Reining Him In (Chinese Zodiac Romance Series Book 5)

by Rachael Slate

  Snake’s previous host, Zhao, went rogue and collected spirit animal pledges for himself. Thank the Jade Emperor that mess had been sorted and Nat had bonded to Snake.

  Both incidents proved Price’s point. Best to stay out of the way while the power play figured itself out. If a war did emerge between humans and the Jade Emperor’s world, he’d rather not have his fealty chosen for him.

  He’d managed to slide under the radar until he’d run into Ox a few years back, and then with Nat asking for his help recently, there’d been no keeping his identity a secret.

  It didn’t mean he’d be bullied into submission. Horse wasn’t about to relinquish its reins to anyone.

  Let Sheng suck on that.

  He snorted as the Chosen pair disappeared into the corridor.

  The females on the bed squeaked about their restored spirits. Daji must be damn pleased.

  He glanced at her and frowned. She should be happy, but those drawn brows did not exude contentment. “What’s wrong?”

  “What about the others?” She pressed her lips firmly together and shook her head. “If I can’t locate their fox spirits, it will all be for naught.”

  Well, there was that.

  “Hey.” He pressed a tentative hand to her arm, not quite sure about contact with her yet. “It will be okay.”

  “Will it?” She raised large, sparkling eyes to his. Full of tears and trepidation.

  He itched to say yes, but screw it. He wasn’t her White Knight. He couldn’t save her.

  A gasp parted her lips and she wrapped a hand around her stomach. Eyes widening, she hissed in a breath.

  “Daji?”

  “Get back,” she grated, claws springing forth.

  He took a step back, but it wasn’t him she’d been addressing.

  She sank to her knees, groaning.

  And then shadows formed around them.

  Daji launched to her feet, screeching, and slashed her claws across the shadow to her right. Lightning fast, she spun to her left, ducked to snare a blade from her boot, and stabbed the shadow behind her.

  Yāoguài? Demons?

  No weapon on him, so he straight out punched the blurred shadow condensing on the other side of Daji. As it snapped in a puff of misty smoke, he scanned the room. No more demons materialized.

  Huffing, he scowled at Daji. “Care to explain what yāoguài are doing in this realm? How’d they get here?”

  She ignored him, marching toward the door.

  He snatched her arm. “Hey.”

  “I have to leave. Now.”

  “Okay, but you’re not going anywhere alone.”

  Her brows drew together for an instant before she inclined her head. “Quickly, we must go to the portal. More are coming.”

  More? How fun.

  He released her arm and sprinted beside her to the gateway. The gilded frame swirled as Daji opened it. She clutched her stomach again, gasping, “Quickly.”

  Darting forward, he tackled her and launched them both through the portal.

  His head smacked into smooth tile, Daji cradled in his arms. She scampered out of his embrace while he grunted and shook the buzzing from his head.

  Right. Demons. He jolted to his feet, scanning around them. No ominous shadows formed in the small, empty chamber. “You okay?” He gave her a once-over.

  She nodded, muscles shuddering from the exertion.

  “How about that explanation?”

  Her shoulders dropped, strength sagging from her. “They were after me.”

  “That part I get. Where I get lost is how the fuck did they breach the wards of your realm?”

  She pressed her lips together.

  This was bad, but if she wouldn’t clue him in, fine. “At least tell me where we are.”

  The perfume of floral incense stung his nostrils. This particular scent was unfamiliar to Horse, though. Wherever the hell he was, he’d never been to this place before.

  Daji pursed her lips. “You aren’t going to like it.”

  He raised a brow for her to elaborate.

  “Kek Lok Si.”

  He groaned, slashing a hand through his hair. Kek Lok Si was the temple in Penang, Malaysia where the Chosen resided. Where Tiger lived. With his little Tiger posse, the Hai San Kongsi. Pretty much about the last destination Price would book for a vacation.

  “Why?”

  “Because of the yāoguài. They would not dare materialize in this place.”

  But they would dare to in her palace? This wasn’t making any sense. “What about the other fox spirits? Who’s going to protect them if more break in?”

  “They can’t. With me gone, the húli jīng are safe.”

  Again with the mysterious alluding.

