Page 23 of Fight (Kitsune #2)

W e arrived at my parents only a few minutes later than I had planned. Thankfully I'd planned to show up a little earlier than Mom and Dad expected us, so we didn't have to explain why we were late. That would have been awkward.

I knocked on the door as I let Devon and myself in.

Instead of yelling out, like I normally would have, I stayed silent for a moment, listening.

I heard Mom in the kitchen, moving around and cooking, but I couldn't hear Dad, or the screen on in the living room, indicating that he was watching something.

I listened closer for a second. I could hear two people, other than Devon and myself, breathing. Both of my parents were in the kitchen.

I closed the door softly and lead Devon to the kitchen.

Leaning against the door jamb for a moment, I watched my parents together.

Mom was moving around the kitchen getting the last of the meal together while my father stood beside the island, a potato masher in one hand as he worked the potatoes in the bowl into a smooth texture.

He wasn't moving much more than his arm, and the sound of Mom moving around the room, had covered the small sounds he was making.

Mom turned away from setting a stack of plates and silverware on the table and spotted me in the doorway, and Devon at my back. A smile spread across her face.

"There you are!" She said. "I was just wondering when you would get here. You're usually earlier than this." I felt heat rush to my face.

"We were just running a little late, Mrs. Daniels." Devon spoke up. He set one hand on my hip, reminding me I was blocking his path. I quickly stepped out of the way, going to set the table.

"You're still early, dear," She assured him. "just not as early as usual."

Dad was quiet, but I knew he was seeing everything around him.

"Is there anything I can do to help?" Devon asked.

"Can you grab the salad and the dressing out of the fridge?" Mom pulled open the oven and lifted out a pan of fresh baked rolls.

We all pitched in, and within minutes we had dinner on the table. We sat down and passed dishes around until everyone was served.

"How are things going with you two?" Dad asked once we'd begun eating.

"We're doing well, Dad. Really well." I took a bite of roasted chicken.

"That's kind of what I wanted to talk to you about, sir." Devon spoke up.

"Dev, I've told you not to call me that. My name's Jim and I expect you to use it."

Devon nodded. "I know, I'm sorry. It's habit."

"What was it you wanted to talk to me about, then?" Dad said.

"Well, Nickie's told you that we're potential mates right?"

Dad nodded, not sure where this was leading.

"Well, I don't know how much she's told you but one of the side effects of an unsealed mating, is a kind of exaggerated separation anxiety. We have a hard time if we go more than a day or two without some kind of physical contact."

"You mean-" Dad trailed off, his face turning red. I wasn't sure if it was anger or embarrassment.

"DAD!" I gasped, shocked. "It's not like that!" I reached over and laid my hand over Devon's where it sat on the table. "It's like this. Some kind of physical proximity. Touch, nearness."

The flush faded from my father's skin, replaced by a look of confusion. "And why are you telling me this?"

Devon took a deep breath. "Because the Anikitos-"

"He means Bill." I put in.

"-is going to need Nickie to do some traveling." Devon finished.

I saw the realization dawn on my father's face. "So you're going to need time off." Dad said, relieved.

"Pretty much, yeah." Devon said, but quickly continued. "I won't leave you hanging, though. I'll arrange for someone to fill in for me and help you out."

"You don't have to do that. I can take care of things while you're gone."

"I do need to do it." Devon insisted. "You don't need to be handling it all by yourself, and helping you is my job. Finding someone to cover for me while I'm gone, is part of that job."

"What about the trouble Brandon's been causing?" Dad wanted to know.

"That's part of why Devon's going to go with me. Bill won't send me out of town without some kind of security. Devon will be that security."

"Is it going to be dangerous?" Mom wanted to know.

I shook my head. "Bill would never send me to do something he believed would be dangerous, not if he could find a way around it.

But I've developed what appears to be a unique set of talents, and they're valuable to the pack.

So, any time I need to travel on pack business, and likely if I were to travel at all, I get someone going along to ensure I'm safe. " Mom looked relieved.

"No offense, but are you sure your up to the job, Devon?" Dad asked. "You've got that bad knee." He wasn't trying to insult Devon, just be sure that I would be well protected.

"None taken. Honestly, I'm glad you're comfortable enough to ask.

