” a voice she didn’t recognize called out. “This is child’s play.” Had to be Spring since it was a male voice.

  Someone yelped – Summer probably. Ash must have gotten in a good bite.

  Suddenly there was water everywhere and it was three feet deep. Kenzie’s watch fizzled out as the vines slammed the doors closed. Fuck, they were all about to be electrocuted if she didn’t shut off the generator.

  “Cover me!” Kenzie dove out from behind the desk as Selene cursed, blasting magic at the fae.

  Fire burned her uninjured arm, but Kenzie ignored it as she waded through the water, praying Finnick and Ash were occupying the others. She shoved the pain from both injuries down deep and focused. Snarls filled the warehouse and the meaty sound of a fist hitting flesh carried. She grinned as she dove for the cord, ripping off her brand new watch.

  Why was her watch always getting destroyed?

  It was fucking annoying.

  “Kenzie!” Finnick’s panicked voice made her pause.

  Winter was aiming for her, no doubt trying to freeze her before she could pull the plug. And suddenly Finnick was there, smiling down at her sadly as he turned their bodies, spinning so his back faced the fae – shielding her.

  So many things in that look.

  The sadness pierced her heart and Kenzie knew Finnick wouldn’t regret this, but he would be sad to miss out on their future – on those little witch kits he wanted so badly. She could feel him through their bond – a noose around her heart and chest as tight and unbreakable as the one she had for Ash.

  “No,” she breathed.

  Kenzie had made that promise even if it was only to herself.

  Selene screamed as she tapped one of her charms and time seemed to slow, but really she was just moving faster than the universe could comprehend – faster than a shifter. Finnick had no time to register when she kept the momentum going, spinning on her heel, water whipping around them like something out of a movie – a symbol of transformation.

  The foxes had given her a life that was finally her own. She was no longer just an abomination to her coven and clan. Finnick, Ash, and Hunter accepted her for exactly who she was and didn’t care that she couldn’t do magic.

  They thought she was perfect just the way she was, even if they all constantly liked to test each other – to play games and she never wanted that to end. She finally had a place she called home. Not just a house to live in. It was the first place she actually felt safe – loved.

  Kenzie wasn’t about to give that up – she wasn’t about to let Finnick die for her when she couldn’t live without him.

  Then her back was to Winter and Kenzie prayed to the universe, to the Fates, to her ancestors that her shield would hold against fae magic despite knowing the chance was so slim to be laughable.

  She may not be able to wield magic but she had witch blood. There had to be something in that, something that would give her a tiny chance of surviving this. A better chance than Finnick would have.

  As the ice hit her shield Finnick blinked and realized they’d switched positions. Kenzie pressed her lips to his as she felt the shield crumble from her skin like sugar from a cookie. Seemed her luck had finally run out.

  Then she let go of him before the searing cold reached her hands and her lips – before it could harm him.

  Her body took the full brunt of the power and Kenzie’s head flew back, her arms spread to shield him and in that moment there was no noise – just
comforting silence.

  Kenzie kept her promises.

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Kenzie

  Ice was all she knew.

  Freezing.

  So cold it burned. Her entire body was on fire.

  Then sounds roared into existence. First Finnick screaming her name, his voice hoarse. Then her sister’s. Ash’s pained whine hit her next.

  Kenzie gasped. Her eyes shot open and her lips parted. A puff of freezing cold air left her body.

  The warehouse doors blew open and one white tiger and one orange nearly the size of horses leapt in. A small pop and Eisheth was before her…grinning.

  Why was he grinning?

  Still the power kept coming. The fae was an endless well of it. But…she wasn’t dead.

  “Burn the world down,” Eisheth whispered into her ear before kissing her cheek. He disappeared and Kenzie suddenly knew – as if he’d directed her mind to the right memory, to something half-remembered. And then all the dots connected and it finally made sense.

  She whipped around and Winter’s look of shock would be a pleasant memory for the rest of Kenzie’s life. She didn’t just bear the power being forced on her, she opened herself up to it, taking it all – draining it.

  Fire joined the ice and she held up a hand, shielding her and Finnick from the wall of flame with the ice she’d taken.

  Winter collapsed and still Kenzie had room for more. She strode towards Autumn and grabbed his face before he could understand what the fuck was going on. “No one hurts my mates,” she growled at him.

  Then she took it all. She took every drop of flame from him, taking it into her body like she’d learned how to do with the pain when she’d trained with the Shaolin monks. She folded it up and tucked it away, making room for more until the fae’s power made her very skin simmer.