  “Daji?” Lucy stepped into the open doorway. Alone, thank fuck. “Is something wrong?”

  Wouldn’t we all like to know.

  “Yes.” Daji rose and glided forward. “May we stay with you for a few days?”

  “Ah, sure…” Lucy glanced at Price, wrinkling her nose and likely concluding the same thing he had.

  Tiger was going to shit his stripes.

  ***

  Daji sighed. “Thank you.”

  “I’m going to go give Sheng a heads up.” Lucy frowned and dashed away.

  Good idea. Behind her, Price shuffled his feet. She twisted around. “The bad blood between you and Sheng will have to be set aside if you wish to be their guest.”

  “Yeah, not sure how that’s going to work out.” He raked his fingers through his locks, blowing air through his lips.

  “Then don’t stay.” She didn’t require Price’s aid. Five Chosen would be more than enough of a deterrent for the yāoguài.

  His brows pinched together. “I’m not going to desert you.”

  Her heart tugged at his words. She wished they were true. Was Price acting out of a sense of affection, or duty? He was still on a Lotus League mission.

  “So be a big boy and behave like one.” She spun on her heel and marched to follow the direction Lucy had headed in. The corridor ended and the doorway opened into an enormous garden. She wrung her hands and collected her thoughts. Her time was finished. Venturing to this temple was one last stall tactic.

  Dì Xīn had sent yāoguài to kill her. The thread binding them had grown stronger faster than she’d anticipated.

  Not weeks or months remaining. Days. Hours.

  She would use this time to plan her attack. When he did drag her to Dìyù, she had to destroy him.

  Permanently, this time.

  Or she would rot in Hell forever.

  Lucy’s spirit thief ability had sent her mind spinning. If such a gift was real, other assets might be as well. Perhaps even one to destroy her enemy.

  A menacing hiss echoed along the stone pathway. Her host? Daji hastened forward to smooth things before Price made this situation worse.

  Sheng prowled along the path toward her, hands fisted at his sides and a dark menace gleaming in his eyes.

  A brawny male rushed to his side and yanked on his arm, steering him to a halt. “Easy, Tiger.”

  Daji squinted at the big male. Ah, Kassian. Ox.

  Another man sauntered from the bushes and joined them. Rat?

  Two females jogged down the path. Lucy and Nat.

  Daji waved at them. They reciprocated the greeting, and focused on their fuming leader.

  “We’re happy to have you, Queen, but not him.” Sheng shook his head in a swiping jerk.

  “Thank you, but please, if you’ll allow me to explain.”

  Sheng growled, not at her, but past her. She whipped around and spotted Price, hands in his jeans pockets as he strolled with a nonchalant swagger on the path toward them.

  “You’re not welcome here.” A snarl followed the statement from Sheng.

  “Believe me, I didn’t ask to be here.” At Price’s shrug, Sheng broke free of Kassian’s grip and charged forward, pouncing in front of her mate. He thrust a finger into Price’s chest.
“I don’t trust anyone who won’t show their fucking cards and you’d better be certain I damn well won’t let you near my family.”

  “Is that all?” Price flicked aside Sheng’s finger. “Where’s the kitchen? I’m hungry.”

  His hand curled into a fist, the gleam of Tiger’s claws punching through. “Is everything a bloody joke to you?” He snorted. “I should do the world a favor and have Lucy rip Horse from your sorry-ass body. You are not worthy.”

  Fury exploded in Price’s eyes. He jabbed his fist straight toward Sheng’s jaw, but agile Tiger ducked.

  “Just try,” Price barked, slashing out another fist.

  That one connected with Sheng’s jaw, flinging him backward onto the grass.

  The Chosen swarmed their leader. Claws and horns and fangs gleaming.

  Sheng pounced onto his feet.

  No. No. Daji leapt into the air and landed in the middle. “Stop it, all of you. Behaving like children.” She slashed out both arms, claws extending to keep them apart. “My race is dying. I am dying. Your petty arguments make me sick.”

  A pang struck her middle, making her hunch and clutch her side. What little strength she had saved was almost gone.

