Page 100 of Son of Shadows

Koichi took her hand in his, kissing her fingers gently. “Don’t worry. If I die, I’ll haunt you. Go save your nephew.”

She hesitated.

Masaru put his hand on Haruki’s shoulder. “The man said he’ll be fine. Besides, he’s too afraid of you to die.”

Koichi nodded. “Unfortunately, he’s right.” He grinned at Haruki. “Now go. Save our boy.”

She pressed her forehead against his, kissed him on the cheek, and then stood up, staring at Masaru. “If he dies, kitsune, I’ll make a coat of your fur.”

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

Masaru mounted her horse and Haruki got on behind him. Then they took off into battle.

He heard a cry above them and saw Ryuichi, riding on the back of Shima in his crow form. Masaru nudged Haruki and she looked up, noticing the pair, soaring toward Orochi and Ryukage at a high speed.

“Is Ryuichi heading for his father?” Masaru asked.

Nodding slowly, Haruki stared at them, eyes wide. “Is he stupid?”

“I might have hit him too hard in the head a couple of times.”

“Then you’re stupid!” Haruki shot up from the horse and flew toward them.

Masaru cursed. Why couldn’t he fly too? He would have changed into a kitsune and run ahead, but the horse would be faster, so he kicked it and they galloped ahead.

He didn’t stop until he spotted a yōkai who was lifting a sword to go after Ryuichi, who was now on the ground, fighting. Masaru pulled out a naginata and used it to behead Ryuichi’s attacker.

“Next!”

Ryuichi looked up at the shadow over him. It took him several heartbeats to realize it was Masaru, and his aunt was with him. “Haruki-san! I need you.”

Masaru noticed Haruki’s face light up when she heard Ryuichi call out to her. “Need me for what?”

Ryuichi jerked his chin toward where Ryukage was fighting Orochi, who had backed the demon king into a corner. “Can you help my father?”

Haruki sighed, like she wasn’t sure if she wanted to help the person who had done her so wrong.

“Please. Do it for my mother,” said Ryuichi.

That seemed to warm her up to the idea. “I’ll try. But my powers aren’t as strong as my sister’s. If they were, I’d be able to control the gates.”

Control the gates . . .

Masaru beheaded another one of Orochi’s yōkai soldier. “I don’t like that look in your eyes, Ryu-chan. What are you thinking?”

“I know how to defeat the World Eater.”

Masura leaped down from his horse, used his naginata to lift himself up, and kicked the next yōkai who came near. Then he turned back to Ryuichi. “What’s your plan?”

Ryuichi scowled as he stared at Masaru and his awe-inspiring pose with his naginata. “Follow me.”

The kid had guts. He’d give him that.

Worse? He took off before Masaru could stop him.

Groaning, he immediately went after Ryuichi to stop him from getting killed. While he’d like to say he could take Haruki in a fight, Masaru knew better. The goddess had some impressive powers, and he didn’t want to end up as her coat.

“Ryuichi!”