37

Dove

"Let's see how it works," Seven suggested after classes the next day, taking out his own sword and letting it swallow any surrounding light. Enko was at practice and Kairos had gone to visit his family.

I shook my head, looking at my pristine weapon with dismay. "I don't want it getting messed up."

"What good is a sword if you are afraid to use it? Your magic will protect it; it's stronger than a normal blade. Besides, I'll hit lightly. It's not like a real fight," he goaded. "You should get to know your weapon before you fight demons with it."

Seven guided me through a new set of stances and swings before our swords even touched.

"You trained with a katana?"

He shrugged, "Specialty Weapons Training, you'll see soon enough. You get basic experience with all major weapons. Just in case you need to improvise in battle."

As we sparred, I could sense the sword, an extension of myself. The sword danced, sparkling through the air as it dinged against Seven's. The power took him by surprise and he strengthened his block. "Good."

When we finished training, the empty locker room allowed me to get a quick shower to wash off the sweat. I carefully grabbed my clothes from my locker as I finished, hanging the towel as I slipped into my pants.

Now that I knew my Fated mates had seen the hellfire burns on my back, it didn't matter who else saw.

"Ew!" a girl said from next to me as she saw my scars. It was one of Mel's friends. I covered myself with a towel as I changed into a new outfit, ignoring her. When I pulled out my katana that I had carefully hung, she continued: "And she picked a katana as her weapon? What a cliché! I feel so bad for the top three students at this school having to put up with her as a Fated for the rest of their lives."

"Well, not all Fated stay together," her friend said beside her. "Once a female goes into heat and has their offspring, a Fated is well within their rights to leave if they are unhappy."

"Kairos must be so grossed out by her back. He always looks so perfect," she continued like I wasn't there. "At least he has Mel to keep him company tonight."

I did my best to ignore them, and they did their best to taunt me. Kairos had seen my scars. And he had shown something when he saw my scars. But it wasn't disgust. They all wanted to go after who had done it to me. Helping me to get my revenge.

I finished dressing and tossed the towel into the hamper, following them out of the locker room into the gym.

"Want me to kill them for you, Fated?" Seven asked as I exited the locker room, causing the two women to scream in terror as they ran away.

I grinned. "No. Did you hear everything?"

Seven shrugged. "The Shadow Vale distorts sound."

"You were watching me shower?"

He winked. "People say things about me too." Seven said as we walked. "How I'm a murderer and a rogue kitsune. What you must have thought of me…"

I nudged against him, looking at him seriously. "That you were utterly gorgeous and deadly. My perfect type."

"Well, you got one part right." A cold breeze ran a shiver through me and Seven's leather jacket appeared over my shoulders.

The trees became more and more bare as winter approached. Blue skies tried to pierce through the overcast gray.

I stuffed my arms through the sleeves, only to find that the jacket covered my hands entirely. I shoved it upward and snatched Seven's hand before he could refuse. He only wore his t-shirt, but his hand was warm.

The walk was silent until we arrived at the pavilion with the statue of the fox where everything had happened between us.

"The things you hear about me…" Seven began.

I pressed myself close to his side as we stood in front of the statue. "I don't believe it, Seven. I know how everyone at the academy spreads vile lies."

"Fated," he said, looking down seriously. "They're not all lies."

I couldn't hide my shock, instinctively pulling back from him as I met his eyes, searching for the truth.

He didn't look at me, instead staring at the fox statue. "My entire family was killed. Not by demons, but by a rogue kitsune. I was the only one to make it out alive." He paused, glancing at me. "Naturally, people blamed me for their murders." His head shook. "I killed her. My own mother. I should have done it sooner. She was sacrificing us for her ninth tail."

"Seven—" I wrapped my arms around him. "I'm so sorry."

Seven frowned. "After I killed her, my rogue kitsune of a mother, I took on her magic. I could feel them, Fated. All of them, their energy within me. I didn't feel like myself anymore. That's when I changed my name."

"Your name's not Seven? But even the Archfox calls you Seven. And he calls everyone by their first names." I raised my eyebrows. "Are you going to tell me?"

