Chapter 11 "Love, Hate and Jealousy"   Suki stomped off into the woods. Toya glanced down at Shinbe, who still hadn’t even looked up, then took off after Suki. He had to know if she was having the same vision as he was. If she was, then that confirmed that it actually did happen, or at least that was his theory. "Suki, damn it. Wait up!" Toya yelled as Suki stopped and leaned her head against a tree. Stepping up behind her, he caught the scent of Suki's tears. The only time he'd ever seen Suki cry was when her little brother Hikaru was involved. Shit, this was serious. He stood staring at her for a long moment. Suki finally turned, wiping at her tear stained face. "What do you want, Toya?" she tried to hide the hurt and anger from her voice, but inwardly flinched hearing it anyway. "Suki, I… Oh hell, what did you see?" Toya blurted, knowing he was going to hate the answer. "What did I see? Well, I assume I saw the same thing that sent you into a rage." Suki's words dr

Chapter 13 “Unwanted Truth”   Kyoko and Suki stood silently staring as Shinbe fell over Toya’s prone form as if doing so in slow motion. The quiet that was left behind was deafening. Neither spoke a word as they made it the last few feet to where the guys lay. Kyoko was the first to reach them. She quickly bent down, gently pushing Shinbe off of Toya. The guys were both so still. It was hard to tell if they were breathing. Her gaze trailed over Toya seeing the softness within his face. She quickly looked down at his fingers and confirmed the sharpness of his nails was gone.“Toya! Oh god! Suki, help me!” Toya had changed. She’d never seen it happen before but Toya had once warned her of the possibility. He’d told her if it ever happened that she should seek out the protection of one of the others because he wouldn’t be able to protect her. The battle between him and Shinbe had left them both injured. Suki stood, unable to move, staring down at the fallen men. “Are they a

Chapter 15 “Desperate”   Hyakuhei stood tall as his miasma field surrounded him like a dark cloud. Toya could see this fight was between Shinbe and Hyakuhei, for some reason. By Shinbe making such a threat as to use the void, only lent evidence to this fact. It was as if Hyakuhei was holding something over Shinbe’s head. Toya tensed, knowing Hyakuhei knew the secret Shinbe kept hidden from them. “Shinbe, what the hell are you doing?” Toya demanded, seeing the danger in using the curse. He knew if Shinbe used the void, he would risk it growing stronger and becoming out of control. It wasn’t worth it. Confusion showed in his expression as he watched Shinbe. Kyoko wondered why Shinbe would do this. “Shinbe, don’t!” she felt his muscles flex. “Please,” she begged even as she watched in morbid fascination. Her eyes were fixed, getting the same view Shinbe must see every time he used the cursed void as the air began to spin… coming to life. The dirt and rocks shifted and becam

Chapter 17 “Defy Not the Heart”   Toya cursed violently as he ran through the forest following Kyoko’s scent. The second the Taming spell had allowed him movement, he was up and after her like a shot. She couldn’t just run off with that lecherous guardian whenever she wanted and leave him behind. He gritted his teeth the moment he truly realized what had just happened. HIS Kyoko was alone with the LETCH! Golden eyes flashed silver at the thought. There was no way in hell his brother was going to lay a hand on her, and if he did, Shinbe would never have any children… ever. All of a sudden Kyoko’s scent changed and he slowed to a stop as he tentatively sniffed the air. Taking a few steps forward, the smell abruptly spiked and he was surrounded by the heavenly scent of her arousal. A menacing growl vibrated within his chest as he picked up Shinbe’s scent laced with hers. Two more steps and his body shot through the air like a silver bullet. He could smell the guardian’s arousa

Chapter 19 "Always Darkest Before the Storm"   Kotaro stepped to the mouth of the cave he’d slept in. He could sense evil in the distance… Hyakuhei was on the move. "So, you have finally come out of hiding, have you." His ice blue eyes narrowed with deadly intent and the muscles in his jaw flexed. He felt the guardian heart crystal calling to him and he could feel the talismans he’d collected since it had been shattered heighten in power, as if answering that call. Toki and Hoto stood in the shadows of the cave watching their leader as he looked out in the distance. Hoto ran a nervous hand through his hair, knowing Kotaro was going to leave them. He understood their master had avoided his guardian brothers but the priestess was never far from his thoughts. Leaning close to Toki so Kotaro wouldn't overhear, he whispered worriedly, "Should we not follow him?" The last rumor Kotaro had heard, less than an hour ago, was that Hyakuhei had found the remaining talismans. That left