Reining Him In (Chinese Zodiac Romance Series Book 5)

by Rachael Slate

  Oh, hell. Her claws cut into her palms. Groaning, she swung her legs over the side of the bed, pressed to her feet, and stumbled to her wardrobe. The feeding last night hadn’t replenished her as much as she’d hoped. Despite the potency of the human’s qì, the curse’s hold was growing stronger.

  She paused, silk garments sliding across her palm. Months might have been too generous. Her remaining time might better be measured in weeks.

  Once she passed, not only would she be more depleted than ever, she’d have to face her greatest enemy. Again. Considering she’d sent him to his current torment in Dìyù, Daji wasn’t anticipating a pleasant reunion. While she weakened, she feared how much stronger he must be growing, feeding off the pitiful souls who landed in his proximity.

  Sighing, she dressed in a gown of pale rose silk and clasped the gold buckle at her left shoulder. The flowing skirts and singular shouldered cut accentuated the femininity of her curves. Would Price’s heated stare caress her when he viewed her in this?

  Fool. She shook her head at herself while she draped a few gold bracelets onto her wrists. Fancies such as those would distract her from her task. Yet, he was also her Consort, and she did require his attention on her, regardless of how she procured it.

  She needed Price on his knees before her. Daji nibbled her lip. What had he meant, when he’d declared he only knelt between a woman’s thighs? No mistaking how the position would place his face precisely at the apex of her legs. Did he enjoy such things, pressing his lips to a female’s sex? She might not be a virgin, but her experience with males didn’t proceed any further than the act of intercourse. The three men she’d bedded, well, her first—Dì Xīn—had rutted her like a beast in the stables. He’d taken her from behind, rough and fast. The next time he’d approached her, she’d discerned his intentions, and had countered with her powers, rendering him impotent. He hadn’t attempted to copulate with her again. No, instead, he’d found other ways to dominate her.

  A century after freeing herself from him, she’d decided to search out whether there were any benefits to coupling. The two human males she’d chosen hadn’t performed any better, settling between her thighs for equally quick and unpleasant copulations.

  Oh, she was no fool. Her ladies often narrated—in generous detail—their experiences. She’d learned a great deal from their tales, and yet, when she’d searched for a worthy male, she hadn’t encountered any who interested her enough.

  None who sparked her lust as Price did.

  Daji stormed from her chamber, marching straight to the throne room, where she perched stiffly on the edge of her seat. Most mornings, she held court with her subjects, listening to any grievances or concerns they might have.

  Biting back the urge to inquire about her Consort’s whereabouts, she waved a hand at the sentinel to bring in her subjects.

  Price strolled into the room. She stopped from rising and instead straightened her spine even further. “You may stand next to my right side, Consort.”

  “Actually,” he tilted his head, a wicked gleam flashing in his grin, “I would prefer to have my own throne, my Queen.”

  Oh, curse his mischievousness. She narrowed her glare. “As you are not royal born, and we are not wed, only mated, I cannot grant your request.”

  His jaw tightened. “I’m supposed to rule at your side, right? Because I didn’t agree to being the court jester. I’m more than the Council’s plaything, sent to entertain you.”

  Was he referring to last night? Her breath hitched, but she wouldn’t grant him the satisfaction of unsettling her. “We do not have such clowns, I can assure you.”

  “Good.” He strode to her side and bent to whisper, a low, threatening note in his tone. “Because sometimes my tongue wanders.”

  Oh, his nerve. She gripped the armrests of her throne and fought to contain her emerging claws. Did he presume to make demands of her? Since she’d divulged almost every secret threatening her reign? And my life.

  “What do you want?” she hissed, ignoring the decadent scent of him, so strong this close.

  “You have obligations, and so do I.” He shrugged and straightened. “I’m going to take off for a few hours. I’d like one of your maidens to accompany me. Mila would agree, I’m sure.”

  Ah, the portals. Only fox spirits manipulated the gateways. Without one to guide him, he was a prisoner in her realm. Hmm. He didn’t hold all the cards. “Very well, you may have use of the portals.”

