25

Dove

Raindrops fell, the sky opening drenching me as I searched. But Seven had too much of a lead and I had no idea where he'd gone.

A large pergola appeared off the side of the path. The columns were dark brown, and at the center was a gray statue of a nine-tailed fox atop a pedestal. I dashed into the open structure, panting for breath under the sanctuary.

With my hands on my knees, I heaved for precious air. A pair of black shoes appeared in front of me, and I followed them up to Seven's face.

How long had he been following me? Watching me? His ebony hair blocked parts of his eyes. One of Seven's eyes was blackening from the fight with Enko and Kairos, his cheek swelling.

"Did I not make myself clear?" he asked hatefully. The rain pounded harder with his words as though it sensed his rage. Both of us were drenched from the sudden rainfall, his hair dripping and my own sticking to my face. The chilly fall weather caused our breath to come out in puffs of steam between us.

He stepped forward and I stepped back until he had me locked against a thick wooden column, standing less than a foot in front of me. His hair dripped onto my neck as I looked up at him, his eyes gleamed, glancing around us once more.

"What was that about?" I asked.

"It was a fight. You lost," he snarled down at me. "If I was a demon, you'd be dead."

"No, why did you kiss me when you detest me so much—"

"Detest you? You're all I can fucking think about!" Seven snapped, closing the last bit of distance between us. His leg pressed between mine dominantly. "I can't eat. I can't sleep. I can't fucking think ever since I met you. You are a curse. I never asked for you."

His arms caged around me as his gaze sizzled down at me. And I realized it wasn't rage coming from his eyes, but passion. And his struggle to control it.

"I'm not like Enko and Kairos, Fated." His leg pressed hard between my legs, raising me off my feet until I was burning with embarrassment at the heat forming at my core from being so close to my Fated. He brought me high enough until I was face to face with him, our breath entangling.

Seven leaned forward, our faces inches apart. His dark ruby eyes trailed down to my lips. "You're everywhere. I scent you, I keep my distance, and you're there."

"It is the foxfire, drawing us together." My voice trembled.

Seven drew back, a smirk forming on his face. "You're scared."

"I'm not scared. I'm cold."

"Let me warm you up." He adjusted his leg slightly, rubbing against me, his eyes glinting with laughter told me that he knew exactly what he was doing. Imprisoned under his rule, I gasped in a silent breath of air, averting my eyes from his and then down to the wood planks at our feet.

His hand reached up, touching my neck gently with his thumb, stroking the crevice of my throat. "I'm glad you have the other two. That means you don't need me."

"I do need you."

"I take what I want and I don't give a shit what anyone thinks about it. I would have taken you there on the field if Kairos and Enko hadn't intervened."

Lust swelled between my thighs, my core throbbing with need. We stayed there, locked in each other's gaze, our breath coming out in cloudy huffs between us. Soothing the painful throb of our foxfire bond from our separation.

"Let's make a deal, Fated," Seven said with a demonic inclination. "Since you refuse to leave me alone, we will meet, just like this." He met my eyes, holding them for a few long seconds to make sure I understood.

"I don't make deals with demons," I answered with as much ferocity as I had. But the feeling of him so close, I was only a second from giving into his demands. I'd go to Hell itself to have him.

When I glanced to the side, toward an escape, he laughed. "I'm faster than you, Fated. But if you run, it will only make it more worth the chase."

His touch intoxicated me. He stroked my hair behind my ear as he memorized my face. His hands lingered at the hem of my shirt, while mine remained frozen on his chest.

The rain was our walls. The two of us, completely alone on the pavilion.

Seven leaned forward, our lips crashing together, our tongues warring for supremacy over each other. I gasped against his kiss as he touched me, a thumb brushing against my breast.

Seven's breath shushed against my neck as I let out a heady whine. My heated skin pressed against the cold stone of the column as I rejoined our kiss.

"Seven," I gasped, my hands sneaking under his jeans.

He growled, pulling my wrists away and then lowering me back to the ground. His hands grabbed my pants. He tugged at the button, the zipper, ripping them down my thighs. The cold air breezed through my hot legs. His fingers moved to my core, over the black cotton fabric of my underwear.

He held two of his fingers there, a pressing of his dominion. "See? We can get along. No need to resort to violence."

He brushed against my sensitive center and I let out another gasp. He pulled me against his chest as he slipped his fingers underneath the fabric and brushed against me. I shook with pleasure and a hint of uncertainty. But I couldn't tell him to stop. Not when I wanted this so much. Worse, Seven could definitely tell how much I wanted this.

Seven's finger glided, moving with expertise despite his identity as a loner. His hand stroked my hair as his finger pressed up into me. I whimpered, shaking, only held up by his strength. I leaned forward onto him, wrapping my arms tightly over his shoulders and around his neck to hold myself up.

"Good girl, let me help you. You're doing so good," he murmured as he rubbed against me, his hand still stroking my hair. My heart sang at his compliments and I wanted nothing more than to please him. "So responsive to my touch."

I hummed in a pleasurable response, scared to use my own voice, looking up at him and nodding eagerly as he rubbed. His finger slipped in and out of me, stroking all my sensitivity into oblivion until I became a mewling mess.

