Jasmine woke to the soft brush of Theo's lips tracing a lazy, feather-light path across her skin. "Morning, sweetheart," he murmured against the curve of her neck.

  A sleepy smile curved across Jasmine's lips as she remembered last night. She let out a hum, burying her face deeper into the furs they lay on.

  She reached out with a playful tug, pulling Theo down beside her. His arms wrapped around her instinctively, drawing her even closer.

  Theo chuckled softly, his hand tracing a slow line along the small of her back in a way that sent a shiver down her spine. "Oh no, you're not escaping back to dreamland," he teased, his lips brushing against hers.

  His lips started to wander—along her jaw, along her collarbone, following a path that made her breath catch. By the time he reached her belly button, Jasmine's breathing had deepened.

  And just like that, sleep was no longer an option.

  The morning melted into shared memories and easy laughter, the kind of calm that only exists when the rest of the world is kept away.

  Eventually, the sun climbed higher, forcing the reality of the day to settle over them. The following hours flew by in a scenic drive and a lunch where the food mattered less than the way their hands kept finding each other across the table. It was the perfect bubble—beautiful and entirely separate from the shadows that usually followed their kind.

  But as the afternoon closed in, the shadows grew long, and the bubble began to thin. Theo pulled up to the black iron gates guarding the white, weathered house where Jasmine lived, the soft hum of the engine filling the quiet afternoon.

  Jasmine turned to him with a warm smile, her eyes sparkling in what little light the sun was still giving off, not wanting to let him go just yet. "I had a wonderful time, Theo," she said, her voice soft. "So, what's your plan for the rest of the day?"

  He grinned, his expression playful. "First, I'm announcing to the world that you're officially my girlfriend—so everyone knows to stay away from you," he teased, his tone light, though the hint of possessiveness made Jasmine's cheeks flush. His hand came to rest on her thigh, the touch casual yet intimate. "After that? Just football practice. I'm all yours once I'm off the field."

  Jasmine leaned in, her lips hovering just inches from his ear. "Come over after," she whispered. "Emma's heading to a party, so it'll be just the two of us… alone."

  Her lips brushed his cheek, the warmth of her skin leaving him momentarily speechless. With a coy smile, she pulled away, her gaze lingering on his for a heartbeat before she slipped out of the car.

  The cool air greeted her instantly.

  As she walked through the gates, she didn't look back until she heard him pull away, her heart still hammering a frantic rhythm against her ribs.

  Hugging her coat a little tighter, she walked up the familiar path toward the porch, her mind replaying every second of the time they had spent together.

  She had barely taken a single step inside the front door before Emma’s teasing voice floated out from the kitchen.

  "How was it?" Emma asked, grinning from ear to ear. "He must have been good. I mean, I could feel the tension between you two from here." She gave a dramatic sigh before adding with raised eyebrows, "And two times in a row... and this morning?"

  Jasmine froze mid-step, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment. She closed the door behind her a little too quickly and stomped over to the kitchen, a shy smile on her lips.

  "Stop feeling what I'm feeling!" she blurted out. "How much do you know?"

  Emma leaned forward, clearly enjoying the moment. "Let's just say your emotions are very loud," she said, her grin widening. "But don't worry, I didn't reach out for you. I tried my best not to hear you at all."

  Jasmine groaned, her face buried in her hands as she muttered, "This is so embarrassing." She peeked out from behind her fingers, throwing Emma a half-hearted glare. "You're the worst."

  "And you love me for it," Emma quipped, sipping her tea as if she hadn't just completely embarrassed her friend. "But seriously, tell me everything. I need details." Emma gestured to the seat across from her, her legs kicking through the air. "I didn't exactly pry into your mind."

  Jasmine sank into the chair, her face still burning as she began. "God, I don't even know where to start or when to stop. He was so sweet. He planned this perfect date at a wooden cabin on the hill, overlooking the whole city. And... we..." Her voice trailed off as she twirled a strand of hair around her finger, her feet swinging beneath the table.

