Thank the gods they’re not coming after me...
She forced herself not to scoff or laugh. Because she knew better. Such a show of disrespect would most likely end with her death. Still, she doubted these komuso would be any better than his current batch, which had razed more villages than even she and her army.
Mindless shadow imps, they had spared no one.
How he thought this new group would be any more successful was beyond her, but far be it from her to question him.
She watched as the false komuso left for the portal that would allow them to carry out their orders. An enchanted portal that kept Ryukage trapped in this realm.
But not if his son returned.
His son would have the power to free him, and then Ryukage would wreak havoc on the human world once again as he claimed his vengeance on the gods who’d trapped him here and served the dark gods who’d created him to spread chaos.
The gods who’d come between him and Haruka. All Ryukage wanted was revenge. Haruki had promised to help him attain it. So far, she had failed.
“Keep an eye on them, Haruki. And don’t return without my son.”
“I won’t fail you, my lord.” Not again.
An evil smile curled his lips. “See that you don’t.”
* * *
Lying in bed, Ryuichi lifted his right hand and watched as his shadow followed suit. Turning his head, he made sure that his gaze never left it.
How harmless that shadow seemed.
Now he knew such things weren’t what they appeared. “Are you planning my death?” he asked it.
“Always.”
He jumped at the sound of Masaru’s voice behind him. “Don’tdothat!”
Masaru laughed. “Why not? I so love the sound of fear. Especially yours. It’s so high-pitched.”
Ryuichi would have commented, except he was distracted by all the bruises on Masaru’s face. “What happened to you?”
“Ran afoul of some things that wanted to eat you.” He brushed his hand along his bruised jaw and winced. “I’m thinking I should have let them have you, in retrospect.”
Ryuichi rolled his eyes. “Glad you didn’t. At least, I think I am.”
“Wish I could say the same. Maybe I should have stayed dormant a while longer and left you to fend for yourself.”
There was something in his tone that sent a shiver down Ryuichi’s spine. “Why didn’t you?”
“I’m going to blame my stupidity. In reality, I’m sure it had a lot more to do with my curse.”
Ryuichi raised his eyebrows. “Curse?”
Masaru lifted his hands, and the shadows on the wall began to make pictures.
Intrigued by them, Ryuichi watched as they illustrated Masaru’s words.
Ryuichi sucked his breath in as he watched the shadows change form. “You’re an inari.”
“Was,” Masaru corrected. “Long time ago.”
Ryuichi went back to toying with his shadow. He supposed he should have been more surprised, but lately he’d been through so much he’d gotten used to expecting the unexpected. “More secrets, huh?”
