Generation V by M. L. Brennan Page B

Madeline’s ties were the closest with the kitsune, who were universally female and could change from women to foxes. I’d only ever encountered them in their fox form before—after I was first brought back to live in the mansion, Madeline had hired the kitsune to guard the grounds. I’d had more than a few runaway attempts foiled by a fox’s nipping teeth. They seemed to take a particular enjoyment in the task, and I still remember the sinking feeling in my belly whenever I was halfway through the border hedge and heard the high, amused yipping of a fox. The last time I tried to run away, they let me get completely through the hedge before four of them jumped me at once, pinning me to the ground under a furry, wiggling pile of fox. They’d then driven me home with nips and yips, taking every opportunity to trip me and smack my face with their tails.
    My feelings toward the kitsune were not fond.
    When Madeline decided that I needed protection with Luca in town, she’d apparently turned to tried-and-true methods of both containing and tormenting me, and had hired my current guard, Suzume Hollis, granddaughter of the original Japanese kitsune. While I limped and she strutted, the fox scampering at our heels, she took a lot of delight in telling me how she’d trailed me from my apartment and had watched my entire mugging.
    I’d never seen their other ability at work before tonight, but kitsune could play with people’s perception as well. Illusion isn’t really the right word for it, since Chivalry said a kitsune could make something look so real that it would fool every sense, but it was what had driven away my attackers. Whatever had sent those three screaming for their mommies hadn’t been there for me, but for them it must’ve looked as real as I did. And if something had been chasing them, I hoped for their sakes that they had outrun it. A fox’s trick couldn’t kill them, but it might be able to scare them enough to bring out any congenital heart weaknesses.
    “What kind of bodyguard doesn’t stop me from getting mugged?” I asked incredulously. My embarrassment that her first impression of me had been me getting beaten up by Bruins fans was offset by my anger that she hadn’t prevented it. Between that and the growing consternation I felt about just how good she smelled, I felt really exhausted.
    “The kind who wants to know exactly how much handholding this assignment is going to require,” she answered.
    “How much is that?”
    “Apparently the same amount as walking a five-year-old girl across the street. Was assuming the fetal positionand trusting that they wouldn’t kick anything critical really your best plan?”
    Fortunately we’d arrived back at my apartment, so I was saved the trouble of trying to come up with a witty comeback.
    Occupying the sole handicapped spot in the parking lot was a low-slung and sleek little sports car, painted matte black and looking like it could break land-speed records. I felt a small cringe of embarrassment on behalf of my Fiesta, since it had to share the same lot as this automotive masturbatory fantasy. I silently promised to be a better owner and at least replace the bumper that was currently held on by wire ties.
    “How did I not notice this when I pulled in?” I asked.
    “Probably because you didn’t even look around. I could’ve been standing naked and waving pompoms and you wouldn’t have noticed.” Suzume opened the trunk of the car and pulled out a duffel bag. She tossed it over to me and I grunted a little as I caught it. It was so stuffed that I was amazed she had been able to get it closed—as it was, the zipper was barely holding on.
    “No, that I would’ve noticed,” I muttered. Not low enough, because she snickered a little as she closed the trunk again. She unlocked and opened the passenger’s-side door, then tossed her keys on the driver’s seat.
    She noticed my confusion. “My cousin Noriko drove me over.”
    The fox yipped and