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The Archfox had his sleeves rolled up past his elbows. Enko slept kneeling on the hard floor next to the bed, his head resting next to my stomach. Kairos had passed out in an armchair and Seven sprawled over the couch like a lazy cat taking up the best spot in the place.

“Does it hurt?” the Archfox asked.

I shook my head, ignoring the pain that had woken me. Memories flashed back to me as I awakened from the deep sleepy stupor. The thin sheet offered little protection as I pulled it over myself, my face on fire. Had he seen me? My scars were fully exposed to him and I could see the pity leaking from his expression like a rain cloud.

“You are my…” My voice trailed off, and the Archfox gave me an encouraging smile, nodding. “I’m your…”

Fated, he whispered in my head.

My eyes snapped open fully. “Your Holiness—”

“Rhys,” he corrected.

“Huh?”

“You can call me Rhys, .” He leaned forward, tucking my hair behind my ear, his lips leaning down and touching my forehead. An amber aroma wafted from him and made me want to jump his bones. “I've wanted to do that since I met you,” he whispered against my skin, holding his soft warm lips against me for a long moment.

My heart thumped wildly. The machines all around me started to beep loudly with alarms, causing Enko, Kairos, and Seven to jostle awake as the healer rushed in. The Archfox backed away, creating an unwanted distance between us.

“What’s going on?” Kairos demanded as he jumped up, taking the Archfox’s place and checking the beeping machine as if he knew how to work it, blocking the Archfox from my view.

The healer shooed him out of the way, pressing the button to stop the alarm as she glanced over at me, then moved to exit the room.

“Wait! What happened? Is she okay?” Enko asked desperately.

The three of them crowded around my bed. Enko’s hand gripped mine, Seven pretended to be bored, but his eyes were a little too alert for having just woken. And Kairos glared at the Archfox.

The healer smiled. “Yes, she’s doing very well. She should be discharged within a day. The Archfox has done a tremendous amount of work already.”

Kairos gestured frantically at the machine hooked up to me, hiding his fear behind authority. “Then what was that all about? All the alarms going off.”

The healer cleared her throat awkwardly, assessing the situation and waiting for the fall of the Archfox’s nod before responding. “I imagine she’s just excited about meeting her new Fated mate.”

I blushed, reaching for the sheet and pulling it over my head in embarrassment.

“Oh,” I heard Kairos say before the door gently clicked shut behind the healer.

“I need to work with her more, but I need to rest and replenish my magic.” The Archfox paused. “?”

I slowly lowered the sheet to find them all still staring.

“You should recover with your Fated, the foxfire bonds will keep you more comfortable until I’m ready to keep going. I’ll call Seven as soon as that time comes.”

The Archfox—Rhys—backed away, his eyes lingering on me.

“Great! See you then,” Kairos said a little too enthusiastically. I gave him a frantic gaze to silently inform him of my need for my newest Fated male.

Rhys watched me for another long moment, something forlorn about him, before turning to leave.

“Wait,” I said with a raspy panic before he could go, letting his eyes fall back onto me. “If I’m supposed to be around my Fated mates, shouldn’t you be with me too?”

He frowned, glancing at the others. While Seven held some understanding, Enko and Kairos did not.

“Are we supposed to stuff another bed in that dorm?” Kairos suggested incredulously.

But I want him there, I thought, knowing the others could hear it.

Rhys kept his focus on me. “It’s not appropriate for me to sleep around students, let alone share a dorm. I can already imagine the rumors.”

My stomach fell, but I forced myself to keep my face emotionless. “Right.”

“And having another Fated will only draw more attention to you,” he continued, looking to the guys for support. “I’m sure you want to spend time with your mates that are closer to your own age.”

My blush deepened, remembering our first exchange of words. Guilt rose like bile in my throat. How my insult must have affected him over the past weeks.

Seven shook his head with a snort, unaware of the words I had exchanged with Rhys, a wry smirk forming, “You’re not that much older than us. I’m starting to think she can just claim any male she finds even remotely attractive.”

“Seven!” I chastised, my eyes gliding over to Rhys to see his response to the comment and giving a small shake of my head in denial. “I didn’t mean...when I said that…” Words eluded me.

Rhys winced and forced a smile at me. “I’ll see you soon, .”

A knock came at the door and the healer poked her head in, “Some visitors are here to see her. If you’ll allow it, Your Holiness.”

Kairos passed me a t-shirt—his, based on the smell of electric rain—and I slipped into it, even though it was gray. The Archfox glanced at me and waited for my nod before giving permission to the healer, his sights on me, lingering until he followed the healer from the room.