  “Daji?” Price claimed a step toward her, but she brushed him aside. “I’m begging you to work together. Because if you don’t, you are never going to be able to defeat him. And then the world won’t matter. It will already be doomed.”

  Nat broke free of the group. “What do you mean?”

  Yeah, what did Daji mean?

  This was a huge mistake. He and Sheng would never see eye-to-eye. The dude had a black and white canvas when it came to the Chosen, their responsibilities and duties.

  Blah blah blah.

  Price would do his part, if it came to that, but he sure as hell wasn’t going to become anyone’s lackey in the meantime.

  Daji winced as she straightened, her shoulders setting in that regal manner of hers. “Dì Xīn. My ex-husband of sorts. While you have been extinguishing threats to the humans, he has been scheming in Dìyù. Gathering an army, weakening my people, and plotting your destruction, I’m sure.”

  “Dì Xīn? As in the Emperor from the Shang Dynasty?” Fang, Chosen of the Rat, frowned.

  Lips pursed, Daji gave a single nod. How did she know her ex was still in existence? Was this what she’d been withholding? How many more secrets was she hiding from him? Her reluctance to let him in, and yet the ease with which she informed the Chosen, stung.

  She’d rather side with strangers than her Consort.

  “I poisoned him and burned down his palace. With him inside.” The victorious curve to her lips evaporated. “As he died, he cursed me. The Emperor practiced many black arts and used them to commit horrendous crimes. He swore his vengeance upon me with his dying breath, and ripped a tear into my fox spirit.”

  No fucking way. This was her dark secret?

  Daji eased onto a boulder, acting weaker than she should be.

  “He stole a thread of my fox spirit, a small link between us which has bolstered through the centuries. As he drifted through the eighteen layers of Dìyù to suffer punishment for his crimes, he grew more powerful, feasting on the human souls within.” She shook her head and folded her hands into her lap, straightening her shoulders. “With each bounty of fortitude he has gained, our connection has strengthened, and I have weakened.”

  “Like he’s been draining you?” Nat plopped onto the boulder beside Daji. Lucy joined her on the other side. The tense poses of the Chosen men eased. Everyone banded together over this revelation.

  Except me.

  Because she hadn’t trusted him enough to tell him earlier.

  Price shuffled backward.

  “Moments ago, he sent yāoguài to kill me and drag me to Dìyù. I had no choice but to flee my realm and seek sanctuary here.” She swept her hand out gracefully. “Thank you for granting it to me, and Price.”

  Silence surrounded them as no one acknowledged that last part.

  “I believe Dì Xīn has been behind stealing the fox spirits of my people,” Daji continued, her fists curling in her lap. “If I can retrieve them, with your help, Lucy, we can restore them. The húli jīng will no longer face extinction.”

  “Isn’t that what my father wanted from you, Price? The fox spirits to pledge themselves to their cause?” Nat shot him a questioning look, brows arched.

  “Yeah, I guess so.” He shrugged. “We didn’t get the chance to chat before you lopped off his head.” Dammit, he didn’t mean to come off so full of animosity.

  Nat’s eyes flickered before she addressed Daji. “I don’t get it. My father, Lucy’s uncle, and the Empress unleashed the Plague God and started this whole Red Death mess. Why kill off the humans and the húli jīng?”

  Daji notched her chin. “Because I refused to join with them. The races in the Jade Emperor’s world have splintered. Some, like the yāoguài, are ready to overtake the world, exterminating the humans. Others, like the dragons, are migrating from this realm. The húli jīng are stuck in the middle. We require humans for our own survival.”

  “What did they do to try to convince you?” Nat pressed.

  “They offered terms.” Daji blanched. “Human slaves to service us.” She scoffed. “I would not consent.”

  Right. Because regardless of what the world concluded, the húli jīng didn’t steal energy from humans. It had to be gifted. A willing, consensual transaction. Otherwise, the energy sucked ass.

  “Your ex-husband is part of this scheming. Part of the army of yāoguài in Dìyù. Nat, we sent your father right to him.” Kassian shoved a hand through his hair.

  “Xiaodan, Lucy’s uncle, too.” Sheng shook his head. “Now, they’re together, planning who the hell knows what.”

  “The destruction of this world,” Daji murmured. “And the birth of theirs.”

