Page 8 of Foxin' Around

Krystal jumped with a squeal and whipped around, even as she stumbled back to put a little distance between them, landing her square on her ass. She stared up at him, her breath catching as her heart pounded so hard that she felt like it was about to burst from her chest. Syrix made no immediate move toward her but stood there, a tiny ball of spinning fire in his hand illuminating the stark planes of his face and the slightly mocking curl of his lips. For a moment, he did not look human, his features were too sharp and predatory, but she blinked, and the moment passed. He looked human again. Her brow furrowed in confusion, and he chuckled as he took a step closer and offered his empty hand.

“I did not mean to frighten you,” he murmured. “I just happened to notice you enter the woods and decided to catch up to you so that you did not accidentally become lost in the dark.”

Her frown deepened, but she took his hand and allowed him to help her to feet. “That wouldn’t have happened. I made sure to keep the cabin within sight.”

“Did you now?” His tone took on a hint of surprise. “Tell me then, sweetheart, where is it?”

“What do you mean? It’s right over th—” She turned in the direction of the cabin and froze in horror. There was nothing but darkness and the deep shadows of those trees that were faintly illuminated by Syrix’s fireball. That bit of magic was something she was still trying to wrap her mind around, but seeing the magic actually in action posed less immediate concern than the situation she found herself in. “I don’t understand, it was just right over there.”

His smile faded and his eyes narrowed as he peered over her shoulder at her forest. He held that look for several minutes, making her increasingly nervous until he tore his gaze away andlooked down at her. A small, reassuring smile tipped his lips and this thumb brushed over hand, alerting her to the fact that he still held it.

“It is best not to wander through the woods alone at night. The breach between worlds has released more into this world than can be easily perceived. Come, I will walk with you back to the cabin.”

Krystal nodded but looked around nervously, her skin prickling. “Are you saying that something was hunting me?”

“For some time, would be my guess,” he replied, his voice low and soothing. “It will not approach now. Just keep close to the cabin. It won’t risk lingering in my territory long. Something so insignificant would not dare to challenge me.”

A shiver rushed over her, but she nodded and resisted the urge to cling to him in terror. It seemed that she had underestimated the dangers of her changed world. Nowhere was truly safe. And if there was something that could confuse her senses to such a degree then—she didn’t want to think about it.

“I think, maybe, that I might feel better if you were inside with me tonight.”

“I agree,” he replied.

There was no sound of victory in his voice that might indicate that it was all a setup to get him back into the house. She’d hoped to hear that so that she could be annoyed at him instead of afraid, and verbally rake him over the coals for his trick while ultimately forgiving him for it. But his voice contained such a note of grim determination that it made her skin grow clammy with fear.

Just what was out there?

Chapter

Seven

Syrix was not amused. He was, in truth, furious. Seething with anger, he led his little mate back into their cabin and released her hand to seal the door with his strongest spells as he closed it behind them. Although he had his own specific gifts, there were certain magics that all foxes were taught by their parents, as well as having their own bit of fox fire. He tossed his fireball into the hearth, making the fire roar with new life as it shot upward before settling once more into a crackling dance over the logs. His female jumped in reaction to the sudden burst in flames, however, and he immediately felt contrite.

“Apologies, Krystal. You have already had one scare, I should have warned you.”

She blinked at him owlishly but nodded as she glanced toward the door uncertainly. Her lost expression tugged at his heart.

“It cannot enter,” he reassured her. “You are safe.”

She nodded again, but he could tell that she was not convinced. “What was it?”

“A lamia,” he replied truthfully. “An unpleasant, nocturnal spirit with the lower body of a serpent and insatiable appetite forflesh. It is rare to come across them since they seldom leave their defined hunting grounds, but many creatures are seeking new abodes these days.” He shook his head grimly. “It seems that you have caught the attention of one. Though they commonly eat children, they are known to beguile lovers into lying with them in order to satiate their sexual appetite before the other feast begins. They are quite skilled at illusion,” he added sourly.

And one was in his territory. It was an insult to the sensibilities of any fox spirit. His kind could be malicious when they chose to be, but frequently they were playful lovers who happily made agreeable exchanges with humans for what they desired. That was, of course, with the exception of certain lineages and particularly raucous individuals who made humans wary of their kind.

“Lucky me,” Krystal muttered. Her expression grew pensive for a moment, but she sighed and some of her tension drained away. “I hope you don’t mind that I ask you to remain in the cabin with me while that thing is out there. I understand that it’s giving some pretty significant mixed signals, but I will feel better if you do. You seem to be safe, at least.”

Syrix peered at her and resisted the urge to laugh. “You think I am safe, sweetheart? Such a deliciously naïve thing to say. You really have no idea how close to danger you stand right at this moment, do you, my pet?”

Krystal squinted up at him warily. “Are you trying to frighten me?”

“Not at all,” he warmly assured her, his expression lightening mirthfully. “But I do not wish for there to be any misunderstandings between us when it comes to my nature. I will never harm you—this I will happily swear upon any oaths set before me and any gods who may witness it—but I am not safe. Although my hungers differ from that of the lamia—I still hunger.”

Her eyes widened, but he held her gaze while keeping his demeanor calm and inviting. Foxes were predators, sure, but they were also highly affectionate, and family orientated. He wanted nothing more than to curl around his mate and surround her in his warmth and comfort. He frowned a little, his nose twitching. It was a bit chilly in the room now that he thought about it. He glanced down at her shawl, noting how thin it was. She had to be cold. That would do not do.

Turning away from her momentarily, he sought out the cozy blanket he kept in the small chest beside the couch. It was perfect for chilly evenings. He had traded for the wool and had spun and dyed the fibers himself many years ago and enchanted it with his own magic. He lifted it from the trunk and it fell open, the scent of flowers that didn’t exist in the human world wafting from it. He gave it a gentle shake and turned toward her. Krystal’s eyes dropped to the blanket in surprise, but she slipped off the shawl with a grateful smile as he lifted the blanket and wrapped it around her.

“Thank you,” she said quietly, turning to take the shawl back to the rack. “I didn’t realize how cold I was.”

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