Roux frowned, and Jack could just imagine his ears twitching under the woollen hat. “So there’s no interdimensional crack around here? Maybe that’s why the addison couldn’t find anything amiss in the mine.”
Genta shook his head. “It’s just this one, and it’s already affected the lives of so many people. It’s a disgrace we let that happen. But maybe in greater numbers, we can entrap it.”
Akito let out a yelp and sped up, dropping to all fours and leaving the sleigh behind. The blizzard briefly swallowed him whole, but by the time they reached his kneeling form, he was back on his feet, toothy mouth stretched into a smile. “I can sense him. Follow me!”
Soon enough, they were back at the mine, and this time all the administrative structures were blurred by the onslaught of snow, with only a handful of lamps illuminating the darkness.
Genta nodded. “The foxes do love gold.”
Roux jumped into the snow. “But we’ve been here, and found nothing.”
“That’s because he was waiting for us outside. Maybe that’s where it normally hides,” Jack grumbled, forcing himself to leave the warm furs.
The lights at the gate that led straight for the huge opening in the ground were beckoning them from afar, but Akito released a sound that made Genta lean out of the sleigh. “What is it?”
“I smell death.”
Great. Just fantastic.
Jack bit his lips, shuddering when he spotted a lone form in the snow, right under a large sign that was partially covered in ice. Roux slowed down, and as they passed by the body, the amount of blood that colored the snow around it proved there was no point in checking for a pulse.
It was one of the guards they’d met earlier.
Roux sighed deeply and sniffed the air. “I think I can sense it as well.”
Akito nodded and rushed forward, urging Genta into the darkness beyond the gate, toward the shaft. “It’s nearby.”
Jack stepped behind the nearby hut in an attempt to escape the punishing wind. While Genta had assured him the kitsune were to blame for all the strange things happening in the area, he still felt uneasy about going down that deep shaft. What if some of the rumors about this being the gateway to hell were true after all?
“Where? How do we kill it?”
Genta pointed at a large tool shed with a snow-covered roof. “You don’t, it’s too dangerous. Akito is proficient at it. Stay there and wait. Be on the lookout.”
Roux groaned. “I’ve read about kitsune, and according to my textbooks you can kill them the way you would any physical creature. Is that not accurate?”
Akito huffed. “Maybe, but they’re tricksters. You have no idea what they can do, so observe and blow this if you spot him.” He passed Jack an instrument that resembled a hunting horn.
Jack glared at it, then at the imposing werewolf, who’d dragged him out of the proximity of a warm bed and Roux, for the sole purpose of being a glorified lookout. He was Jack Addison. And he could have dealt with the issue himself if he knew what was going on.
But he also really didn’t want to enter the mine, so he accepted his role without arguing. “Will it not hear it?”
Genta shook his head. “No. Only werewolves can hear the sound it makes.”
“So… like a dog whistle?” Jack asked, breathing in the frosty scent carried by the air. He was glad he didn’t have hair on his face, because the fur around Akito’s muzzle had turned into icicles
Akito growled at him, angered to the point where Genta had to pull him back. “Coming from a man who has the hots for a cat?”
Roux bristled. “A chat.”
Jack stared. “What?”
Genta wagged his finger at Jack. “Akita told me you smell of him all over.”
Jack shrugged and grabbed Roux’s hand, regretful that they were both wearing gloves. “Is that a problem for you? Because it isn’t for us. Right, Roux?” he asked, suddenly longing for Roux to confirm his words, not retreat like he had last time, back in Romania.
Roux looked to the snow under their feet, but squeezed Jack’s hand and stepped closer. “We will look out for the kitsune.”
Genta snorted, but he and Akito soon became blurry figures in the snowstorm. Maybe it was for the better that Jack didn’t have to go into that godawful hole. Since the encounter with Chad’s mother, he didn’t particularly like caves and tunnels.
“You think the other guard is still alive?” Jack asked, somewhat disappointed with Roux’s rebuffal. But he didn’t want to be too pushy, and led the way to the wooden hut. Still, Roux wouldn’t let go of his hand.
