Page 44

“You’re getting slicker.”

Embarrassment hit me. “Stop smelling me.”

“I can smell you from across the city.”

Yoichi lifted his view. “Our ride should be here shortly.”

I looked in the direction of his gaze.

A long black car turned onto the street. The vehicle looked expensive enough to have its own tax bracket. Its polished exterior reflected the lanterns and neon signs as it silently approached.

Then, it stopped beside us.

A chauffeur stepped out holding a black umbrella. He wore a dark suit and white gloves. His gaze briefly touched the gun lying in the street, the healing bullet hole in Yoichi’s chest, and the half-naked American woman in his arms.

The man did not ask one question.

He merely retrieved my gun and opened the rear door. “Good evening, sir.”

Yoichi nodded.

The chauffeur bowed.

What sort of life does this man live where this is normal?

Yoichi carried me toward the car.

I trembled. “Where are we going?”

“To one of your new homes, mate.”

“Listen. . .I get why you think we are mates because my magic and body. . .it. . .is answering to you, but. . .”

A grin spread across his face as he lowered me onto the soft leather seat and climbed in too.

The chauffeur closed the door.

It was odd, but I no longer wanted too much space between us. He gathered me in his arms, and I absolutely leaned his way.

A tremor ran through his arm where it curved around my waist. I felt it against my ribs—small, contained, but there. The kitsune who had walked through my ancestors' fire without flinching was shaking.

His jaw worked. His fingers pressed harder into my hip, then eased, then pressed again like he was rationing himself.

"Little witch." His voice came out rougher than before. "Do not move too much."

"Why?"

"Because I have waited eight hundred years, and my beast is deciding whether to be patient for the drive."

That caused desire and fear to rise within me. “What if this is a spell or an odd reaction of my magic when I healed you and—”

“The red thread of fate connects us.”

“Okay, but. . .if that is true then that is fucked up for you.”

“Why?”

I pointed toward the black heart exposed above my soaked gown. “Due to this curse, any man who falls in love with me loses his mind, gets sick, and dies.”