"It's my surname." Seven frowned, gazing at me curiously. "My name is Cassian Seven."

"Cassian," I repeated.

Seven shook his head. "Don't call me that."

"Is that how this happened? Your mother?" I hesitated as I leaned closer, my thumb brushing over the deep line across his face. "Your scar?"

He stiffened. "Yes, a punishment and a reminder that I'd be alone forever."

I reached out for Seven, my palm against his chest. "You're not alone anymore. None of us are."

"How I treated you when we first met...I'm sorry for any pain I caused you, Fated. I didn't think you'd find me worthy when you had other choices. I thought I was making it easier on us both by rejecting you before you could reject me."

The pink scar going across his chin and cheek wrinkled as my thumb swiped it, rising to my toes to press my lips against it.

"You ended up with a scarred harem, Fated."

"None so scarred as me."

"Not all scars are visible. But I never noticed the beauty of them until I saw yours. Lightning on a sunrise. Rhys says scars give you a story. And yours is an epic."

"Sounds like you know Rhys well?" I asked. Then sputtered, "I mean—the Archfox."

Seven smirked. "Don't worry, I won't tattle on you for not using his title. He's like a brother to me. After what happened with my family, Rhys took me in. He worked for the Council of Elders. He trained me, got me ready for the academy. Though, I'm still a fuckup because I should have graduated last year. Failed year-three Demonology and Elements."

I shook my head. "Your focus is on something far more important than your grades in demon studies. If you can kill a demon, what does it matter if you know exactly what Tier it is, what all its special abilities are?"

We headed back through the academy as we talked. As we passed by the library, I pulled him in. I hadn't had time to explore the massive set of books available at the school given my strenuous schedule. My fingers grazed across the spines of the books.

Seven made a sound of disgust. "You want to spend our only time off reading ?"

"As opposed to extra training? Yes. Besides, we can study."

"I'm going to be here again next year after Kairos and Enko graduate. There's no need for you to waste your time trying to teach me."

"Seven, as much as I want you here with me next year, I can help. What harm is some memorization? You obviously excel in Physical and Weapons."

"Obviously, huh?" he said, leaning forward and inhaling at my neck. "You smell like the most amazing strawberries in the middle of summer."

His lips pressed against my neck. I nervously glanced around, finding the librarian and a few students looking our way. "Seven," I whispered desperately, "Everyone is watching."

His teeth scraped lightly against my skin. His hot breath hit my neck as he spoke. "Let them watch."

I let out a little moan, squeezing my eyes shut to control myself. "Seven," I pleaded again. Leaving it up to him if that meant for him to keep going or to stop. He placed a kiss over his previous work before pulling back.

"There are things more fun than tutoring, you know." He snagged the book from my hands and skimmed through the pages. "Fine, but I doubt a first-year can help with any of my third-year classes."

We checked out a few books and headed back to the dorm, where Seven could dodge studying easier than blades.

We sat on the couch while I touted off types of demons and he sharpened his Shadow blades.

"There's something else you need to know, Fated. Secrets that aren't fair to you."

"What kind of secrets?" I asked as the door opened.

"Seven," Kairos said, entering the room with Enko.

I jumped up and rushed over to them, abandoning the book. After a hug from both, Seven sheathed his blade. "Nevermind."

"We picked up some food for dinner," Enko said.

My stomach grumbled happily at the thought of eating, but Kairos turned on Seven. "What did you guys have for lunch?"

With the long conversations and drawn out silences throughout the day, I'd somehow missed lunch.

Kairos scolded Seven. "She barely eats as it is, Seven. You need to make sure she's taken care of."

Seven threw his hands in the air, "We ate like six hours ago! How dare you fucking scold me, I know my duty to her."

Enko placed take-out boxes on the table, filling my nose with the delicious smells.

When we all sat around the table, Kairos asked, a little suspiciously, "What did you two do all day?"

"Training, went for a walk around the grounds, and then studied," I said as I shoveled the food into my mouth.

"Are you up for another round of training?" Kairos asked. "Seven has a meeting with the Archfox."

Seven glared, slamming the fork down and leaving the dorm as dramatically as possible.