My boyfriend is a nine-tailed fox

Chapter 8: Unlocking the Seal

The next afternoon, Anita couldn’t resist the pull of the forest. Alone this time, she found herself back at the temple, her fingers brushing the grooves of the fox-shaped pendant that now hung from a cord around her neck. She wasn’t sure why she’d returned—curiosity, guilt, or something deeper she couldn’t quite name.

The temple stood silent and imposing, as if holding its breath. The air inside felt heavier, charged with something Anita couldn’t explain.

She approached the altar where she had found the pendant. The carvings glimmered faintly in the fading daylight, patterns she hadn’t noticed before. They seemed to twist and shift as she stared.

“Alright,” she muttered to herself, tracing the lines with her fingers. “What are you hiding?”

As her hand moved over one of the carvings, the pendant around her neck began to pulse again, faint but steady. Startled, Anita stepped back, but her foot landed on a loose stone, pressing it down with a soft click.

The ground trembled beneath her.

“Uh, what—what did I just do?” she whispered, panic creeping into her voice.

The altar glowed, the carvings igniting with golden light that flowed like liquid, weaving patterns along the walls and floor. A deep hum filled the air, resonating in Anita’s chest.

“Okay, this is definitely not normal,” she said, backing away toward the entrance.

Before she could flee, a burst of energy erupted from the center of the temple. Anita shielded her eyes as a column of light shot upward, scattering debris and shaking the ancient structure. The air crackled with power, and then, as suddenly as it had started, everything went still.

Cautiously, Anita lowered her arm and peered at the now-silent temple. In the center of the glowing runes stood a figure—a young man, tall and lean, with sharp features and unruly silver hair. His clothes were a strange blend of traditional and modern, and his golden eyes glinted like fire in the dim light.

Anita froze, her mind racing. Who—what—was this?

The man blinked, his gaze locking onto her. For a moment, he looked disoriented, almost fragile, but then his expression sharpened. His eyes narrowed as they took in the pendant around her neck.

“You,” he said, his voice low and resonant. “You released me.”

“I... what?” Anita stammered, backing up a step.

The man’s lips twitched into a smirk, though there was no humor in it. “Do you have any idea what you’ve done?”

“I—I didn’t mean to—”

The man raised a hand, cutting her off. “No. You didn’t. And yet, here I am.” He tilted his head, studying her with an intensity that made her squirm. “You don’t even know what that pendant is, do you?”

Anita shook her head, clutching the pendant protectively. “Who are you?” she managed to ask.

The man’s smirk softened into something almost wistful. “Jace,” he said. “Or at least, that’s what I was called before...” His gaze darkened. “Before they sealed me away.”

“Sealed?” Anita echoed, her pulse quickening.

Jace nodded, his eyes flickering with something unreadable. “Centuries ago, by those who feared me. And now, thanks to you, I’m free.”

Anita’s mind whirled. She had read enough myths to know what he was implying. “You’re not... human, are you?”

His grin returned, this time baring sharp, fox-like teeth. “Not quite.”

The weight of her mistake hit Anita all at once, but before she could react, Jace’s ears twitched, and his expression turned deadly serious.

“They’ll know,” he said, more to himself than to her. “They’ll sense my release. And they’ll come.”

“Who?” Anita asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Jace’s golden eyes met hers, and for the first time, she saw a flicker of fear in them.

“Those who want the fox bead—and anyone foolish enough to wear it.”