  The words spilled out of her in a rush, every detail tumbling over the next as she recounted the evening with a dreamy smile. "Oh, and I asked him to come over tonight."

  Emma leaned back in her chair. "Keep off my bed, all right?" she teased. "And I'll try to stay out of your head, but no promises. You're practically broadcasting your feelings at this point."

  Jasmine rolled her eyes. "It's not like I can help it," she muttered, but the annoyance was fake. She looked down at the silver ring on her finger—the cool metal a bridge to the mind of the girl across from her. She still didn't understand the origin of the rings or why their souls seemed to bleed into one another, but as she felt Emma's genuine warmth settle in her chest, she realized the mystery didn't matter as much as the connection.

  Emma's expression softened, the teasing replaced by a rare moment of sincerity. "He makes you happy," she noted quietly. "That's all that matters to me."

  The evening was filled with quiet anticipation. Emma eventually headed out, leaving her alone in the house with the ticking of the clock and the distant rustling of autumn leaves against the siding. Jasmine tried to read, tried to focus on the mundane, but her skin felt electric, humming with the memory of Theo's touch.

  The doorbell rang late at night, echoing through the quiet house. The warmth of the day had left, leaving behind the crisp bite of late autumn air that danced in through the open windows.

  Jasmine opened the door to find Theo standing there, his shirt clinging to his skin, damp with sweat. His hair was tousled, and his breathing was uneven, as though he'd run all the way to her doorstep.

  Before she could utter a single word, he stepped inside, closing the door with a swift motion and pulling her into his arms. The suddenness of it made her gasp, but his grip was firm, his kiss eager, leaving no room for hesitation.

  "Ugh, Theo, you're sweaty," Jasmine laughed, squirming in his hold. Her voice was light, her cheeks betraying her with a faint blush.

  Theo smirked, his lips brushing against her ear as he whispered, "You'll survive." His tone was low, playful.

  Jasmine pushed him back gently, her hands resting on his chest. "Go shower, please. You're dripping all over my floor."

  He released her with deliberate slowness, his fingers trailing down her sides as he stepped away. "Fine, I'll shower," he said, his voice carrying a hint of mischief. "But don't think for a second that we're done here."

  With that, he turned and headed up the stairs, his footsteps echoing faintly as Jasmine stood there, her heart pounding in her chest.

  Jasmine exhaled, shaking her head as she ran a hand through her hair, trying to find something to do in the meantime.

  She turned toward the kitchen, reaching for the pot of tea that still held onto its warmth. But no amount of distraction could drown out the lingering heat of his touch or the promise laced in his last words.

  Minutes passed—maybe longer. The faint hum of the shower filled the silence. Jasmine sat at the kitchen table, trying not to think about how the water traced over every inch of his skin.

  She failed.

  Theo appeared from the bathroom, a towel loosely around his waist, damp strands of hair curling slightly against his forehead. He leaned against the doorway with far too much ease, his smirk unmistakable.

  "Well, I'm all fresh and clean," he said, tilting his head slightly. His gaze flickered over her, unreadable, warm. "You're looking at me like you have something to say."

  Jasmine set her cup down slowly, a challenge sparking in her eyes. "I was just wondering if you're planning on making good on that promise."

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  Theo chuckled, pushing off the doorframe, closing the space between them in slow, confident strides.

  "Oh, sweetheart," he murmured, his fingers brushing against her wrist, his touch feather-light but commanding. "I intend to keep every single one."

  "Do you?" she asked, her voice soft but laced with something daring.

  His eyes flickered, amusement giving way to something else. "You doubt me?" She didn't answer. She only looked at him.

  His fingers tilted her chin upward, his touch gentle but firm. "I guess I'll have to prove it to you, then."

  And then, he kissed her.

  Kisses turned into making out, and touches turned into… well.

  As his fingers traced slowly down her stomach, it was as if her vision had shifted completely to another place and time.