Nothing means more to me than Nickie's safety.

" He covered my hand with his, and squeezed.

"My knee hasn't been bothering me as much, I'm not sure if it's because I've been working it, and strengthening it, or if it might actually be healing.

Either way, I went to Bill a couple of weeks ago and I requested to be her security when she travels. He had me qualify as an enforcer."

"Enforcer?" Dad asked.

"Basically, they're pack security." I told them. "They serve as bodyguards for Bill and Karen and others in the pack. They enforce the rules and mete out punishments, as they're ordered to."

"Punishments?" Mom asked.

I explained the complications of letting the human police imprison Kitsune, and how the Anikitos and the enforcers generally police the behavior of the pack, ensure their behavior with punishment, as needed.

"That's just so, brutal." Mom said, finally.

"It is, but it's effective." Devon assured her.

"I can't see Bill dispensing punishment like that." Dad said.

"I don't know that he does it himself, rather than orders it.

But from what I've heard, it's not common in this pack.

Some Anikitos rule their packs with fear, and Bill seems to do it with loyalty.

He generally gets people to do what he wants, simply because they like him, because he's a good leader. " Devon said.

"Do you know of any punishments?" Mom wanted to know.

I looked down at my plate, not sure if I wanted to share. "Actually, yes. I do." I couldn't lie to them, if I didn't have to.

"Oh?" she asked.

"Brandon's been punished, more than once, because he won't stop harassing me."

Dad started to get angry. "Is he still bothering you?"

"It's taken care of, Dad." I said calmly. "I'm sure I won't be seeing him again anytime soon."

"I've kept an eye out, he hasn't come here." Mom said.

"That's a relief." I said. "I was worried he would try to get to me, through you."

Dad turned back to Devon, and went back to the original conversation.

"So, when do you need that time?"

"I'm don't know yet," Devon admitted. "we know it's coming, but not when, or where he'll send us. I just wanted you to know so that it wouldn't come as a surprise when it happens."

"All right, I guess I can handle someone filling in for you while you're ensuring my daughter's safety." Dad said grudgingly. I knew he was putting on a show of being more unhappy than he really was.

We finished dinner, chatting and laughing. Devon and I helped Mom clean up the kitchen and do the dishes before we called it a night.

We showed up at Raine's, ready for a workout Saturday evening, as arranged.

I was wearing loose shorts, and a soft cotton tank top, while Devon had on an old pair of shorts and tee shirt, both had ARMY in block letters printed on them.

I rang the doorbell, as I tried one last time to convince Devon we didn't need to do this.

"So, how many times to I have to knock you on your ass, before you decide I don't need this?" I asked.

"At least five, if you can." He seemed confident I wouldn't be able to do it, which only served to fuel my determination.

The door opened, revealing Raine, still in his uniform.

"Come on in," He stepped back, letting us in the door. "head on into the garage. I just got home and need to change. I'll be out in just a minute." He turned and headed down the hallway to his bedroom.

"Don't be too long. Dev's decided I only have to knock him down five times before we can give this up and do something fun." I called. He waived one hand over his head, before I turned and led Devon into the garage. "Come on, let's get this over with."

I led the way through the kitchen and laundry room to the door, leading into the garage. As we stepped into the room, it was pleasantly cool, surprising for this time of year, especially because garages are typically not insulated or cooled.

Looking around I could see no sign of the garage door we'd seen outside. "How odd." I commented.

"He's finished it, I'm betting with insulation and its own cooling system. It's the only reason I can think of to wall over the door." Devon said.

"This is beyond sweet." I looked around, not moving to do anything.

Devon tapped my arm. "Come on, the mats are over here. Let's get them laid out and start warming up." He led the way to the rack holding several mats. We each grabbed a couple, and laid them on the floor, creating a good sized area for the two of us to grapple on.

Once we had the mats laid out, I started stretching, warming up my muscles so I wouldn't pull anything and hurt myself.

I heard the door behind me open and close and caught a whiff of Raine's scent so I didn't bother to turn around until I heard the sound of skin smacking together.

I turned and looked at both the men, but they looked like nothing had happened.

"What was that?"

"What was what?" Raine asked innocently.

"One of you hit the other, now tell me what's up."