“More creatures for the games,” Thane explains gruffly, turning back to face her. “The foxrets will be out in significant numbers tonight before they return to their burrows.”
Shade tenses against me. “What are the foxrets?”
“A zenali creature,” Thane replies. “Half animal, half human, but they’re not like shifters. They’re always in their animalistic form.”
Galen flicks a spec of fluff off his shirt. “They’ll be out in larger numbers tonight, because it’s the night of the mating moon.”
“Okay, and what is that?” Shade says.
“Exactly as it sounds. It’s mating night for the foxrets.” I chuckle against Shade’s ear, and she shivers, goosebumps prickling over her skin.
“The unmated foxrets only choose their mates on one night of the year, during the time of the mating moon,” Galen explains. “It’ll be easy for us to grab a few while they’re distracted. After tonight, they’ll be tucked in their burrows, and we’ll have missed our opportunity.”
“But isn’t that. I don’t know…mean?” Shade asks, fidgeting with her fingers, clearly uncomfortable with the idea.
“Mating night is a bloodbath,” Thane says. “There are usually more unmated males than females, and the foxret males are very possessive. They do not share.”
“The males kill each other for their right to claim a mate,” Galen adds simply. “Many will not make it through the night.”
She looks horrified. “That sounds barbaric.”
“It’s nature,” Thane replies. “We’ll grab a few of the males who look less likely to find a mate. Even the weaker foxrets will be strong enough for the games.”
“Okay.” Shade nods slowly as she comes to terms with what we’re telling her. “And what do you need me to do? Let me guess, I’m bait again?” She makes a face, and she plants a hand on her hip.
“Your scent will help to draw some of the male creatures toward us,” I tell her, not sugar-coating it.
“Myscent?” She blanches.
“Tonight, any female scent will draw the unmated male foxrets in the vicinity closer to investigate,” Kade growls.
“But after the last incident, you’re not going to be out there alone,” Galen drawls.
“That’s right,” I agree, holding her tighter against me. “I’ll be with you at all times, sunshine.”
Chapter Eighteen
~ Shade ~
“Why aren’t we taking Kazer, Arizak, and your other animali,” I ask as we walk along a shadow pathway, shadows slithering away from our boots like black snakes. “Couldn’t they hunt some of the foxrets down more easily?”
Galen holds out his hand as we reach an exit, indicating for me to follow the others and remaining close behind me. “Ordinarily we would, but it’s too risky tonight.”
I turn my head toward him as I step out into a forest. “Risky? Why?”
“This is the one night of the year that the foxrets are consumed by their animalistic need to mate,” Galen replies.
“It’s not simply instinct, either,” Raith explains with a lopsided grin. “The need runs deep in their shadow magic, and it’s fuckin’ infectious. All a foxret needs to do is claw a creature who is not of their species, and that creature would also be consumed by the same breedin’ needs and desires the foxretshave. For a few hours, their own instincts would be replaced with an insatiable need to mate and procreate. Our bonds with our animali are strong, but it’s not worth risking them losin’ control.”
I stare at him. “So you’re saying that just for tonight the foxrets will turn into sex-craved hornbags?”
“Yes,” Galen replies like that exactly sums it up. “But it shouldn’t be too hard for us to capture a few foxrets in a relatively quick timeframe.”
A large metal cage follows behind us, carried by their shadows. It settles onto the ground with a thump, then it disappears from sight, cloaked by the guys.
I stare around at our surroundings. This forest is different to the one we were in when we captured the nemins. The trees are still ghostly, but instead of leaves the color of ash, the leaves are heart-shaped and colored a pale indigo with flecks of red branching through them. The moon shines down from above, silver rays penetrating the forest, and I’m just thinking about how peaceful everything seems, when a blood-curdling scream pierces through the trees.
I jump, accidentally bumping against Raith’s chest. “What the hell was that?” I hiss.