  “Oh, good.” He linked his hands behind his back and shifted to tower beside her like a statue standing guard. His hesitant tone suggested he hadn’t anticipated her easy consent. The lightness in his step would drag soon, when he learned she would be the one operating the portals for him.

  The sly, triumphant curve in the corner of Daji’s lips meant one thing. He was going to be screwed. Not long and rough in the style he preferred, either.

  Nope, this would be one swift ass-kicking.

  True, he was privy to the Queen’s secrets, or most of them. But not a damn good would they do him since protecting each one kept her on the throne. Which was his ultimate goal as well.

  His cards, however, he’d revealed far too bloody soon. Horse was more restless than ever, and while he forced the spirit animal in check, Price had his own responsibilities.

  Namely, Ryden.

  He wouldn’t take off and become the King of another realm without letting his little brother in on the new gig. Even when the Matchmaker sent him off on missions, he always, always, informed Ryden first. Whether he’d be gone for a week or a couple of months.

  Yeah, his brother was a big boy, but whenever Price pictured leaving the man to his devices, their mother’s request would haunt his mind.

  Look after him. He’ll need you more than ever, soon enough.

  Price jerked his head back and forth, cutting off the echo of his mum’s words. He tried not to think about her, about that night, but the memories chased him everywhere.

  Daji’s—and now his—subjects filed into the room. One by one, they approached her, kneeled, and offered up their requests. A portal to another nightclub in Hong Kong that had recently opened. Money for a new wardrobe. A complaint between two sisters about which one had claimed a human male first.

  Frivolous stuff. He raised a brow at how Daji posed on her throne, listening to each and every request as if they comprised the fate of the world. Their demands didn’t surprise him. Fox spirits were innocent and yes, often materialistic, but in a pure manner. They weren’t driven by greed, or any dark impulses. They loved life.

  And pranks.

  Their childlike nature drove them to tease each other, but never in a hateful spirit.

  He swallowed hard and stole a glimpse at Daji from the corner of his eye. She wasn’t like the other fox spirits he’d met. Being Queen might be the root of her maturity. Maybe her scary brushes with death overpowered her joy for life.

  She received each member with a loving hand, appearing to genuinely care about the quality of their existence. Inclining her head, she spoke to them in gentle, soothing tones. From her interaction, it was easy to see why her people loved her. Anyone he’d questioned about the Queen spoke of her as though she held the moon in her hands.

  Even he was engrossed in her melodic benevolence. Seeing her like this, so unassuming, so open and warm, she reminded him of his mother.

  No, the fuck he didn’t just compare Daji to his mum. Price ground his jaw and clenched his fists. True, both women were strong and compassionate, but bloody hell, he was not into messed up shit. Thankfully, Daji didn’t resemble his mum—who’d had chocolate brown hair and piercing blue eyes.

  “She’s missing, my Queen. Please, you must help us.”

  The female’s plea jerked Price from his nasty twist of thoughts. He glanced from her tear-streaked cheeks to Daji’s clenching fist digging into the armrest.

  “I assure you, we will do our best to discover her location.” Daji rose. “Thank you for coming. I
will hear more of your concerns tomorrow.”

  The servants ushered the remaining subjects from the throne room while Daji paced to the long, wide balcony.

  She disappeared from his view, but he followed, catching sight of her, head bent and shoulders slumped over the railing.

  He should leave her alone, shouldn’t rush into trouble he had no business being in, but she stood stoically, so fragile and so alone. The weight of her world rested on her shoulders and he’d learned she wouldn’t be around much longer to hold it up.

  Price had only ever been responsible for one other person—his brother—and it was questionable which sibling wore the cap of responsibility in their family. But he did get how hard this was for Daji.

  Because dammit, while he’d told himself not to get involved, it was already too late. He was knee-deep in their world and there was no going back.

  He strode to her side and rested against the railing, elbows braced on either side of his body. “Well, how about we put blue dye in everyone’s shampoo, to even things?”

