26

Seven

I would wring his fucking neck for this. Our brotherhood was over. How dare he interfere with my business. My life. My Fated.

I slammed the door open, letting it bang against the wall and interrupt that presumptuous ass mid-sentence. His face froze in his shock as he examined me. He must have seen my wrath, because he turned to the two kitsune in front of him, both covered in bloody clothes.

Rhys cleared his throat. "Go to the medical wing. I'll repost the contract tomorrow. Someone else will take care of it."

The two scuffled out, neither daring to glance up at me as they bowed and closed the door behind them. Good, my reputation precedes me.

Rhys gestured to the seat across from him, righting himself. "You can't continue to disrespect me, Seven. I am the Archfox now."

I strode forward, slamming my hands on the desk. "Disrespecting you ?"

"You should be studying. Or are you planning on redoing another year because you can't memorize the names of a few demons?"

He wasn't making it any easier not to strangle him. "Did you order my Fated to heal her bond with me?"

"Yes. And it looks like it worked. You have some color in your face, Seven. Did the two of you take my advice?"

"You ordered her, Rhys. Fucking ordered her when she grew up in a temple. You knew she wouldn't disobey the Archfox."

He smirked, gloating in his egotistical meddling. "You're welcome."

"I asked you to stay out of my relationship with her," I said, growing more frustrated by his insufferable high-headedness since he'd been chosen as Archfox.

"Relationship? Is that what you call it? She said you rejected her. She needed to be soothed. You have been called for an important duty, Seven. It's time to grow up and let go of the past. I can't take care of you forever."

I snapped. "You always think you know what's best for me, but she's mine. And you'll stay the fuck out of it or I'll challenge you."

That wiped the smirk off his smug face. He didn't stand a chance against me in a fight, even if he did have more tails than me. He was a healer, not a true fighter with his element. He paced in front of his wall of windows. "Is she now? I think the goddess intended you to share."

My chest vibrated defensively, muscles tensing as I quelled the fight in me.

"I shouldn't have ordered Dove. Is that what you want to hear?"

"Don't say her name," I spat, sliding my short sword back into its sheath. I hadn't even noticed taking it out.

Rhys faced me, frowning as he watched the weapon. "You're absolutely feral. Not surprising. She is incredibly powerful, Seven. But I need her. You know I wouldn't let anything happen to her."

"You don't need her for this. You have thousands of stronger kitsune to fight your war. Leave her out of it."

"She will be protected—"

"She wouldn't be the first one to get caught under the tracks as you race into war. And what is coming, exactly?"

"I've told you all I know. The gate in Lethe is tearing, weakening by the day. The demons are already spilling out faster than we can handle. We have alumni from around the country helping and we still can't get it under control. We need everyone trained, anyone who can equal out the battlefield," Rhys seethed as he continued his quick pacing, only slowing to shoot me a few glares.

He was privy to confidential information as Archfox that I was sure he was concealing from me. I remained silent, hoping he would slip up in his anger.

But he regained his composure rapidly. He took a long slow breath, and looked at me with a passive smile. He approached me when I didn't respond, placing his hand on my shoulder. "You can sense Dove's energy, Seven. I know you can. The goddess answered your prayers and gave the greatest gift."

Everyone else would take it as the Archfox blessing them.

"Did you forget who you're talking to? I know you don't fucking believe in the goddess. And I thought I told you not to say her name," I said, jerking out of his grasp.

His eyes flicked to the door before glaring down at me. His voice came out in a sharp whisper. The one he used when I was reckless and caught by human police at sixteen and he had to bail me out of jail. "Keep that mouth of yours shut. Goddess or not, demons are here trying to wipe us out. We can't afford any cracks in our armor before we go to war. I need to know you have my back."

I stormed toward the door to leave. "You know I'll be there when you need me, Rhys. But leave her out of it."

"For now, fine. But know that I'll do whatever is needed to end this war, Seven. The goddess had a thousand years." Rhys smirked before turning to look out over his domain of the academy like he'd become the new god. "Now, it's my turn."