“Do they know why Danu gave them fox beads that must be fed life force?”
She snorted. “I doubt it. Why would they? It's not as if Danu explained things like that to our ancestors.”
“The Kitsune don't have them,” I said. “Why just the Kumihos?”
“Again, I don't know.”
“It was a hypothetical question.” I took another bite of food and chewed thoughtfully.
“Maybe they're similar to the Scepter,” Sever said.
“Anu's Scepter?” I asked. “In what way?”
“In the way that they're pieces of the divine that must be guarded.”
“Hold on. I think you're onto something.” Medea sat forward. “I remember Ha-eun telling me a story that her mother used to tell her. Something about the Kumihos being chosen by Danu. Shit. What was it?” Medea stroked her dreadlocks. “Danu's necklace! That's it! Fox pearls were once part of a grand necklace worn by Danu. When the Goddess made fox-shifters, she was wearing the necklace. She created the Kitsune, then the Huli jing. No problems with them. But then she made the first Kumihos. They were playful, born as fox cubs. One of them clawed the necklace, broke it, and the pearls fell like rain. Some fell upon the newborn Kumihos, and they absorbed the pearls. Danu collected the other pearls that fell, but when she looked upon the Kumiho, she couldn't bring herself to take the pearls back. Like a mother seeing herself in her children, Danu saw herself in the Kumiho, and she was pleased. But such power canbe draining. And so, the pearls must be fed and Danu's blessing became . . . not exactly a curse, but close.”
“That's just a story,” Ainsley said. “We can't take it as fact.”
“No, but there's sometimes a bit of truth in a story,” I said. “I'll ask Danu the next time I talk to her. Maybe later today.”
Medea grinned. “That's still strange for me to hear. That we can just speak to Danu, and she'll talk back.”
“If she wishes to,” I said. “There have been times when I've called on her and gotten no reply. But generally, she answers.”
“Unlike Anu,” someone said.
We turned to see Star striding in from the hallway. I assumed he had just laleked into the room the hunters were reserving for us to use for arrivals.
“Hey, you came back,” Medea said. “Good for you.”
Star grimaced. “Can we just forget my outburst, please?”
“Forgotten,” I said.
“No,” Sever said simultaneously.
I gaped at Sever.
“I can't forget it,” Sever went on. “Because you're right, King Astaroth. I've been focused on the bad and the past when my life has improved so much. Just last night, I vowed how happy I was. How fortunate. And then I come here and grumble because I don't want to give Anu the credit for my happiness. Buthe is responsible. He has given me a lot.” Sever shifted his stare to me. “I should be more appreciative.”
“Baby, you pout all you want,” I said. “Anu will get over it.”
“But I won't.” He lifted my hand and kissed it. “My anger toward Anu dampens my happiness. I need to let it go.”
“Yeah you do,” Star said. “Now, what did I miss?”
Chapter Twenty-Six
Before we could tell Star about the fox pearl story, a knock came at the door. We went tense until Torquil called out, “It’s the Extinguishers.”
“I forgot about Alex and Alexis!” I jumped to my feet and went to open the door.
As I passed by Star, he gave me an apologetic look, and I gave him an understanding smile in return. I may have gotten just as upset if I was in his shoes. I opened the door to find the twins waiting there with Torquil. Torquil nodded, then went back to his watch.
“You guys didn't want to stay here?” I asked as they came in.
“There's a Human Council House in the area,” Alex said. “No reason to put the hunters out.”
