Page 134

She thought about the other children Lazarus and Lilias lost and how they all perished at the hands of one monster. She didn’t understand how anyone could tame such rage. Lazarus was one of the chillest immortals she’d ever met. But he was also scary as fuck when he needed to be.

“Do you think we can kill him?”

“Yes. Some animals simply need to die, no matter the cost. I’m willing to do whatever it takes to see to my family’s safety.”

Was he saying he was willing to die? “What about Lilias?”

“Lilias is willing to risk the same. Adriel’s our daughter.” He cleared his throat. “But I find myself wondering… What is she to you?”

“Oh.” Juniper dropped her gaze. “You know… We’re friends.”

“Foxes are a member of the canine lupus family. Like wolves, we cannot hear their thoughts.”

She frowned. “Are you telling me I’m part dog?”

He chuckled. “I’m trying to delicately explain that after nine hundred years, I’ve learned to lean on my disciplines to communicate. Your thoughts are blocked to me, so that puts me at a bit of a disadvantage.”

“How so?”

“I don’t like it.”

“Oh.”

“Care to enlighten me about your and my daughter’sfriendship?”

Her lips pressed tight as she tipped her face to hide a blush behind the curtain of her hair. “I’m relieved you can’t see into my head.”

“So it appears.”

That also explained why Adriel and the others could never pass her defenses. She glanced nervously at him.

“What if we were more than friends?”

“Who am I to judge how she lives her life? She’s made it this far on her own. I’m a stranger to my only surviving child.”

Her heart pinched when his voice turned to gravel. “It won’t always be that way.”

A smile ghosted over his lips. “I hope not.” He stretched out his long legs like two tree trunks. “I would like to know her. And you.”

She smiled at his acceptance. “And Dane. He’s sort of ours. Like a stray dog that goes wherever we go.”

Lazarus chuckled. “And Dane.”

She fidgeted, nervous about the upcoming hours. “Once we’re on our way, I can implement a protection spell.”

“That will be helpful.” He glanced back at the house. “After losing the children, Lilias lost part of herself. She entered what I refer to as her endless winter. If it comes down to it, I’ll ask that you protect her before me.”

His love for his mate had never been more evident. “If that’s what you want.”

“Her safety is always paramount.”

“I won’t let anything happen to her.”

“Thank you.” He glanced at the book he’d given her. “As you get older, your powers will become more defined.Kitsuneare of fox and Asian descent. Once they reach their full maturity, they becometenko—celestial beings able to commune with the heavens. They’re patron thieves, so they have a reputation for stealing.”

“Swiper no swiping,” she muttered under her breath. Her fox knowledge was limited to cartoon characters. “How do I do it?”

“Shift?”