| |
Yuki got to her feet, fully human again now. “I’m not sure about you, but I’m getting a beer. I need one after that.”
“Hell yeah.”
Shun shook his head but ran to the nearest beer stall. The three of us found a seat and got drinking. That beer tasted so good.
“It’s over,” I said. “We’re free.”
Shun scowled. “Not so free. You should never have agreed to that.”
“Not to mention you owe a favor to the Snakes,” Yuki added. “And you agreed to a date with Hokuto. That could end up being all dirty and wrong.”
I sure hoped so. But Shun’s frowning expression wiped the smile off my face.
“Yamaguchi will own your soul forever,” he said.
Maybe. I took a swig of my beer. But I’d make sure that didn’t happen. I had no idea how but that old man would never own me. I’d tasted power and it was sweeter than cupcakes.
As Yuki lifted her beer, I studied her. Surely there’d be some sign of what she’d gone through. If it’d been me, I’d be quaking forever. Knowing that someone could destroy your life force just like that would turn me into a mess. But Yuki’s face looked serene as she drank.
She caught me watching her. “Thanks,” she said. “For... that.”
The words didn’t come out easily but she’d said them and, for an instant, I wanted to hug her then I remembered she was Yuki and would probably rip my face off if I tried.
“No problem,” I said. “I am kind of disappointed I didn’t get to see you turn into a fox, though.”
“I don’t turn into a fox. I am a fox. I turn into a human.” She bowed her head. “Maybe it was partly my fault the kami got stolen.”
Wowsers, stopping someone’s life force from being stolen really changed them. I could get around this new, humble Yuki. I might ask her to teach me how to do that cool winged eyeliner she did. And borrow her clothes. And we could talk about guys.
“We never found out who stole the kami,” I said. “I guess it doesn’t matter but I want to know.”
“Are you stupid?”
Wow, that change in Yuki didn’t last long. If she had insider knowledge about who Yamaguchi’s mysterious enemy was, she could’ve shared it earlier before we went through this whole ordeal
“Well, who did then?”
“Yamaguchi, obviously,” she said. She laughed and took a deep sip of her beer. “We ran around like idiots and sold our souls to the Snakes to fool him but he knew all along.”
“Huh? No way.”
Both Shun and Yuki stared at me for an uncomfortably long time. I looked away and tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. They still stared.
“What?” I finally said.
“He got you to reveal your power and agree to work with him,” Yuki said. “You are screwed, Molly. You are so screwed.”
My stomach gurgled and the crows cawed. Every single sign in this world said that Yuki was right. But the seed of a plan formed in my head. I wouldn’t act recklessly and I wouldn’t mention it out loud. The idea seemed too big and too overwhelming but, before this year was out, I’d take Yamaguchi down.
THE END
***
WANT TO FIND OUT WHEN book 2 in the Harajuku Crows series is out? More information here - https://www.katcotton.com/vip-list
—-
ABOUT ME:
I write character-driven Urban Fantasy with kick ass chicks and pretty boy vampires.
I’m a digital nomad, although I hate that term because it makes me sound like a wanky hipster. Which I’m not. Okay, I am a bit snobby about coffee and I sometimes wear twee vintage dresses but that doesn’t make me a hipster.
On my travels, I love visiting weird and macabre places. Mummified hands that remove curses, museums of infectious diseases, collections of taxidermed frogs riding Penny Farthings - hell yeah!
I love hearing from readers so if you’ve got questions about my books, cool locations I can visit or just want to say hi, email me - admin@katcotton.com or visit my website – http://www.katcotton.com.