Brynn and Sana entered the room as he exited, eyes wide as they saw me. Sana’s red hair was shorter, her unruly curls cut down after being held captive by the Tier V archdemon, Zalgore, reminding me that hellfire had reigned on the battlefield. She wore her white robes of all Holy Foxes. Brynn’s large glasses magnified her eyeballs welling with concern, but she kept a distance from me.

“! It’s so good to see you awake,” Sana said, rushing forward to the bedside. She didn’t hesitate to kneel between Kairos and Seven after bowing to each of my mates.

“Why was the Archfox in here?” Brynn asked as she scooted closer, her eyes on my three remaining Fated males as though they might randomly attack her.

“He’s my—”

“Life kitsune. He’s healing her,” Kairos said quickly, giving me a look as his voice entered my head. It’s already odd enough that you have three mates, but at least it’s not unheard of. People can’t know you’re Fated to the Archfox yet. It will only put you in more danger.

I opened my mouth to protest, but his voice invaded my mind before I could speak. Later. And keep quiet that you can transmit thoughts to us. Usually only Mind kitsune are capable of that.

I turned my attention back to my friends, knowing Kairos’ controlling orders came from a place of caring for me. But I hated lying to them.

“Sana, I’m so sorry. It’s my fault they went after you.” A tear leaked from my eye as the two sat at the edge of my bed.

Sana shook her head furiously, a stern expression overtaking her face. “Never apologize for the evils spawned by demons, . And it’s my duty as a Holy Fox to help you in any way that I can.”

“The archdemon is still out there,” I said, mostly to test myself. Stilling that fear within me.

He’d beaten me, like swatting a fly. My hard work over the past year hadn’t made me very strong, and certainly not strong enough to fight a Tier V archdemon. Seeing his power made me wonder how I could ever be strong enough to beat him.

Enko’s hand reached on top of mine, his giant palm covering mine and flooding his warmth into me. Consoling me as he felt my fear despite how hard I tried to hide it. “Then we’ll fight him together, little fox. The goddess has surrounded you with an arsenal.”

“Mostly me, but yeah,” Seven drawled with a yawn as he stretched. “I’m going to get some breakfast, Fated, since your picky ass refuses to eat hospital food. Try not to get yourself into any trouble while I’m gone.”

A smile stretched across my face, happy to see my grumpy dark mate was back to the occasional insult with me. Seven’s fear was not something I had ever expected to see.

Kairos touched Enko’s shoulder, cuing my giant Fated to follow him out of the room. Like velcro, he finally tore himself away, leaving me alone with Sana and Brynn to catch up.

Brynn immediately softened as the men left us alone. “Everyone is saying you are some special kind of kitsune.”

I shrugged. “I don’t feel special.”

“A Disciple,” Sana told Brynn.

“A Heavenly Fox sent down by the goddess herself to return the demons into balance.” Brynn spoke as though she was repeating the line from a book.

Sana nodded furiously. “A very powerful kitsune with unknown powers.” Sana’s eyes echoed with a yearning she may never fill. “I hope the goddess blesses me with a gift.” She shook her head as though she hadn’t meant to say it out loud. “Have you seen the leaderboard, ? You’re top of your class.”

My hand stretched out to hers, resting on top of hers. “You are blessed, Sana. I’m so grateful for your friendship.”

“A Holy Fox isn’t much of a friend to a weapon-user. But I will always serve you.”

Brynn’s eyes rolled, “Do you hear yourself, Sana? You are our friend. And it’s not like I’m some kind of powerful kitsune, either. What am I to do? Throw my laptop at a demon?”

Brynn didn’t understand. That Holy Foxes were reminded constantly of their shortcomings and their duty to others. I had grown up with it. But it was like my Fated mates were healing that trauma, the unseen scars left from feeling useless.

We continued to catch up and soon Seven returned with a box of food for me. Inside was eggs, pancakes with syrup, and bacon—piles of bacon. “Oh, Seven, I could kiss you.”

“Yeah, yeah,” he said dismissively, glancing at my friends. He didn’t like everyone knowing he had a soft side and wasn’t just a scary dark and dangerous kitsune.

I licked the plate clean and both Sana and Brynn looked shocked at the speed of my consumption. The healer returned with a syringe a few minutes later, holding out the syringe of medicine like a threat. “She needs to rest now, girls.”

The woman inserted it into my IV and beckoned my friends from the room as my body succumbed back to dreamless sleep.