Page 59 of WitchCurse

“In my youth, it was still somewhat wild, and not as dangerous as it became toward the end. Monsters yes, though not as ravenous. I escaped to this realm simply to avoid the fae.”

“Did the fae corrupt Underhill, or was it time that twisted it?”

“We all eventually grow cynical. Pain corrupts. It is a rare creature who can survive existence with no pain. We learn to adapt, change to minimize pain, or avoid it altogether. Is that not the nature of sentient beings? Even the trees ache when fire eats their stems, and if they could move, they would.” I motioned to where the lure had been. “These are dead because they do not avoid pain. Do they actually feel pain?” I shrugged, not knowing.

“I thought the marks on you were like mine, tattoos you’d created to help control your power. Now that they are gone, I can see they were curses.”

“Not that I created, that sort of magic was not common in Underhill.”

“Burned into your skin by your own mother?” He took another step back, seeing something on my face. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to bring up bad memories. We all have fucked up childhoods, I hope to make Ari’s better, but wonder if it will be enough?”

“You have one to ask, though he may not answer.”

“Wesley,” Sebastian said. Not naïve at all, the little fox. “He’s vanished again. Sort of like Robin does. But I know he can’t be in Underhill since it doesn’t exist anymore. Liam says they are part of our court and I should be able to sense them, but I don’t.”

“Some creatures trick even the kitsune senses. A puck and the Stag, likely have powers many fae crave. That both give allegiance to your court is a great thing.”

Sebastian approached with his eyes burning bright with kitsune magic. “Can I give some of this to you? I worry pushing more into the pack will cause trouble.” He swallowed hard. “It sort of hurts.”

“Are you ready for that, little fox?”

He looked resolved, but also worried. “Don’t be weird, I’m not offering sex, just take the power.”

I reached out and caught his chin, lifting his face to meet my gaze, the energy burning in him wild and rolling. Having felt the opposite version, I knew his pain, but thought to have a bit of fun too as I relaxed some of my shields and pressed my lips to his. He gasped, floundering for a moment, uncertain about the kiss, but my pull on the wild energy giving him relief.

I felt the snarl of his alpha through the touch, heat lashing forward as if to cast me away, and my own wolf raising hackles as it burst through the bonds of sensation filled with rage that I would touch another before allowing him to claim me. But I belonged to no one.

Sebastian shoved me hard, breaking the kiss even though his eyes were wide with the easing pressure of magic. Give and take, an easy enough concept for kitsunes. Could we have survived in Underhill? He needed more structure than I did and would have grown weak. I would have sought those who stumbled through the barriers to feed him, those like Nick would have fallen prey eventually. Sebastian would have raged as the hunger inside intensified.

I put my hand on his chest, listening to the thrumming energy of his kitsune, young and strong, still growing, and likely would for centuries. If the alpha hoped to contain his energy in a pack of werewolves, they would need an entire country of them to do so. His beast calmed, less rabid without an overabundance of wild magic rippling inside. I took a step back and bowed, “Better, my liege?”

Sebastian’s cheeks pinked. “Does it always have to be like that?”

“Did you not enjoy my kiss? None have ever complained after receiving my touch.”

He sighed. “Since you’re kind of like my big brother it’s very weird, and sort of gross. I suppose siblings screwed each other all the time in Underhill?”

“Relation matters little to the fae.” Only appearances really mattered.

“Yeah well, we’re not going there. You work really hard to push my buttons.”

“I know not what you mean,” I said, gaze roaming over him. “Buttons? I see none.”

“I’m going to have to argue with my mate about keeping you close again.”

“He’s aware of the danger.”

“Not because you might shift into something, but because you can’t keep your hands off his stuff.”

“Are you his property, little fox?”

He gave me a disgusted noise and stomped off back toward his realm. “You’re such a jerk. I don’t know what they see in you.”

“I shall take over your patrol, my liege, while you assure the alpha of your obedience. He must find you a divine thing when on your knees. I’d have liked to enjoy that image a time or two.”

“Fuck you, Kiran.”

I put a hand over my heart, “Oh the delicate words you gift to me, my liege, I can tell why you keep me close. Your affection is boundless.”