Page 15

“Not cool at all.” She stood. Blood dripped from her palm. “Don’t you know that some curses are born through disrespect and non-gratitude?”

I watched her and savored the faint hint of her blood.

She stumbled backward and stared at the bite. Anger flashed behind those light brown eyes. “You’re lucky I’m leaving Japan soon because, if I stayed and had time to figure out what you are. . .we would have been having a really long conversation.”

Is she threatening me? So cute.

I put my gaze on the palm. The bite mark would remain until I returned to her. More importantly, her blood would guide me straight to her location.

Footsteps sounded, and she hurried away.

The sparkling red thread stretched between us.

Ten feet.

Twenty.

Thirty.

It did not break.

She could cross oceans.

It would not break.

She ran off, and those long twisted locs and beads bounced against her back. Blood dripped from her hand onto the old stones.

And our red thread of fate extended through the forest after her.

Bright.

Unbroken.

Permanent.

I watched until she disappeared.

Then I looked down at the blood staining my muzzle. My mate's blood. My wounds continued healing. The power she had left inside me throbbed beneath my skin.

My eight tails slowly lifted behind me, completely mended.

I was still shocked out of my fucking mind, yet deliriously happy.

I’ve finally found my mate. And she is a little witch who heals.

I licked her blood from my teeth.

Fascinating. I can’t wait to taste her again.

I lifted my nose to the wind and grasped the last hint of her scent, already fading toward the road.

Run, little witch. Run as fast as you can.

A dark groan left me.

Soon. . .I will find you.

Chapter two