The beautiful, shimmering cascade of stardust finally settled against the frozen earth of the Iron-Wood. The residual magic of the Fox King completely faded into the biting winter wind, leaving behind only the profound, suffocating darkness of a world that had just lost its greatest trickster.
In perfect, agonizing silence, the hundreds of red foxes and humanoid Kitsune shifters slowly rose from the frost.
They did not speak a single word. As one, the massive tribe turned and melted seamlessly back into the dense, black shadows of the forest, returning to the eastern plains to mourn their fallen King.
Only Kaito remained.
The elite subordinate stood alone in the sprawling courtyard, the cold wind whipping his hair across his tear-stained face. He stared up at the window of the master bedroom for a long, heavy moment before forcing his trembling legs to carry him toward the Manor's doors.
He didn't need to knock. The massive doors slowly groaned open.