He paused and I opened my eyes desperately to look at him for postponing my fulfillment. When I met his gaze, he asked, "You're so tight. Should we see if you can take two?"

He continued to rub against me as he pushed both fingers into my sex, stroking me until I shook. I moaned and mumbled—incoherent nothings—crying out for him to finish the job.

"Almost there," he whispered, in complete control of his own voice, his breath on my cheek as his lips brushed away a tear.

Like a dark angel, he dragged me to heaven, imprisoned me in ecstasy. He kept a tight hold on me as I shuddered around his fingers.

His hand retreated, pulling my panties back into place. He was silent now, despite how talkative he had been seconds before. His red eyes watched me, and I watched him back, stunned as reality came back to me. What had we done?

He seemed as shocked as I was, in his own way, his expression hardening from temptation to regret.

"Dove?" Kairos' voice echoed from behind us.

I panicked, reaching down for my pants, but Seven now wore his stoic scowl, holding my wrists as my other Fated came closer.

"No more hiding the truth, Fated. You wanted me as much as I wanted you." His feral side flashed in his eyes. Possessive and dark.

Enko and Kairos stood side by side, both completely drenched from the heavy rainfall. Steam rose from every drop hitting Enko's hot skin. I could smell his smoky cinnamon scent. Water droplets glinted off his toned muscles. Delirious thoughts still reigned over my mind, Seven's attention making me yearn for more.

Seven released me and I hurriedly pulled up my pants, the rain made it harder than it should have been as I wiggled and jumped into the skinny legs.

"What's going on?" Kairos repeated as a low rumble from Enko vibrated through us.

"It was the fight. I got too close and couldn't stop myself. I tried to get away and she followed me. I can't stand that I'm drawn to her," Seven said, his words like stabs with his dagger.

"You say that after what you just did?" Enko growled, nostrils flaring as he pitched himself forward.

Kairos seized Enko's arm, holding him back from attacking and looking down his nose at Seven, as though both actions were second nature to him. "I guess this means you're ready to take some responsibility."

Seven laughed. "What are you going to do? Make me? I highly fucking doubt that."

Fire lashed out from Enko's sword handle, forming sharp lava-red edges that could cut metal. Enko was taller and larger than Seven, but the threat didn't phase him, drawing his own short sword and dagger, widening his stance. His blades absorbed the light of Enko's on the overcast day.

"It's two versus one, Seven. You can't beat both of us." Lightning sparked from Kairos' mace at his hip, sensing his emotion, but he didn't show it on his face. He nodded to where he held Enko's arm. "Put your weapons away, or I'll let him go. We've all seen what happens."

Enko's feral disposition faltered at the words, meeting my gaze before shaking his head and returning his full ferocity to Seven.

"Cut it out!" I cried, jumping between the outstretched weapons. They retracted the blades the moment I came between them.

"Don't worry, I won't kill them, Fated," Seven laughed. "Just wanted a little payback for earlier."

The hostility ebbed, weapons returning to their scabbards. Kairos released Enko, both inspecting me. My face was flushed, my lips swollen after the kiss-attack from Seven.

"What happened?" Kairos asked.

"I think you know," Seven said. "My Fated needed some attention. I was drawn to pacify her. Apparently the two of you haven't been keeping her satisfied."

"We were giving her time to adjust," Kairos barked. "Getting to know her."

"Not from you. Not like this," Enko snarled as he reached for me, wrapping his arms around me protectively, gently pulling me away from Seven as though he were dangerous."You had no right to take advantage of her."

"Take advantage of her? She's my Fated," Seven said, keeping his cool despite their anger.

Kairos grabbed Seven's shirt in a flash, slamming him against the same pillar I had just been held against. " Our Fated. You're going to commit to her now. No more backing out of your duty. No more of your games. I don't care how much of a cold-hearted asshole you are. You're going to make sure Dove knows you're there for her."

Seven laughed heartily. "What does that entail? Carrying her books to class? Doting on her hand and foot? Worshiping the ground she walks on like the two of you?"

"Whatever she needs from you. Only the goddess knows why you were chosen," Enko growled.

Kairos' hand tightened, his jaw clenched. "Just because the Archfox ordered both of you to heal your bond doesn't mean you can use her for your pleasure."

Seven frowned, his hubris replaced with confusion until he met my eyes, finding me peeking around Enko's back as much as the buff man would allow me. "Rhys ordered you?"

Kairos continued, "This wouldn't have happened if you hadn't been denying fate, feeling sorry for yourself. Goddess only knows why, you've been granted the most perfect Fated in the world."

Seven's eyes were only for me. Within that blood-red raging fire of his eyes, I could see a glimpse of hurt. "He ordered you?"

I nodded. Seven roared, spinning around and punching at the column, adding to his list of injuries. His vicious glare snapped back to the three of us as he hopped off the edge of the pergola.

"We're all going to have dinner together tonight. You're welcome to join us," Kairos said, more like a threat than an offer.

Seven narrowed his eyes, glancing at me for a half a second before giving a short nod. "I'll meet you in a bit. I have something I need to deal with."

Enko kept his hold on me as we watched Seven go.