  A shiver rippled beneath Price’s skin. It did not sound like a party he’d like to attend.

  “What do you need to locate the fox spirits?” Lucy broke the silence.

  “Aside from a miracle?” Daji smiled grimly, then tilted her head at Nat. “Did you translate the black book?”

  “Yeah. I sent you an email. Didn’t you get it?” Nat’s brows knitted. “QueenBee@FoxSpiritsForever?”

  Price slapped a hand across his mouth to smother his snort of laughter. Daji had paled. Uh-oh.

  “Yes, but I never received it.” She twisted her hands in her lap.

  “It’s probably fine,” Kassian cut in. “Nat only uncovered one oddity, the name of a nightclub with today’s date. We’ll check it out.”

  Hmm. Strange.

  “Price,” Nat focused on him. “You must have leads in Hong Kong, right?”

  He stiffened as the group focused on him. None of the contacts he’d phoned had gotten back to him yet. “How many fox spirits are we talking about locating?”

  “Hundreds.” Daji met his gaze. “Most of them in the past two years. Naya and Ryden stumbled onto a smaller operation, but there must be a large facility. Those spirits haven’t drifted to Nüwa, so they must be detained somewhere.”

  “How about tracing the energy they emit?” The hopeful tone in Nat’s voice sparked energy into the atmosphere. “I have a contact who might be able to help us.” She dug into her jeans pocket and plucked out a phone. “I’m texting her now.”

  “Good.” Sheng nodded at everyone. “In the meantime, get ready. The yāoguài that attacked Daji might be stupid enough to come here. Be on the lookout.” He scoured the group before his stare rested on Price. The glimmer of mistrust in his dark eyes was unmistakable.

  And reciprocated.

  ***

  Daji’s shoulders deflated. She’d been right to flee here, regardless of Price’s discontentment about the situation.

  The Chosen knew what to do. They might be the only people able to help her. At Kek Lok Si, she would gain a few more days. Enough time to rescue the fox spirits.

  “Sheng�
�s right.” Lucy smiled at her. “Let’s head to the gym and train. We should see what everyone is capable of so we can fight together.”

  “Good idea.” Nat shot to her feet and led them.

  Daji followed the group. Fox spirits did not “train.” They were natural-born predators. While unnecessary violence went against their nature, that didn’t mean they weren’t fierce, powerful warriors. When their backs were against the wall, their claws came out.

  It would be interesting to view the Chosen in action. She’d met a few of them in her long life, but mostly in passing. Never had she imagined joining them in a war to save the world.

  They broke into two groups, men and women, who headed for the locker rooms. She trailed Natalie into the tiled room. Shelves lined one wall, lockers graced the other. On the far side, she spotted several shower stalls.

  “I’ll set you and Price up in the Semangat Room, on the third level.” Lucy sent her a bright smile.

  “Thank you.” She didn’t bother correcting that she would prefer separate chambers. It was kind enough of them to let Price stay.

  “You can borrow this.” Nat handed her an outfit.

  Daji eyed the garments, plucking them apart. Tight shorts, a fitted bra tank. Both black. It was a far cry from the gowns she was accustomed to wearing, but not as bad as the dress she’d borrowed for the nightclub.

  “Would you mind sending a message to someone at my palace? Naya, my heir.”

  “Sure, of course.” She tapped away the brief note Daji dictated and sent it. Good, now the girl wouldn’t worry.

  “Awesome.” Nat grinned at her phone. “Ling can meet us tonight. I’ll send Delun—Dragon’s host—to pick her up.”

  “Ling?” Daji arched a brow. She’d heard the name before.

  “Yep. If you need anything, Ling’s your woman.” Nat winked and switched into her clothes.

  After she’d stripped and changed into the borrowed clothes, she followed Lucy and Nat into the training gym. The space was enormous, but not as sterile and cold as she’d envisioned. A large tree fortress spanned a good chunk of the upper area. The briny scent of sea-water carried from what must be a salt-water pool.

  The Chosen gathered on the training mats, sporting matching workout gear. Sheng flashed the cloaking of Tiger over him, the haze of its gray stripes stretching across thick fur and large, claw-tipped paws.