Page 36 of Caught in the Devil’s Hand

“Shumei?” He blinked as if pulling out of trance and tried too late to conceal his longing. He shook his head. “It’s al—”

“Yes,” she said quickly, quietly.

That look came into his eyes, one full of hunger but also elation in gaining control—so typically male. He was going to free his passions, overwhelm her, and usher them both to a wet, noisy climax.

She yelped as he pounced on her, rolling her beneath him once more, and this time she almost grinned with excitement.

Chapter Eight

Shumei rapped her knuckles on the hard wood of the village leader’s door. It was delivery day again, and Akki would need her medicine. Surprisingly, the door opened in a matter of seconds, and Akki’s smiling face greeted her. Well, it was a sunny morning after all, so her joints wouldn’t be bothering her as much as usual. Akki’s smile was as false as ever, though.

“I was wondering when you’d get here. You always make us wait,” she clucked. Shumei regarded her blandly, for she was half an hour earlier than usual. Kimen stood beyond the entry, sulking. She realized Akki was up early to make sure he couldn’t try something again. Akki was a mean woman but also a jealous wife, for which Shumei was grateful.

“Good morning, Madam Akki, Leader Kimen,” she said, bowing her head. Akki made a pleased hmm at her deference.

“Well, come in, child. Leave your nice new shoes at the door and have a cup of tea with us. We have much to discuss,” she gushed, waggling her fingers within Shumei’s lowered line of sight.

Shumei had decided to arrive early, knowing that Akki and Kimen would keep her longer this morning. She still had things to do at the field before dusk, and no doubt Akki would want to talk about marriage.

Once they were all seated around the table with three cups of steaming tea in front of them, Akki paid for and took her medicine. Though she was still as pale as before, the good weather had made whatever illness she had more bearable, and her improved mood meant she was all too happy to dish out her insults with a smile.

“Well, now. Your twentieth birthday is almost here. How inspiring that you made it so long, especially after losing your father,” Akki needled. Shumei kept her eyes on the steam rising from her cup. “You’ll need to marry soon to take some of the burden from your shoulders. You can’t take care of your brother and the medicine field all by yourself. Your mother barely managed it and look what happened to her.”

Shumei barely suppressed the snarl that threatened to curl her lip. “Your thoughtfulness truly humbles me,” she replied, glad she could keep her tone even. Akki wasn’t wrong about working the field alone and still providing for Oka, but Shumei was doing it. In fact, the field seemed to be flourishing lately. The plants were growing fast and full.

“Akiji tells me you rejected his offer of marriage. Why would you do that, Shumei?” she asked, smile hardening.

“I do not love him.”

Akki waved her hand in front of her face as if shooing a fly. “Love is not a factor when it comes to marriage to a crow. You should count yourself lucky Akiji has deluded himself into thinking he loves you. How you feel is irrelevant.” She pointed her thin finger at Shumei. “The miller’s sons learned of your pickiness and withdrew their offers of marriage, so Akiji is the only one who wants you now, and you should be grateful he didn’t withdraw his offer as well after your rejection.” Akki sounded as though she was trying to be the well-intentioned auntie, but her words burned like acid.

“I don’t want to marry him.” Knowing Akki and Kimen only had power because Shumei’s ancestors had been overthrown made her resent them even more. She glanced at Kimen’s reaction to her denials and immediately regretted it. He looked at her as if he would eat her.

“You will marry him,” Akki said harshly. “What other choice do you have?”

“I will marry no one.”

“That is not a choice.”

Anger boiled inside Shumei. She made a vulgar gesture under the table, but it didn’t make her feel any better. Her magic trembled.

“This is one thing you cannot take from me. I will marry no one,” she said forcefully, making eye contact with Akki for the first time since their conversation began.

Eyes wide with contempt, Akki jutted her chin. “You dare to take that tone with me a-and look me in the eye with such rancor.”

Shumei didn’t try anymore to hide her hate. Hiding it had done her no good. If she was to be treated like dirt no matter what, then she would no longer soften her words.

“Any discussion of my marriage to anyone is over and will never be brought up again. It’s none of your business,” she bit out, glancing from Akki’s livid face to her husband’s stunned one. “Leader Kimen, if you would please leave the room, I need to examine your wife. She said she wanted a cure for some illness plaguing her, did she not?” Having Akki sneering at her during an examination was bad enough, so she wanted his lecherous stare out of the room.

“But she’s my wife. There’s nothing I haven’t already seen,” he said, confused.

“I will not have you talk over me like a child,” Akki railed, slapping her hand on the table. “And Shumei, you will apologize to me with your forehead on the floor, or else I won’t buy your medicines anymore!”

“Then you can suffer from aching joints until the day you die, Madam Akki, and you can expect no further help from me for any other ailment.”

“Y-You ungrateful little tramp,” she screamed.

“I shall take my leave if that’s what’s required,” Kimen announced as he stood, though Shumei suspected he was merely escaping his wife’s rising ire.