“I don’t have high hopes. I can’t hear any movement around.” He took off his hat, revealing the pretty ears. “Nope. Nothing.”
Jack opened the hut and sighed when hot air blew into his face. The fireplace buzzed, and he even spotted some food laid out on the table. The two of them had definitely got the longer end of the stick, even if there wasn’t much glory in hunkering down in warmth and watching the scenery through cracks in the blinds. For now though, the sight of the flames lighting up Roux’s beautiful, smooth fur was much more absorbing than open cans and bread.
“So… uh… you’re not ready to be open with other people?” Jack asked, unable to wait until forever for an answer.
Roux’s eyes snapped up at him. “What? No. I… I would like that. I just… you surprised me. It’s been a while since I’ve been with anyone. And your father? You’re not afraid of him finding out?”
Jack’s mouth dried, but he shrugged and approached a samovar, which, as expected, contained deliciously strong tea. He had a sip and squeezed the glass, watching Roux, who peeked outside through the wooden blinds.
“They wouldn’t tell him.”
Roux stayed silent but then hugged Jack from behind and pressed his head to Jack’s shoulder. “This feels so good. I wish we weren’t so conscientious, and stayed at the inn.”
Jack snorted and put his arms around Roux. He had the loveliest ears, and Jack playfully pulled on one with his lips.
“Right? We’re Genta’s transport. I think I’d be so much more useful if we were alone at the inn.”
Roux’s eyes were like two green pools of liquified jade when he stared up at Jack. “Probably. But we’re good venators right?” He nudged Jack’s nose with his own, which was wet and cold.
Was this really Jack’s reality now? Roux finally in his arms? Or was he once again dreaming?
“You’re cold,” he said, offering the steaming cup. He tightened his grip on Roux and rested his chin on his head, knowing that he wasn’t doing what he’d promised Genta and Akito. But there was no one here to judge him if even Roux believed their role ridiculous.
Roux carefully drank from the cup, and watching him gather the liquid on his tongue made Jack realize how much he still had to learn about his… new boyfriend? His heart fluttered from even thinking about Roux in that context.
Roux pulled out of the hug. “And now I need to very un-romantically, go pee. Back in a second.”
Jack scratched the back of his head. “You sure? Maybe I should watch your back?” he asked with a chuckle, leaning against the wall. At this point, he was getting so hot he might remove some of his outer clothes.
“Jack, we’re just establishing a relationship. You’re not going to watch me pee.” Roux chuckled and punched Jack’s arm on his way out.
Jack pulled his teeth over his lips and watched him walk out into the punishing snow. It was impossible to describe how badly he wanted to be at the inn. But he wasn’t, so he might as well make the best of it.
Waiting for Roux, he removed his coat, gloves, and hat, and rummaged through a cupboard containing supplies. Since the second guard wasn’t likely to return, he decided to help himself to some of the food and soon found a good-looking can of sardines for Roux.
Jack was getting antsy when his chat finally came back, stomping loudly to get the snow off his shoes.
He squinted at Jack in a surprisingly seductive
fashion, and once the door was closed again, he didn’t walk to Jack, he strutted. “They will take forever in that mine shaft. How about we entertain ourselves with shafts of our own?”
Jack almost choked on the tea. “What, now? You naughty chat,” he said, and his gaze instantly gravitated down the slender chest that was now covered by a damp fur coat.
“Yes, now. I can’t resist you.” Roux purred and ran his hands up Jack’s neck and to his cheeks. This was a tad unusual for him, but then again Jack had only spent one night with him, so what did he know of Roux’s sexual temperament? On the other hand, it was quite unusual for Roux to be so reckless. He wasn’t the type of guy who’d be fine getting caught in the act.
“Like you can’t resist those?” he asked, grabbing the sardines.
Roux offered him a wide smile, those sexy hips already rocking against Jack, as if he were in heat again. “My favorite!”
They weren’t. His favorite ones were from France, and the packaging was completely different. Jack swallowed, convinced Roux’s fur was redder than usual. “What was that brand you really enjoyed?”
Roux laughed and lowered his mouth to Jack’s neck. “It’s fish. I love them all, silly.”