  She held her breath, tensing. A wall of long curls blocked her face from his view so he smoothed her bronze hair aside, tucking the strands behind her ear. The backs of his fingers brushed against her cheek. So silky. He bit down a groan and ignored the twitching of his cock. Wasn’t his fault—fox spirits were built to be irresistible. Soft, warm, sweetly scented.

  She seized his wrist and tilted her face to pierce him with those copper-swirled eyes. “I will forgive your flippant attitude, considering your ignorance, but please, this is not the time for jesting.” She shrugged off his hand and faced the mountains.

  Whoa. He’d been called a lot of things, but Daji’s reprimands carried a sharp bite. Did she consider him to be nothing but a shallow smartass? “I wouldn’t be so ignorant if you didn’t hide everything about your people from the world.”

  Her brows narrowed in warning, but he continued, “We’re in this together, Daji. I want your people to survive, no, to thrive, as much as you do, but I can’t help if you don’t let me.”

  One fang drew the corner of her bottom lip into her mouth. She released the plump flesh, flicking her tongue across it and flashing her porcelain fangs. “Why should we? Under the cloak of darkness, we are safe. Those who’ve discovered our deepest secrets have wielded them against us.”

  She shifted to face him. “Men like you, who claim to be helping us, are nudging us closer to the edge of extinction.”

  He reared. “What the hell does that mean?”

  “You, and your transitions, or whatever you call them.” She lowered her lashes for a second, then flashed her burning glare at him. “When you bed my people and lead them toward mortality, you destroy everything we are.”

  “Hey.” He held up his hands. “That is some accusation. I don’t do anything they don’t ask—no, beg—me to do.” What was she implying? He would never hurt them.

  “Oh, really.” She crossed her arms, but the action made her breasts plump across the bodice of her dress.

  Concentrate. He ripped his fixation from her chest and focused instead on the fury blazing in her eyes.

  “Follow me.” She stormed past him, down the corridor, around a corner, and out into a courtyard. Pausing in the entrance, she stilled. He sidled beside her, not daring to settle too close to the fire.

  “There. Do you see her?” She swept her hand toward a maiden seated alone. He squinted. Yep, he recalled those green eyes. “Soriya.” They’d been together, what, a year ago?

  Fox spirits were immortal, but when one chose to become mortal, they had to renounce their tails—up to nine of them.

  One method was through really hot, powerful sex—an overdose of jīng did the trick.

  Soriya had come to him, begging to transition her from immortality. He’d happily obliged. Who was he to judge how long anyone should live for? The one thing Horse valued above everything else was freedom. Even the freedom to die.

  Price stepped forward with the intention of saying hello, but Daji blocked him. “Does she seem content to you?”

  He leaned back from her outstretched arm and cocked his head at Soriya. True, the joyful, spritely girl appeared faded. As if a light had gone out from within her eyes. The glowing skin and delicate radiance that made fox spirits so damned attractive was missing.

  More than that, she just looked plain sad.

  He frowned. She’d been desperate to become mortal.

  “When a fox spirit relinquishes her immortality, she loses far more than a prolonged lifespan. Price, what you did to her… You stole her soul.”

  ***

  Price froze beside Daji as though she’d cast an ice-spell upon him. Good, at least the shock rolling off him signaled he’d not known the truth. Had not done this with malicious intent.

  As others did.

  The Red Death and Daji’s vengeful husband were not the only enemies threatening her race.

  Men like Price were as well.

  The tight set of his jaw reflected genuine regret, even remorse. He slowly shook his head. “Why would they ask me to do this to them?” he whispered, a pained furrow gathering in his brow.

  “Because we are innocent creatures. We follow our impulses, whether they lead us into liberation or destruction.” She sighed and pondered Soriya’s pitiful countenance. The maiden twisted her hands in her lap as though they sought what was no longer within their grasp.

