Storm Shift: Kitsune and Shaman novel (Nine Tails Series Book 2)

by J. L. Weil

  Devyn was leaning against my closet door, looking as if he just committed a crime, dressed in all black, his hands shoved into his front pockets. “Hey, Kitten.”

  “How the hell did you—?”

  “I have skills other than just combat.”

  He was so breathtakingly attractive seeing him squeezed my chest, and I shook my head. “And those skills include sneaking into my bedroom?”

  His grin was downright wicked. “Among others.”

  “You scared the crap out of me, I’ll have you know.” I jumped off the bed, walking to where he stood as his eyes watched my every movement. “What are you doing here? Did something happen?”

  “I wanted to see if you were okay. You left in a hurry, and I didn’t want to leave things unsettled between us. It doesn’t sit well with me,” he ended in a whisper.

  I fumbled with the stone dangling around my neck, its power humming under my touch. “You could have called or sent me a text.”

  “I needed to see you for myself. There’s a shadow of unhappiness in your eyes. I saw it earlier today, and knowing I put it there makes me feel like I should kick my own ass. I still see it. I can feel it.” He rubbed the center of his chest, as if he was in physical pain.

  I was glad he was here. He wasn’t the only one who was feeling disconcerted about how things had been left between us. It was weird. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have lashed out at you.”

  He shoved off the wall, green flames leaping in his eyes. I knew that look. “You’re kind of hot when you’re angry, but when you’re sad or hurt it’s as if I’m being stabbed.”

  “Devyn, don’t.” Putting my hand on his chest, I stopped him from advancing further.

  His head tilted. “There are a million reasons why I shouldn’t be here, but I couldn’t stop myself from coming, from seeing you.”

  “What are you saying? That now you don’t regret kissing me?”

  “I never regretted it, only that I couldn’t keep kissing you.” His fingers raked through his hair.

  “You make my head spin. I’m barely keeping it together. You can’t keep doing this to me. I’m not a yo-yo for you to play with.”

  He reached for me. “This isn’t easy for me, either. You make me crave the impossible, make me want things that aren’t mine to want. There are rules where we come from, but when I’m with you rules don’t seem to matter,” he said achingly.

  I held up a hand, warding him off, and swallowed the lump in my throat. No! I refused to crumble again. I’d already done that. Blinking hard, I would find a way to hold it together without making a fool of myself. “I don’t know what rules you’re talking about. For me it’s black and white. You either have feelings for me or you don’t.”

  “I shouldn’t.”

  Here we go again. “Look, I’m tired. It’s been a long day. We should probably both just sleep off whatever this is.”

  But Devyn wasn’t about to let me walk away. Moving fast, he curled a finger under my chin. “Will you look at me?”

  “No,” I whispered, keeping my eyes glued to his dark shirt as I halfheartedly pushed at his chest. If I looked at him, any resolve I had would be gone. I wouldn’t be able to mask the feelings. I would be vulnerable.

  His mouth was oh-so close to mine. “You’re upset. Tell me what I did. I’ll make it better. Please. I came here to make things right between us again. Don’t shut me out, Kitten.”

  Ugh. Did he have to use that word? Kitten. I hadn’t even realized when the nickname had stopped being annoying, and became an endearment that made my heart patter. I was powerless to stop myself from glancing up, and once our eyes connected I knew my resolve was going to break. A tremor of emotion crossed his expression at seeing the misery in my eyes, and he brushed the pad of his thumb along my cheek, pressing our foreheads together. “My world is falling apart, and I don’t know what to do,” I whispered.

  “You don’t have to be strong all the time, you know. Sometimes you can lean on someone else, let them take care of you.”

  My body was saying yes, but my mind was screaming at me. Don’t do it. He has the power to hurt you. It was as if my brain shut down; I’d lost all ability to make smart decisions. “I don’t need you to—”

  He pressed his thumb to my lips, stopping me from talking, and the effect of his touch was instant. My lips tingled, electricity sparking from his fingers to my lips. I was unable to prevent the burst of craving deep in my soul. I wanted something from Devyn, something he wasn’t willing to give me.

