Chapter 9

"You need to forget what you heard."

Yuna's voice came out harder than she intended, but panic was clawing at her throat. Christopher stood in the shadows of the alcove, arms crossed, studying her with an expression she couldn't read.

"Kind of difficult to forget," Christopher said. "Noah Phillips breaking into his own father's office? You being hunted? What exactly are you two involved in?"

"Nothing that concerns you."

"Doesn't it?" Christopher stepped closer. "I heard what Megan said to you on the stairs. I heard everything, Yuna. About you and Noah. About the bracelet they took."

Yuna's blood ran cold. "You were following me?"

"I told you Megan was planning something. I wanted to make sure she didn't try anything stupid." Christopher's jaw tightened. "But now I'm wondering if I should be more worried about you than her."

"I haven't done anything wrong."

"Then why does Noah need to steal evidence from the chief hunter?"

Yuna said nothing. What could she possibly say that wouldn't make things worse?

Christopher studied her for a long moment, then sighed. "Look, I don't know what's going on. And honestly? Part of me doesn't want to know. But if you're in some kind of trouble—"

"I'm not."

"Yuna—"

"Just forget what you heard, Christopher. Please." Her voice cracked on the last word. "If you ever cared about me at all, even a little, you'll forget this conversation ever happened."

Something flickered in Christopher's eyes. Guilt, maybe. Or regret.

"Fine," he said finally. "But if Noah gets you hurt, if whatever you're mixed up in goes wrong, don't say I didn't warn you."

He walked away, leaving Yuna alone in the darkness.

She waited until she was sure he was gone before heading back to her dorm. Her mind raced the entire way. How much had Christopher really heard? Would he keep quiet, or would he tell someone?

When she got back to her room, Camille was asleep, curled up under her blankets. Yuna changed quietly and climbed into her own bed, but sleep wouldn't come.

All she could think about was Noah. Breaking into his father's office. Risking everything for her.

Hours passed. Yuna stared at the ceiling, watching shadows move across it, counting every minute. Her phone stayed silent. No texts. No calls.

What if something went wrong? What if Andrew caught him?

Around two in the morning, her phone finally buzzed.

It's done. Get some sleep.

Relief flooded through her so intensely she almost cried. He was safe. He'd done it.

But the relief was short lived. Because tomorrow, they would distribute the silver charms. And even with Noah's modified version, Yuna had no idea if it would actually work.

She fell asleep sometime before dawn, her dreams filled with white fur and glowing eyes and the sound of hunters closing in.

Morning came too quickly.

"All students report to the main hall for charm distribution," a voice announced over the loudspeaker. "This is mandatory. I repeat, mandatory."

Yuna dressed slowly, her hands shaking as she slipped Noah's modified charm under her shirt. The metal felt warm against her skin, humming with barely contained energy.

"You look terrible," Camille said, studying her. "Did you sleep at all?"

"Not really."

They joined the stream of students heading toward the main hall. Everyone looked nervous. Whispers filled the air, speculation about the kitsune, about the searches, about who might be hiding among them.

The hall was packed. Students lined up in rows, teachers checking names off lists. At the front, Andrew Phillips stood with boxes of silver charms, personally overseeing the distribution.

Yuna's stomach dropped. She had assumed someone else would be handing them out. Not him.

"Next," Andrew called.

The line moved forward slowly. Yuna could see students receiving their charms, slipping them over their heads. Some looked relieved. Others still seemed scared.

"Do you think it'll really work?" Camille whispered. "The silver thing?"

"I guess we'll find out."

They were getting close now. Only five people ahead of them. Then four. Then three.

Yuna's heart hammered so loudly she was sure everyone could hear it. The modified charm under her shirt felt like it was burning, though she knew that was just her imagination.

Two people ahead.

Noah appeared suddenly at her elbow, materializing out of the crowd. He didn't look at her, but his presence was steadying.

"You okay?" he murmured, too quiet for anyone else to hear.

"No."

"It'll work. Trust me."

One person ahead.

Andrew's eyes swept over the crowd and landed on Noah. Something passed between father and son, a silent communication Yuna couldn't decipher.

"Next."

Camille stepped forward, received her charm, and moved aside. Now it was Yuna's turn.

She walked up to the table on legs that felt like water. Andrew's eyes locked onto hers, and she forced herself not to look away. Not to show fear.

"Name?" he asked.

"Yuna Kanzaki."

He checked his list, then picked up a silver charm. The metal gleamed under the fluorescent lights, and Yuna felt her skin prickle in response.

This was it. The moment everything could fall apart.

Andrew held out the charm. "Put it on."

Yuna reached for it with a trembling hand. Her fingers brushed the silver, and pain shot through her like electricity. She gasped, nearly dropping it.

Andrew's eyes narrowed. "Problem?"

"No," Yuna forced out. "Just static shock."

She lifted the charm to put it over her head, moving slowly, buying time. Under her shirt, Noah's modified charm pulsed against her skin.

The moment the silver chain settled around her neck, heat exploded through her body.

Her vision blurred. Her skin felt like it was tearing apart. The fox spirit inside her howled, thrashing against the silver's binding.

But it held.

Barely.

Yuna stood there, gasping, her whole body rigid with the effort of staying human. Sweat broke out across her forehead.

Andrew watched her closely. Too closely.

"You look pale," he said.

"I'm fine." Yuna's voice shook. "Just nervous about all this."

"Understandable." But his expression said he didn't quite believe her.

Yuna forced herself to walk away calmly, to not run screaming like every instinct was telling her to. She made it three steps before her knees buckled.

Noah caught her before she hit the ground.

"Whoa, easy," he said loudly enough for others to hear. "You okay?"

"Dizzy," Yuna managed.

"She needs air," Camille said, appearing at Yuna's other side. "Come on."

Together, they helped Yuna out of the hall and into the empty corridor beyond. The moment they were out of sight, Yuna doubled over, gasping for air.

"It's not working," she choked out. "Noah, it's not working. I can feel it burning."

"The modified charm is fighting it," Noah said, his hand on her back. "You just need to adjust."

"Adjust? I feel like I'm being ripped apart!"

"What is she talking about?" Camille demanded. "What modified charm? What's happening?"

Neither of them answered. Noah pulled Yuna into a nearby bathroom, Camille following close behind. He locked the door behind them.

"Show me," Noah ordered.

Yuna pulled both charms out from under her shirt. The silver one from Andrew glowed with a sickly light. Noah's modified version was fighting it, copper wires sparking with energy.

"They're canceling each other out," Noah said. "But it's unstable."

"Unstable how?"

"If you wear both, you'll be in constant pain. But if you take off the official one, someone will notice."

"So what do I do?"

Before Noah could answer, Camille's voice cut through.

"Will someone please tell me what the hell is going on?"

Yuna and Noah looked at each other. At Camille, standing there with her arms crossed, fear and confusion and hurt written all over her face.

"You're hiding something from me," Camille said. "Something big. And I'm done pretending I don't notice."

"Camille—"

"No. Don't you dare 'Camille' me." Her voice shook. "You're my best friend. We tell each other everything. But lately, it's like you're a different person. Sneaking around. Meeting Noah in secret. Having panic attacks. And now you're talking about modified charms and burning and being ripped apart?"

Silence filled the small bathroom.

"Either you tell me the truth right now," Camille said quietly, "or I'm going to assume the worst and tell someone what I heard."

Yuna looked at Noah. He gave the slightest shake of his head. Don't tell her.

But Yuna was so tired of lying. Tired of carrying this alone.

"The kitsune they're looking for," Yuna said slowly. "It's me."