Chapter 18: Mating Bond
After seeing the news on the holographic billboard, Lethia felt her patience snap. Deal or no deal, even if she had to sell her soul, she would do whatever it took to protect her child, reclaim what was rightfully hers, and make those who toyed with her life regret ever crossing her.
The fox grinned, its three tails swaying eagerly.
"Looks like my effort to fend off other spirits and protect your baby is finally paying off," it said, its expression laced with intent. "Do you even realize how intoxicating the scent of your blood was that night? It drew all kinds of spirits, each one desperate to take over your body."
Lethia frowned. "What do you mean?"
"I don't know why, but living inside you and sharing energy with your baby feels... different. Comfortable, even. Your scent is far too sweet, too tempting—it fuels my excitement."
The fox hummed, eyes gleaming. "Most wolfless I've possessed before were plain, and so ordinary. But you—" It grinned wider. "You're different."
"You only possess wolfless?"
The fox chuckled. "And you're sharp, too. I like that. Long before doomsday, we spirit foxes always sought out humans. But these days, humans are weak-hearted things, so werewolves make the best hosts. Their primal instincts make the process easier. The only problem is if they still have their wolf. That's a pain for us. We're like fire and water, incompatible." It tilted its head. "So yes, wolfless creatures are our favorites to possess."
Lethia lowered her gaze, deep in thought.
"In stories, don't fox spirits eat human hearts?" She looked up, her voice steady. "Will you eat mine?"
The fox's laughter rang out, leaving Lethia bewildered.