  Before her eyes was a girl, running through the forest, with her pin-straight hair flowing through the air. The oversized blue cardigan she wore billowed around her, swallowing her small frame as she ran. There was something urgent in her movement.

  And just as quickly as she had appeared in her mind, she was gone.

  Theo's movements stopped short. "Are you okay? You look… like you're somewhere else. Did I do something wrong?"

  Jasmine shifted her gaze to his eyes. "No. Sorry." And with a wry smile, she said, "Why did you stop?"

  He smiled at her. His hand continued in its path, and when it finally made its way between her legs, her mouth fell open, giving him a chance to slip his tongue inside and intertwine with hers.

  But the moment didn't last.

  Theo's phone rang across the room; he let it ring until it stopped. But whoever was on the other side of the line didn't take no for an answer. Almost instantly, the phone rang again.

  He grunted as he climbed off her. "Sorry, darling. I'll turn it off."

  But as his eyes read the screen, his expression shifted from warmth to urgency. “Yes? What happened?" The urgency in his voice made Jasmine sit up on the couch

  The phone call didn't last very long, and before she could ask, Theo was already pulling on his clothes, his movements quick and deliberate.

  He tossed her clothes toward her, the gesture abrupt but telling. No words were needed; the look in his eyes said it all.

  Jasmine's stomach sank as realization hit. They found something by the lake.

  The drive was suffocatingly silent. The heater hummed, the rain drummed against the glass, and the wipers scraped at the windshield. The warmth they'd shared minutes ago felt like it belonged to another lifetime.

  Are you okay? she whispered inwardly, a thought meant for Emma. She already knew the answer, but her heart needed to hear her whisper it back anyway.

  I'm okay, Emma echoed back.

  When they arrived at Angel's Ruin, the world felt colder. Emma, Lydia, and Jake stood in a tight cluster, their faces pale, their eyes fixed on the ground. No one spoke. No one moved.

  Then Jasmine saw why.

  On the ground lay a body, her skin pale as frost, her lips tinged slightly blue, and her eyes clouded over. She was sprawled on her chest, her spine ripped out—a bloody mess where it should have been. Her pin-straight hair was one with the ground, her raven strands merging with the brown, rotting leaves. And although the fabric had turned mostly maroon by now, there was no mistaking it: her cardigan had been baby blue.

  Jasmine couldn't believe her eyes. That's her.

  Jasmine felt her stomach stir as the realization hit: I'm different. Although it felt more like a truth she'd been avoiding.

  Theo's voice broke the heavy stillness before Jasmine could fully absorb the realization. "She was a kitsune," he said, his tone heavy with something unspoken.

  Jasmine glanced at him, the weight of his words settling in her chest. There was more to his connection with the victim than he was letting on—she could feel it in the way his voice faltered, in the shadow that crossed his face.

  Without hesitation, Jasmine placed a hand on his shoulder, her touch steady and reassuring. She didn't need him to explain; she simply wanted him to know he wasn't alone in carrying the burden of this moment.

  "The body has been here for no longer than a few hours. Let's split up and search for anything the killer might have left behind," Jake said, his voice firm. "If anyone finds anything, call the others." He paused, scanning the group, waiting for nods of agreement before they all turned to go their separate ways.

  The weight of shared grief hung heavy in the air. There was a bitter sadness in her heart—the kind only the loss of one of their own could bring. Beneath that grief, a sharper edge of emotion cut through—shame and fury. It was one of their kind who had done this unspeakable act.

  Each member vanished into the shadows around the lake, leaving Jasmine and Theo alone for a moment.

  As her eyes shifted back to Theo, who now lingered near the water's edge, his hands jammed into his pockets. His shoulders were hunched, as though the grief weighed heavier on him than anyone else.

  She approached him, careful not to break the silence too abruptly.

  "You knew her," Jasmine said softly, her words more of a statement than a question. Theo didn't respond at first, his eyes fixed on the lake's surface as if searching for answers in its depths.

