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“There’s less pain,” I argued.
“Your nerve endings have suffered tremendous damage. You can no longer feel that pain, but the damage is there. Without treatment, you may only have months before you can no longer walk.”
Treatment. When really what she meant was surgery that could leave me paralyzed, if not dead anyway. Few Life kitsune were powerful enough to even perform the surgery. Not to mention that there was no way I could ever afford that treatment in my lifetime.
“Last week I didn’t have my Fated, now I do. That means I could have a fox form too.”
She pursed her lips skeptically, her eyes filled with pity. “Even with a fox form, this needs surgery. I’ll give you some more time, but I want to see you again within the month. Make an appointment on your way out.”
Thankfully, the healer was busy, leaving her no time to micromanage my appointment. Kairos and Enko were in the waiting room, standing up the moment they saw me and we exited the medical wing and back to our dorm, none the wiser.
18
Dove
The new bed had arrived when we got back from the medical wing, squished into the space between Kairos and Enko’s beds.
A knock came at the door just as I finished fitting it with sheets. Brynn waited on the other side wearing a skintight dress and too-high heels. Her hand tugged at the hem of the dress, wobbling in the new stilettos. “Ready to party?”
We examined each other for a moment before her cheeks lit up like neon.
“…That’s what you're wearing?” she sputtered as she looked over at the clothes I had worn earlier that day. She blushed brightly as she saw the guys standing behind me, giving a small wave. “Hi.”
“That party is tonight?” I asked, wishing I could back out of the plans at this point. I really didn’t need to get any more pumped up for the year.
Kairos came up behind me, his hand touching the small of my back lightly. “Ready?”
I nodded. Brynn walked on one side of me, while Kairos walked on the other. Enko followed behind us. Every time I looked back at him, I noticed his eyes were scanning the surrounding students like he was our security guard.
Mobs of students trudged toward the forest, a subtle thump of music coming from deep within. As we came closer, the music grew louder, the students rowdier. A huge keg and table with several types of drinks marked the center of the forest party. Kairos left the three of us on the edge of the party, more comfortable mingling with the assorted cliques.
Some students had shifted into foxes, opting to party in their fox form, leaving random piles of clothing around. Foxes with numerous tails danced through the legs of the students.
Kairos returned, holding two red plastic cups.
“Here,” Kairos said, handing me a drink. Upon sniffing it, I found its contents to be beer. Before I took a sip, he was chugging the last of his.
Enko stood next to me as we watched Kairos go back to the keg at the center, skipping to the front of the line with ease. Students crowded around him after he got his drink.
The party went on, dancing and drinking, Kairos spending his time entertaining the keg crowd. Seven was a no-show, leaving me alone with Enko and Brynn, who were about as social as I was.
As I saw Caleb, I remembered what he had said. That Enko had been the one who punched him. His eye had almost completely healed. I glanced down at Enko’s giant hands, seeing them smash into Vince’s face. A shameful bout of fear passed through me. Enko seemed so gentle, but clearly there was a darker side to him, just as dark as Seven and Kairos.
“Wanna dance?” a boy with glasses asked Brynn. She beamed with happiness, nodding and giving Enko and me a wave before finding an opening with her dance partner.
A guy came up next to Enko, patting him on the shoulder comfortably. “Hey, Enko, ready for the first squad match next week?”
Enko grunted, taking a long sip of beer. “We’ll take the title again this year.”
“A match?” I asked.
Enko looked over at me, while his teammate stared at the party ahead. “I’d love it if you'd come watch. This is Craig, he’s on my squad. Craig, this is Dove. My Fated.”
Craig’s eyes flicked over to me for half a second and then back to Enko before he spoke. “Dove, nice to meet you. Didn’t see you there.”
“How could you not see her?” Enko asked.
He cleared his throat uncomfortably. “You’re right, how could I miss her? She looks great tonight,” Craig swallowed several times. “I mean, she’s beautiful, but I know she’s your girl. You know I’d never even think about wronging you.”