  He leaned closer, capturing my hands between us. “I think we’ve already proven you do need me.”

  His nearness made me catch my breath. God help me. I was about to do something dumb, but an inner voice told me Devyn was worth the risk. He had the ability to make me forget that, an hour ago, I had completely sworn off all things Devyn St. Cyr.

  My mind went blank as I stood up on my tiptoes, but the second I pressed my lips to his a jumble of feelings slammed into me. “I hate rules,” I muttered.

  “Me, too,” he growled, and pulled me closer.

  I blinked, staring into his perfect face. “This isn’t a game, is it? You’re not going to tell me tomorrow that we can only be friends?”

  “No,” he said in a strangled voice as a tremor went through him.

  “What’s wrong?”

  He grazed his cheek against mine. “You smell like spring in the Willowland,” he murmured. “Goodnight, Kitten. Sleep well.”

  As if that was possible after a kiss like that. My fingers fisted around the material of his shirt, keeping him from moving away. “Don’t leave. I don’t want to be alone. Can you stay?” Holy fae overload. Did I just ask him to spend the night with me?

  His eyes searched my face, thought lines creasing his forehead. “You’re bound and determined to test my limits.” He sighed. “Only until you fall asleep.”

  I climbed into bed, turning on my side and tucked my hands under my pillow, facing Devyn.

  He opened an arm and I didn’t hesitate, snuggling up into his arms. “How many guns does your father keep in the house?” he murmured, his fingers running through the long strands of my dark hair.

  I smiled into his shirt. “You’d better sleep with one eye open.”

  Chapter Ten

  Hannah was waiting for me at my locker the next day at school. Her blonde locks were piled into a neat ponytail on her head, unlike my twisted messy bun I hadn’t bothered to comb. She was wearing cute little booties, skinny jeans, and a lacey white shirt a tad too tight in the chest. I felt like a hobo beside her, but I had an excuse. If you counted my alarm not going off this morning as a valid reason for looking like death warmed over. Devyn was nowhere in sight when I woke up, and if it hadn’t been for his lingering scent on my sheets, I would have thought I dreamed the whole night.

  “Hey,” Hannah greeted, her glossy lips giving me a sheepish grin.

  I shifted my books to one side and fumbled with the dial. “Does this mean you’re talking to me again?” I lifted the latch and shoved my books into the metal container.

  Hannah leaned her back against the neighboring locker, so she could look at me. “Depends if you plan on falling off the face of the Earth again.”

  I blinked. “That’s not what happened. If you had given me a chance to explain, you’d know that.”

  “I called you, like, a million times, K. You never answered. Not once. Not even to tell me you weren’t dead, which clearly you aren’t, but that was what I thought when I didn’t hear from you all day.”

  Resting a hand on the locker door, I took a deep breath. “I’m sorry. I know that sounds lame, but I really am, Hannah. I’ve been a crappy friend.”

  She was staring at me with hurt in her baby-blue eyes. “It’s not like you to just run off and disappear. What gives?”

  I fumbled with the soul stone around my neck, needing to do something with my fingers. “I got into a fight with my dad about Devyn.”

  Hannah’s lips t
witched. “You have it bad. The Karina I knew wouldn’t have ever run away with a guy before. What have you done with my best friend?”

  I shrugged. “Maybe I’ve changed.”

  “You had Jesse and me out of our minds with worry. If I ever lost you—”

  “Hey, you’re not going to lose me,” I told her, giving her a hug.

  Her perfect boobs smashed against me as she tightened her arms around my waist. “Don’t ever do that to me again, or I’ll kill you myself.”

  I stepped back and grinned. If Hannah was threatening, all was good. “I missed you.”

  She leaned in and sniffed my hair. “I knew it. Why do you smell like you bathed in Abercrombie cologne?”

  I casually tried to inhale a whiff of my hair. How had I not noticed? I smelled like Devyn. No wonder I was all purring and glowing inside. It was as if he was standing beside me. “I didn’t have time to shower this morning.”

  Her eyes widened, sparking with mischief. “Oh. My. God. You spent the night with your hawt instructor, didn’t you? Don’t even try to deny it. I can see it in your eyes.”