Unease danced down Jack’s back, but as the soft fur tickled his jaw, he glanced at their shadow on the wall, and saw it.
A thick tail sticking out from under Roux’s coat.
His mouth went dry, and he slowly leaned back, his gaze trained on the green eyes that looked deceptively like Roux’s. The horn. He still had it attached to his belt.
“How about some tea first?” he asked, but when the kitsune reached out with a hiss, Jack spun it around and flattened it against the wooden wall. He blew the horn before he could consider his own safety.
Chapter 6
“What did you do to Roux? Where is he?” Jack roared, gripping the kitsune’s wrists with all his strength. Shapeshifter or not, he had no right to Roux’s form. And where was Roux himself? Had he been assaulted and left in the snow?
Was he dead?
Dread clutched at Jack’s throat like a spiky collar.
“Where is he!?” He shoved the kitsune against the wall, but the creature chuckled, as if it felt no fear whatsoever.
“Temper, temper. Unless you want that lovely body hurt.”
Jack stiffened, lost in the nuance of the kitsune’s words. “Is it his? Or are you just impersonating him?” he uttered, but didn’t break his hold on the slender wrists. If it was a case of possession, was Roux still there? Aware of what was going on yet locked inside his own body? What a horrific thing to do to another being.
The kitsune smirked with Roux’s mouth, turning his head back almost too far for it to be comfortable. “Why don’t you smash my head in and find out?”
Jack licked his lips, trying to control his breathing but didn’t let go, despite his fingers going numb. If Akito was to be believed, the kitsune was too powerful an enemy for Jack, yet it wasn’t going for the kill just yet, instead playing with Jack like a cat with a captured mouse.
He wanted to ask the monster why it was attacking people for no reason, but how could an answer to that question make sense? “Roux, if you’re in there, let me know!”
The creature let out a choked sound, and one of Roux’s claws bit into Jack’s skin, but his face went lax again immediately after that stifled attempt.
Jack couldn’t believe the horror of this situation, and flinched when the feline face scowled in an expression that was distinctly vulpine
“He can’t do a thing against me, human! If you want him to live, get out of here and never come back!”
Jack bit the inside of his cheek until the tang of blood spread over his tongue. “What about him? I’m not leaving him with you!”
The kitsune opened its mouth, but then its eyes went wide, and it shoved Jack away with a single push, as if he were a scarecrow caught up in a tornado. Jack crashed into the table and fell, with a loaf of bread rolling onto his head, but before the kitsune could have opened the blinds on the other side of the house, the door burst open, and Akito’s giant form squeezed inside with a growl worthy of a grizzly bear.
The kitsune hissed, its eyes glowing, limbs tense as if they were about to snap.
“Stop! He’s possessed Roux! Don’t hurt him!”
But Akito didn’t listen and charged at the kitsune. Instead of biting its head off though, he pinned Roux’s body to the floor and… licked its face.
And licked it again.
Genta stood in the open doorway with a deep frown, as if the snow blowing past him caused him no discomfort. “Don’t worry, Jack. The fox won’t be able to stand this for long. They hate werewolves.”
Jack let out a panicked chuckle as he scrambled to his feet, nervously watching the twitching tail. “What’s he gonna do? Lick him to death?”
Genta shushed Jack with a gesture.
“Enough. Stop,” the Kitsune moaned in Roux’s voice, and seeing him thrash under the werewolf was a call back that worried Jack and made him deeply uncomfortable.
The werewolf wasn’t going to… fuck Roux, was he?
Akito ripped open the front of Roux’s coat and licked down Roux’s neck, triggering a pang of jealousy that kept Jack on edge.
“Get off, you fleabag!” Roux yelled, uselessly pushing at Akito.
“I’m only letting this go so far!” Jack grabbed his sword, huffing with anger. “This surely can’t be the only way!”
But Roux’s meow suddenly turned into a yelp, and an elongated, narrow muzzle rose above the familiar face like a ghostly mask. Jack stepped back, shocked to see the vulpine features, which was completely different from Adam’s. Smoke filled the air when the kitsune bolted, but it fell flat on its face when Akito grabbed its lush tail. Genta moved with the grace of a ballet dancer and, before Jack could have even thought about attacking, cut the fox’s head in a clean swipe of his sword.
