Page 86 of Cursed By Fate

She gave me a long look, as though I’d made an outrageous comment. “Which god was foolish enough to give a werewolf their blood?”

I debated whether to share this information, realizing it could lead back to the island, but I also knew Reimu couldn’t help me without knowing the type of deity.

“I don’t know,” I said, “but he’s manipulating everyone in his sphere. Influencing the behavior of people who normally wouldn’t give him a second look. He even had people attack me.”

Her demeanor shifted. “Where did you say this werewolf is?”

I sidestepped the question. “That’s not important. What’s important is how to defeat him.”

“Death might offer a permanent solution.”

“I can’t kill him, Reimu.”

“Why not? Isn’t it one of your specialties?”

“It isn’t part of my life anymore.”

“Well, you can’t siphon his power if that’s what you’re considering.”

“Why not?”

“Because it’s too risky. You don’t know what kind of effect the god will have on you. Not to mention, whatever magic you’ve done to hide yourself could go poof!” She blew across her open palm.

I’d already followed that mental thread and had arrived at the same conclusion. “I don’t even know which god’s blood he has.”

Reimu squeezed her eyes closed. “It belongs to Hypnos.”

“I don’t think so. He isn’t putting people to sleep.”

Reimu’s eyelids snapped up. “I’m telling you—it’s Hypnos’s blood. Your werewolf is hypnotizing people.”

“You seem very certain about this.”

Reimu didn’t answer. “More tea?”

“No thank you.” I reached for her forearm. “Reimu, how do you know whose blood it is?”

“A lucky guess.”

The kitsune was lying straight through her sharp, little teeth.

“This werewolf is a danger to everyone in his orbit. Many lives are at stake. That’s the only reason I’m here right now, risking discovery. If you know something⁠—”

“There was a messenger mix-up,” she blurted. “Another kitsune, Emi. She was young, only one tail.”

“What happened?”

“Emi was meant to deliver Hypnos’s blood to another party and the werewolf’s cursed blood to Cernunnos, the Celtic god of wild things. She delivered Hypnos’s blood to the werewolf instead. By the time the error was discovered, it was too late. The ritual that transfused the blood had been completed.”

I didn’t need to ask what happened to Emi. A mistake like that wouldn’t have been forgiven. “Which god killed her?”

Reimu’s laughter was hollow and bitter. “You think the gods involved themselves? Why would a giant bother to swat a fly?”

“The Fates,” I said grimly.

She nodded. “They served their brand of justice. Snipped her fate-thread.” The kitsune seemed to stare into a void. “I never understood that.”

“What?”