  And just like that, Hannah was back—my fun-loving, blabbering best friend. “Nothing happened. He fell asleep at my house, and my alarm didn’t go off this morning. It’s no big deal.”

  “Huh. No big deal? Are you kidding? The only guy who has ever been in your room was Jesse. Oh, my God.”

  “You already said that,” I mumbled, thinking it wasn’t that astonishing, but really, it had been magnificent. I wanted to repeat it like every night.

  “I know. But I just had a thought. Did Jesse see him?” she asked.

  “No,” I quickly replied. “At least I don’t think he did.”

  “So, did you?”

  My brows furrowed together. “Did I what?”

  She rolled her eyes. “Get him between the sheets?”

  “Hannah,” I hissed, eyes darting around to see if anyone had heard her. “I told you nothing happened.”

  “I thought that might have been code for something else,” she winked, looping her arm through mine as I slammed my locker shut. We eased our way into the morning hallway traffic. “Girl, you’re so doing the walk of shame this morning. About damn time, too. I’m so jealous, it’s not even funny.”

  I resisted the urge to knock her on the back of her head. There was no stopping her when she got like this.

  “Who’s doing the walk of shame?” Jesse’s voice suddenly asked, as he managed to sneak up behind us.

  “K, if you can believe it,” Hannah cheerily replied, beaming up at a scowling Jesse.

  His purplish-gray eyes churned like a summer thunderstorm.

  I wanted to wring Hannah’s pretty neck.

  Buzzzzzzz.

  The school bell sounded through the halls, warning us we had five minutes to get our dragging butts to class.

  “You slept with the guy after what he did?” Disapproval was heavy in Jesse’s tone, and lined every inch of his face. He was disappointed in me, outraged I would forgive Devyn so easily.

  “I did not sleep with him, much to Hannah’s irritation,” I snapped.

  Jesse’s jaw worked. “But he was at your house last night.”

  “He came over to apologize,” I fired back.

  “With his tongue in her mouth,” Hannah added, not helping the situation at all.

  Shaking his head Jesse turned the corner down the science hall, leaving without another word. He was pissed.

  Just when I thought I was making headway, another fire popped up.

  “Not talking to you was torture. I’ve got so much to tell you.” And off Hannah went as we walked down the hall, prattling about everything I missed the last few days. I wouldn’t have had it any other way. I had at least one of my friends back. That’s all that mattered. One step at a time.

  Heading toward my bedroom, I stopped at my parents’ door and peeked my head inside. Mom was propped up on the bed, a stack of pillows behind her, the TV on low. She had a cup of hot tea in one hand, and her long midnight hair twisted into some kind of loopy knot I’d never been able to pull off. “Mom, can I ask you something?”

  At the sound of my voice she pulled her eyes from the TV to look at me, a smile spreading on her lips. “Of course, honey.” She patted the empty spot on the bed beside her.

  “Is Dad home? I asked, climbing onto the mattress.

  “No, he’s at the store. Is that what you wanted to ask me?”

  I shook my head. “It’s a Kitsune question.”

  She set her tea down on the nightstand. “Okay, what’s on your mind?”

  Fumbling with the edge of the snowy white quilt, I wrestled over the words. “I know a Kitsune’s tails have powers. I’m curious how I gain more tails.” I didn’t want to raise suspicion that anything was worrisome, but the clock was ticking and I needed help. I needed answers I didn’t have, and Mom was my only reference available—the only other Kitsune I knew of.

  Her hands were folded neatly in her lap. “A Kitsune’s power doesn’t come easily. It needs to be earned.”

  “But how?” I insisted, unhappy with the vague answer that didn’t help me at all.

  Her brown eyes softened. “That’s the great mystery of the Kitsune. It’s different for each of us. Never the same.”

  For the love of Snickerdoodles. Why did everything have to be so complex? My face fell, and I sank back against the pillows, feeling discouraged up the wazoo.

  “There really is no need for you to worry about having powers, not in this world,” she cajoled.

  On the contrary, it was exactly what I worried about.

  “However cool it might seem,” she continued, “you could put yourself in danger if anyone found out what you can do. It’s important for your own safety to keep what you are a secret. Do you understand?”

