Page 31 of The Purrfect Rival (Enchanted Falls #1)
THIRTY-ONE
K alyna stood abruptly, pacing as she processed this information. Her analytical mind whirred with implications, connecting disparate facts into a coherent pattern.
“The timing aligns,” she thought aloud. “Boz began expressing interest in the charm around the same time Rust became mayor. He must have suspected the potential for a magical connection between us.”
“How could he know?” Echo asked, abandoning the pretense of reading. “You’d barely met.”
“He wouldn’t need to know for certain,” Kalyna replied. “Just suspect the possibility since a two-tailed fox was alive and single. Lion-fox magical compatibility is rare but documented. The Leonid and Foxworthy lines have crossed paths before.”
“And my appointment as mayor meant we’d inevitably interact,” Rust added.
“Exactly.” Kalyna snapped her fingers, creating small sparks of foxfire. “The library renovation project guaranteed close collaboration.”
“And if potential compatibility existed,” Winston concluded, “proximity would activate it.”
“So Boz accelerated his plans,” Kalyna continued. “He stole the charm before our magic could fully connect, hoping to harness its power before we realized our potential.”
“Hold on a second,” Echo slapped his book closed, “are you all saying that the stolen pinecone-looking thing isn’t a prank?”
All eyes turned to him. “What do you mean, Echo?” Kalyna asked.
His eyes widened a bit. “I-I mean that maybe whoever took it was playing a prank on the town. This sounds like a prank, and I am the king of prankster-ism.”
“So you’re admitting you did it? You’re hiding the talisman?” Kalyna huffed.
“What? No,” Echo spat. “I’m not hiding the talisman. I’m just saying .”
“Well, just say it somewhere else.” This was wasting valuable time. “We need to recover the charm before he figures out how to activate it,” Kalyna declared. “And we need to present a united front at the skulk meeting tomorrow. Make it clear that petty lineage politics are secondary to the real threat.”
Echo whistled low. “You want to stand before Lysander and the elders and tell them their precious traditions don’t matter?”
“No,” Kalyna corrected. “I want to remind them what those traditions were meant to protect—our community, our magic, our future. Not arbitrary boundaries between species.”
Winston and Marisol exchanged proud glances. “We’ll support you,” Winston promised.
As the conversation shifted to logistics for tomorrow’s council meeting, Kalyna found herself watching Rust. He’d integrated himself into her family’s dynamic with surprising ease, matching wits with Echo, respecting her parents, and treating her as an equal partner in their emerging strategy.
When Marisol and Winston excused themselves to make phone calls, and Echo slipped inside claiming homework, she found herself alone with Rust on the porch swing.
“Your family isn’t what I expected,” he said, his voice pitched for her ears alone.
“Let me guess,” Kalyna replied dryly. “You expected disorganized chaos and constant pranks?”
“No,” Rust surprised her. “I expected them to be more like fox delegates at council meetings—indirect and overly diplomatic. They’re refreshingly direct.”
“Only with people they respect,” Kalyna admitted. “Otherwise, we foxes can dance around topics for hours without ever stating our true purpose.”
“And they respect me?” Rust seemed genuinely surprised.
“You handled Echo’s antagonism with patience instead of asserting dominance. Most lions would have put him in his place immediately.”
“He’s protective of you,” Rust observed. “I understand that.”
“He’s jealous,” Kalyna corrected. “Not of you specifically, but of anything that takes my attention away from him. We’ve always been close especially after Grandmother died. I practically raised him while our parents managed skulk duties.”
“Your father asked about my intentions toward you,” Rust continued, his golden eyes holding hers.
“So you mentioned,” Kalyna managed, her voice steady despite her racing heart. “What did you tell him?”
“The truth.” Rust’s gaze dropped to her lips before returning to her eyes. “That I haven’t stopped thinking about that kiss since it happened.”