“Father?”
No, the new law didn’t bother her in the least. She had long known that fox-shifters abused the peace treaty and the clause concerning shifter-brides. Most of the members of her own clan kept two brides, one pure blood vixen and the other human, and her uncles had had more brides than it was morally acceptable. However, that didn’t change the fact that Clan Sylfur was now ill regarded by the Council.
“I don’t think you understand,” she continued. “The Blackmanes went as far as to suggest some secret plot that our faction has been working on for years. Now the Council thinks werefoxes take so many brides in hopes that one of them will give birth to a Kyubi. Jonathan said he tried to explain to them that nine-tailed foxes are merely a myth, a legend which is not to be taken seriously. Just like the belief that werefoxes can learn how to control lightning and create bolts of electricity with their tails. It’s insane!”
Roman smiled at his daughter. He loved it when she was so passionate about something.
“Is it?”
“What do you mean?”
“Is it more insane than the fact that knowledge and wisdom allows us to grow more tails? You had one when you were born, Blake. Now you have five.”
“That’s something that happens every day. Any fox-shifter can do it, and the techniques are explained in almost every ancient text we have. But the part about the Kyubi and controlling lightning… those are fairy tales. All werefoxes are born with one tail, and they can grow more if they choose to. A fox that is born with nine tails and all the wisdom of our faction already written somewhere in their genetic code… that’s fantasy.”
“You forget that most of the ancient texts we have access to are, in fact, rather recent. A lot of our ancestors’ wisdom was lost or destroyed. Blake, I think it’s time for you to put your own fears and preconceptions aside and be more open to these myths, as you call them, as crazy as they may sound at first. My time is almost up and it won’t be easy for you to take my place and rule over Clan Sylfur, even with Seth and Amelia on your side. You might not believe in nine-tailed foxes, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t fox-shifters out there who do and who have dedicated their life to discover how they can create one. Our faction is unpredictable. Think about it: we’re the only ones who have an assassins’ guild. Inaris change their position towards the peace treaty every day. Apparently, it depends on the mood they wake up in. You will take Jonathan’s place as councilor, and I know you will do a better job than he ever did. But to be one step ahead of everyone means to take everything into careful consideration. Everything. The insane things you choose to dismiss might one day be your undoing.”
Blake relaxed against the backrest and crossed her arms over her chest.
“All right.” Roman didn’t say anything, and she knew it was because her voice hadn’t sounded convincing enough. She cleared her throat and tried again. “All right. Tell me what you think about the Blackmanes’ theory.”
“I don’t think, I know. I know it’s not a theory, it’s a fact. The werefoxes have tried to create a Kyubi way before the war and the peace between humans and shape-shifters. Among the shifter factions, we’re not the strongest, but we are the ones who have more magic on our side. The problem is… we forgot how to use it. There are fox-shifters, your uncles included, who believe that the ancient texts which spoke of nine-tailed foxes and the Golden Age of the fox-shifter faction were destroyed on purpose. Without them, they resorted to taking as many brides as possible.”
“And knowing this, you didn’t take any kind of action…”
“Only because I believe they don’t stand a chance. If it were possible for a Kyubi to be born out of the union between a male fox-shifter and a human bride, it would have happened a long time ago. And more than once. They’re missing something, and they will keep missing it without an old ancient text to tell them how to do it.”
“Wow! I… That’s the last thing I expected to hear from you…”
They were both silent for a while, Blake thinking about what she had just learned, while Roman was resting.
“I don’t know what to say.”
“You don’t have to say anything.” Roman’s voice was weaker than before. “Take your time to think about it and form your own opinion. If the new law passes, then we’re all pretty safe and you won’t have to worry about it. But promise me you’ll never forget this possibility exists and there are fox-shifters out there who will never give up on their hope to create a Kyubi and dominate all the factions one day.” He looked into his daughter’s eyes. “Promise me.”
Blake left her armchair and sat down on the bed, next to him. She took his cold, bony hand into her own and whispered. “I promise.”
A bright, genuine smile lit up Roman’s face. “You’re going to make a great Inari and an even greater councilor, my daughter. I die peacefully knowing I’m leaving all my life’s work in good hands.”
“Don’t say that…” Her eyes welled up with tears. “Don’t say that…”
***
Roman Sylfur died on the second day of the New Year. It was snowing heavily, and the sun stayed hidden behind heavy clouds. Blake was there, right by his side, and she stayed like that for a long time after her father gave his last breath. She couldn’t find the power to move. To stand up, walk out of the room, and give Amelia and Seth the news. She couldn’t find the power to face her uncles, her clan, the whole world. She did stand up at some point and went through the motions on auto-pilot. For the next couple of days, they were all on auto-pilot. Then, they buried him. And Blake had to snap out of her trance.
“Roman was a good brother and a kind Inari.”
Who had said that? Her uncle Sebastian? The words kept ringing in her head over and over. “A good brother”. He had been more than a good brother to them. He had loved them, protected them, kept them from making stupid mistakes that could have gotten them into trouble with the Council. “A kind Inari”. Kind… what a joke! Adrenaline rushed through her veins every time she remembered her father’s brothers hadn’t found better things to say while standing over his grave. She couldn’t believe how little respect they had for him. She knew they would show her even less.
Damon had come from Canada with his earth and, after the burial, showed no intention of going back home. Blake couldn’t exactly kick him out of Ekviknuna, so she asked Elena and Aaron to keep an eye on him and his people. She didn’t like the fact that the four brothers spent most of their time together. They rarely came at the mansion, and she was grateful for that, although she knew it wasn’t a good sign. She was their new Inari, yet they paid little attention to her. Since she couldn’t afford to stay locked up in her room anymore, she kept Amelia at her side at all times. The members of Clan Sylfur had to see their young Inari out and about, taking care of business and acting like the leader they needed.
The news about Roman Sylfur’s death traveled quickly, and the Council of the Six Factions soon summoned Blake to London. It had been established long ago that Roman’s heir would take Jonathan Redfur’s place as councilor, and there were some people who couldn’t wait to see Redfur gone, especially after the last incidents with the rogue werefoxes and the theory that they’d been working on creating a Kyubi. The other councilors didn’t trust him, and they liked him even less. They had no idea what to expect from the Sylfur heir, but at this point they were inclined to believe anyone was more capable than Redfur.
So, Blake, Amelia, and Seth packed their bags. Out of the three, Amelia was probably the only one who was truly excited. She didn’t know why, but the idea of seeing the U.K. again filled her with joy and made her forget about their recent loss. Not completely, but enough to make her feel better. They all kept reminding themselves Roman had lived a great life and had gone peacefully. Sometimes it worked, sometimes it didn’t.
“Are you ready?” Blake asked Amelia right before boarding their plane.
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