  “Contrary to what many are led to believe, we cannot become mortal and thrive. Soriya is nearing her end. If death does not claim her first, madness will. I have witnessed it in others. Fox spirits who have renounced their souls. When you free them, in fact, you separate them. The body and the spirit of the fox—their soul.”

  “Doesn’t make sense.” He swung his head in another violent shake and clenched his fist at his side. “Can it be reversed?”

  “Perhaps.” She peered through her lashes toward the stone ground. “If their essence can be located, they might be able to be rejoined. But that is not the worst.”

  He caught her wrist, dragging her gaze to his. “What do you mean?” Piercing blue eyes captured her, a desperation in them matching hers. Was this man her ally? Whatever he was, he might be the only one to help them overcome this.

  Pressing her lips into a firm line, she cast her face aside.

  Soriya lifted her deadened, blank expression to them, growing wild as she caught sight of Price. Daji seized his arm and prodded him through the door, into the palace. He wouldn’t be able to cure the female, not through further contact with her, at least.

  Best to spare him a conversation with her, to reveal the terrible insanity seizing her mind.

  She towed him through the corridor, her hand slipping along his arm, but he linked his fingers through hers, gripping. Holding her hand wasn’t intimate, rather, a gesture of their solidarity. A silent promise from him that he would help her mend this.

  Fight this.

  After leading him into a secluded chamber, she sealed the door behind them. She didn’t like withholding information from her subjects, but as fox spirits tended to act upon impulses—even suicidal ones—she must handle this alone for their sake.

  Well, perhaps not so alone.

  “There are rumors. A female came to me after she had been with a human—not you,” she shot him a quick glare, “to relinquish her immortality.” He didn’t blanch at her clarification, and he likely wouldn’t care either way. Price wasn’t a man who swept his conquests from disapproving speculation.

  “She told me about an evil lord who seeks húli jīng for his own, and then feeds off their fox spirit souls.” She relaxed her shoulders. “They claim he collects them. With such gossip it is impossible to tell.” Impossible, but a twisting in her stomach feared this “evil lord” might be him.

  “You’re going after him.”

  She blinked. His perception was far greater than she’d conceded a man of his character’s to be.

  “Is he who you were trackin
g in the Kun Peng’s nest?”

  “No. That is another story.” The stitches binding her heart twisted tighter. If she didn’t discover Naya’s whereabouts soon…

  “All right.” He coughed into his fist. “First, I have to head to my apartment and retrieve some stuff. Do you mind sending someone to work the portals for me?”

  How quickly he dismissed their conversation. She narrowed her eyes. Was he having regrets about mating into such an unraveling empire? “I will accompany you.”

  He raked a hand through that glorious mane of his. “Aren’t you pretty busy with…stuff?”

  Hmm. He doesn’t wish me to go. Even more reason to press. “As it turns out, I am free.”

  “Fine.” He shrugged and extended his arm. “Lead the way, wife.”

  “I am not—” Ugh. She halted the protest. He emphasized their union to irk her. “Fine, mate. Follow me.” Spinning on her heel, she directed him to the portal inside the palace. “Think about the place you wish to travel to.” With a wave of her hand, the gilded mirror illuminated, its surface shimmering from opaque to a translucent scene of Hong Kong.

  Daji stepped through the mirror, blinking into the sunshine. A second later, Price emerged behind her, the heat from his large form setting off sparks of awareness that fired through her core. If she weren’t desperate for a path to saving her people, would he affect her so? It had to be the urgency responding, not her desires.

  She no longer possessed such emotions as passion. A Queen rose above everything—including herself.

  “This way.” Price seized her elbow and gently prodded her out of the alley toward the lobby of a tall tower. His home. They passed through the doors, Price nodding at two men clad in gray uniforms, and headed to the elevators. Her palace possessed none of these modern luxuries, and she didn’t deny how much they fascinated her. They rode the elevator to the top of the tower, and Price directed her to the end of the corridor. After he unlocked the door, he paused. “Well, this is home sweet home.” He shoved open the door and swept out his hand for her to go first.