Blood gushed from the stump above the kitsune’s shoulders, spraying the wall, but also Akito, Gento, and even Roux, who lay still with his hands pressing at his mouth.
Jack knelt by his side and pulled him into his arms, feeling as if they’d been at the brink of an ugly finale, yet had managed to flee death at the very last moment.
“Are you okay? Talk to me!”
Roux coughed, his green eyes dazed. “Jack! Jack! He wanted to kill you! He would have done it with my hands.” He could barely catch his breath but still reached out for Jack with the bloodstained paws. The reddish fur was damp on Jack’s cheeks, but he leaned into the touch, rubbing his nose against Roux’s and hugging him even tighter. He’d been such an idiot. He should have gone out with him, no matter how awkward it would have been.
But at least they were both safe now.
“It’s okay. We’re okay.”
Roux’s arms were stronger than they seemed when he embraced Jack’s neck. “What if I killed you?” he whispered with a trembling voice. “If we work together, wouldn’t this be a constant risk?”
It was such a touching question Jack went silent for a while, just petting Roux’s bloodstained fur and looking at the features which were again Roux’s own. “Better you than someone else, right?” Jack whispered, pressing a kiss to his lover’s angular brow. Holding Roux like this gave him a sense of peace. A sense that his life was finally slotting into place in this half-abandoned goldmine, over a strange creature’s dead body.
“Don’t joke like that.” Roux rubbed his face against Jack’s head, effectively massaging the kitsune’s blood into him, but Jack was past caring. All he craved was Roux’s affection, so getting dirty was hardly a big price to pay.
Genta wrapped the kitsune’s head in waxed paper, as if it were meat for his dinner, and then stuffed it into a bag. “We have a long trip ahead of us. Jack, Roux, thank you for your help.”
Jack grinned, even though they’d hardly done much to stop the fox. “It’s always Jack Addison’s pleasure to do his duty. Do we share the reward fou
r ways?” He tried not to snort when he looked at Akito’s serious expression, because all he could think was his ‘fourway’ with werewolves.
“No,” Genta said. “We’ll be on our way. Do whatever you wish with the rest of the body.”
Jack glanced at the nine fluffy tails, which he could now see as clearly as he saw Genta and Akito, and imagined a grand winter coat for Chad.
But no. The concept was a tiny bit too grim.
Jack swallowed, his heart fluttering. The reward for the monster’s capture was quite substantial, which meant that Roux wouldn’t have to worry about money for a while. For once, Jack was more than happy to share the cash with someone else. Jack squeezed him to his chest once more, wishing they could be alone and speak frankly, with no one to hear.
“I’m sorry. I’ll never leave you out of my sight again,” he whispered, rubbing his face in the blood-stained fur. He kicked the body when Genta and Akito left.
That was for leaving him alone in the snow.
And he didn’t even get his fur coat back.
Roux only spoke once the door shut behind the other venators. “Even when I go pee?”
Jack snorted. If Roux’s sense of humor was back, he couldn’t have been hurt too badly. He glanced into the soulful green eyes, marveling at the beauty of their narrow pupils as he squeezed the small, furry hands.
“Especially when you pee. I’m always up for watching your pants open.”
It was such a freeing experience to openly flirt with the object of his adoration without the constant rebuffal, to see a smile and have his affections reciprocated. He was the luckiest man alive. Taming a chat was hard work, but it had only taken him four years.
“Why do I always fall for the awful ones?” Roux chuckled, and rolled his head over Jack’s shoulder.
Jack kissed Roux’s soft, furry neck, overcome by the sense of absolute joy. “I won’t be awful. I’m all in. I’ll be there when you need me. I’ll have your back. I promise I’ll make you happy.”
Roux stilled and took a deep breath. So lovely, so soft, so smart and funny, and everything Jack could ever want. If Roux needed security, Jack would spend his life proving to him that he was safe in this relationship.
Jack Addison vs. a Whole World of Hot Trouble - The Complete Series Page 27