  Finally, he spoke, his voice thick with guilt. "I didn't just know her. I owed her. She saved my life once."

  Jasmine's chest tightened, the vulnerability in Theo's voice unfamiliar and raw. "This isn't on you," she said, her words firm. "Whoever did this—they're the ones who'll answer for it."

  "I should've been there for her." His fingers curled into fists at his sides, his stance tense, uncertain. "She knew before I told her. And when the change took over… when I lost control, she was the one who pulled me back."

  Jasmine remained still, watching him, letting the weight of his words settle between them.

  As the lake shimmered under the moonlight, something shifted in the air—a feeling, a presence. Jasmine turned, sensing it.

  Theo tensed beside her, his breath sharpening. "Do you feel that?" he murmured.

  She did. A pulse of energy rippled through the ground beneath her feet.

  Theo took a step back, his eyes narrowing. "Something's wrong."

  It was as if the pulse beneath their feet had a direction, thrumming like a heartbeat from deep within the soil, always moving.

  Theo stiffened, his gaze locked onto the motionless kitsune lying just ahead.

  The body lurched.

  Jasmine sucked in a breath as she watched, horrified, as the kitsune's form began to sink. The soil moved as though it had purpose, creeping over her pale skin like claiming what belonged to it.

  At first, it was slow, eerily delicate, breaking her apart in measured fractions, as if savouring the act. But then, the rhythm beneath their feet surged, the heartbeat of the ground hammering faster, stronger. The dirt surged over her, consuming her in one swift, merciless motion.

  Before she could blink, the kitsune was gone.

  No struggle. No trace. The dirt sealed itself once more, smooth and undisturbed, as if nothing had ever touched it. The pulse faded into silence.

  But the Earth didn't just consume, it rejected, choosing only what it wanted.

  The body had vanished, but the belongings remained. Jewelry, scraps of fabric, her blue cardigan—all untouched, scattered as if the kitsune had simply stepped out of them and walked away.

  The silence stretched, heavy and unnatural, until the rustling of leaves shattered it.

  Jasmine and Theo turned as Jake emerged from the trees, his expression tight, his sharp gaze sweeping the clearing. "Nothing so far," he muttered.

  Lydia and Emma followed soon after, their faces grim, but exhaustion and sorrow weighed more heavily on Emma's features. She already knew what had happened to the body.

  Jake frowned, his gaze sweeping the clearing. Then his attention snapped to Jasmine and Theo, confusion flickering across his face. "Where's the body?"

  Jasmine opened her mouth, but no words came. She didn't know how to explain to the others that the Earth itself had taken the body.

  Theo stepped forward. "It… the ground took her."

  Jake stared at him. "What are you talking about?" His eyes shifted from Theo to Jasmine, but there was nothing else to say.

  So for a moment, they just stood still, silent and confused.

  Lydia was the first to move closer to the spot where the kitsune had lain. The soil was unnaturally smooth, and all that was left were her abandoned belongings: clothes and a glint of jewelry.

  Emma knelt beside the pile of clothes. Her fingers hesitated over a thin silver pendant, its surface etched with runes none of them recognized.

  Theo crouched beside her, brows furrowed. "These markings. They're ancient. Kitsune families used runes for protection, or… containment."

  "Containment of what?" Lydia asked.

  But Jasmine barely heard the rest of the conversation.

  Her gaze was drawn to the edge of the forest, where the darkness hugged the trees. The others hadn't noticed, hadn't paused. But Jasmine had.

  A presence. She didn't hear it; she felt it. It crept across her skin like a cold breath, the weight of unseen eyes pressing in from the shadows.

  Her eyes narrowed as she stared into the void between the trees, trying to separate shadow from substance. Her pulse quickened, but she didn't speak.

  Do you feel it? A thought meant only for Emma.

  No, her voice echoed back.

  Not until the forest fell away behind them did the feeling loosen its grip.