  I nodded.

  “Why the sudden interest?”

  I shrugged, trying to play down my eagerness. “I was curious, is all. This is all so new and different. I’m afraid I might slip up.”

  A tender smile tipped her lips. “Unless you plan on going on some quest or fighting a battle, I think you’re safe. Plus, you have Devyn. He’s here to protect you, guide you even, in any situation that might arise. I’m glad he’s here. It gives me a sense of peace of mind.”

  “Me, too,” I agreed. I wanted her to continue having mental freedom about my wellbeing so I bit my tongue, keeping all the perilous situations to myself.

  Whether she meant to or not she had given me a clue, and it was more than I’d had five minutes ago. I needed to go on a quest? Or maybe I needed to go to the Second Moon? Obviously, getting a tail required some form of heroinism, and a heroine I was not.

  I was doomed.

  “Where we come from, a Kitsune is often called a witch animal because of its abilities to have multiple powers. The gifts you have are coveted by many in my world, and can be taken easily if we aren’t protected. A Kitsune’s soul is tied directly to their powers. Our ancestors locked away their powers in a soul stone for safe keeping.” She touched the necklace dangling around my neck and the stone started to glow. Mom might have been stripped of her powers, but there was still something in her my Kitsune soul responded to and recognized. “You must never lose sight of who you are. Whether you have one or nine tails isn’t as important as staying true to yourself. Your blood is royal, making you special. In the wrong hands, your power could destroy worlds.”

  Or save them.

  I wrinkled my nose. “It’s weird, thinking we’re royalty in another world.”

  She got this far-off look in her eyes. “It probably seems very exciting finding out you’re a princess. If things were different, if I was able, I would have loved to show you Katsura. It’s like no place on Earth.”

  “You can never go back?” I asked, a tinge of hopefulness in my voice.

  She shook her head. “No. There’s nothing for me there.” Her fingers brushed a strand of hair behind my ear. “I have everythin
g I need here.”

  I smiled. It felt strained on my lips. “Thanks for the talk. I needed it.”

  “Me, too. Don’t forget dinner tonight. I’m looking forward to finally meeting Devyn St. Cyr.”

  Well, that made one of us.

  Poor Devyn. I almost felt sorry for him.

  The ding of the doorbell rang throughout the house, and I didn’t know whether to run down the stairs like Chris Hemsworth was waiting behind the front door, or hide under my bed. It wasn’t the hulky Chris Hemsworth, but in my world he was equally as impressive. He definitely had the superhero-from-another-world complex that might give Thor a run for his money.

  “I got it!” I yelled as I jumped the last two steps of the stairs and slid around the corner, yanking the door open. My pulse leapt regardless that I had I told myself to chill. In a sweeping glance, I took in Devyn’s appearance. His midnight hair was swept to one side, emerald eyes piercing, the dark T-shirt and faded denim perfect. He looked like the poster boy of every fantasy I’d ever had.

  Maybe that was saying something, considering our bond. Had I dreamed of Devyn and never realized it was him? I knew he’d dreamed of me.

  I was a little dizzy staring into his eyes. It had only been hours since I’d last seen him and yet, seeing him stand in my doorway looking too good to be real, it felt as if it had been weeks.

  “Hey,” I lamely said and cringed. That’s all you can think to say? Hey? Get a grip, Karina.

  Devyn stared at me, a slow grin lifting the corner of his full lips. “Sorry if I’m late.”

  “I’m surprised you came at all,” I said, my heart skipping.

  He took a step closer, our shoes touching. “I always keep my word.”

  I had to tip my head back to meet his eyes. “It means a lot. My mom has been dying to meet you.”

  “Something smells good. What’s for dinner, Kitten?”

  “My dad’s world-famous spaghetti and meatballs,” I said, smiling.

  His eyes sparkled. “Hopefully I leave here with all my balls intact.”

  I choked. “Devyn! Shh. My parents are in the other room.” Mrs. Jones from next door had her nose stuck to her window, watching us. I pulled him inside the house and shut the door behind him before he had any second thoughts about meeting my parents.