Phlox rolled his eyes. “Goddess, he’ll never let that go now.” Tossing a hand Hikaru’s direction, Phlox made the introductions. “Everyone, this is Hikaru. In case the tails didn’t tip you off, he’s a kitsune. Hikaru, this is my mate, Leon. I believe you’ve already figured out who Necromancer Erasmus Boone is. And that is his warlock father, Nikodemus Holland.”
“Kitsune,” Pops all but hissed. “Menace is right.”
I glanced from Pops to Hikaru. I’d heard of a kitsune but wasn’t certain I understood. “He’s a shifter.”
Hikaru’s eyes narrowed. “Don’t insult me. I’m no mere shifter.”
“Goddess, you’re so dramatic.” Phlox threw up his hands. “Why couldn’t Huxley have gotten you while he was at it? At least then we’d be rid of your foolishness.”
Hikaru’s grin held a feral quality. “He’d have to catch me first.” Power radiated through those few words. No, Hikaru wasn’t just a shifter.
As if reading my mind, Pops said, “Kitsunes aren’t shifters. They’re spirits.”
I reached out with my necromancer powers and felt nothing. “Not spirit in the dead sense.”
“No.” Pops fought a smirk. “Not that kind of spirit.”
Phlox muttered, “I wish,” before crossing his arms and clarifying. “Kitsunes are more like lesser demons.”
“There is nothing lesser about me,” Hikaru growled. “And some would call me a god, not demon.”
“Semantics,” Phlox said with a careless shrug. “Lesser either way.”
The air crackled, and the scent of ozone filled my nose. “You would do well to remember your place, mortal creature.” That ozone scent faded, as did the crackling threat surrounding Hikaru.
Was Hikaru reallyimmortal? I had no idea, never having met a lesser demon or god. Was Hikaru as old as Huxley? Was Huxley considered a demon or god? All these questions were making my head spin.
Phlox dramatically sighed. “Are you here for a reason or…?”
“Tabitha sent me. As you know, Elvira cannot leave the compound. Otherwise, I am certain she would have sent that nosy ghost.” Hikaru raised his hand, seemingly examining his nails, which, just like his teeth, were a little pointier than average.
“Did Elvira find something?” I asked. Tabitha had mentioned Elvira when we’d been helping Navarre. As a medium, Tabitha could speak with the ghostly Elvira from hundreds, if not thousands, of miles away. It was how she’d informed the council that we were in need of assistance. Not that they’d gotten there in time to do anything. Honestly, I don’t think they planned on helping at all. They just showed up in time to help Tabitha get Navarre to Minnesota.
“Sadly, no.” All humor and teasing fled Hikaru’s tone and posture. His tails flicked a little faster and with far more agitation. I tried counting them but found the task impossible given their frantic motion. “I am very irritated by this turn of events.”
Phlox raised an eyebrow. “Justirritated?”
“Depending on the outcome of upcoming events, that emotion may intensify.”
Arms crossed, Phlox’s Pallas’s cat tail flicked nearly as quickly as Hikaru’s tails. “He came for you, didn’t he?”
Hikaru looked away. “As I said, I am difficult to catch. That does not mean our disgraced director didn’t try.”
“I’m sorry,” Phlox said, his tone much softer than before.
“Why? As I said, I am fine.”
“Physically. But he betrayed you. He betrayed us all, but I think…I think you maybe the most.” Phlox sounded genuinely aggrieved.
Hikaru shrugged as if it weren’t important. I had the feeling it was quite the opposite, and there was a deeper story I wasn’t privy to. “I should have expected it. I let my guard down, which is a mistake I will not repeat.”
Leon placed a comforting hand on Phlox’s shoulder. I wasn’t sure if he understood the deeper meaning or if he was simply acting like a good mate. It made me miss Franklin even more.
The silence enveloping the room was interrupted by my phone. I’d left it in the kitchen and dashed after it. I didn’t recognize the number but answered anyway. I didn’t even get a chance to say my name when Tenzen Huxley’s smokey voice drifted across the line. “Necromancer Boone, would you please do me the courtesy of coming out of your home so we might speak face-to-face?”
Phone to my ear, my eyes connected with Pops. My palms were sweaty, and I would have dropped my phone if I hadn’t had a death grip on it. “You’re welcome to come knock on my door if you want to see me, Huxley.” That single name grabbed everyone’s attention, all eyes now firmly locked on me.
Tenzen’s laughter felt like ants crawling under my skin. “I believe you know that is not possible. Now, be a goodnecromancer and come outside. We both know you’ll eventually do as I ask, and we both know why.”
