The Foxling Soldati (Soldati Hearts #2)
Charlie Cochet
Chapter One
YOU MUSTN’T be caught.
Toka chanted the words in his head, his heart beating wildly as he attempted to ease his ragged breaths. The rustling of leaves sent him diving behind an enormous tree, and he flattened himself against the trunk as he crouched. For a moment he feared he’d been seen.
A fiery orange leaf floated down and tickled his nose as it made its descent, making Toka smile. Autumn in the Soldati Realm was Toka’s favorite time of year, next to winter. What foxling didn’t love pouncing into a tantalizing mound of crisp autumn leaves or freshly fallen snow? Unfortunately leaves crackled underfoot, giving away his position—well, nearly. He worried his bottom lip with his teeth, wondering if he should risk changing into his fox form. If he did, and his pursuer was near, he would catch Toka’s heady scent. But in his fox form, Toka was quicker, more agile, and smaller. He could easily squeeze into a rabbit burrow. His pursuer would be lucky to fit a paw in there.
Blasted! Stop being such a coward!
Breaking into a run, Toka leaped and landed on his paws, his transformation complete in the blink of an eye. His clothes were like a second skin, becoming one with his body when he shifted. He couldn’t imagine having to remove clothes every time he wished to change form. How terribly cumbersome. A roar frightened him, and he let out a cry as he took off. Wonderful. If he hadn’t given himself away when he’d shifted, he certainly had now. Just as the thought crossed his mind, a flash of white caught his eye, and he skidded as he made a sharp turn to avoid getting pounced on by the massive tiger. Toka used his brush to help his balance as he rounded a large tree, the fiend on his heels.
“Give up, little fox!”
The husky voice spoke to Toka in his mind, and Toka barked before replying.
“Never!”
Toka leaped over fallen trees, ducked under low branches, and took sharp turns in the hopes of losing the tiger hunting him. The wind whipped against his fur, and he paid no mind to the pebbles and acorns he treaded on as he pounced through the wild grass of the dense forest. All he needed was to find a small enough place to hide in. A paw swiped at his brush, and Toka jumped, releasing a startled bark. He could hear his pursuer’s voice laughing softly in his head.
“Your capture is inevitable, my little fox. Why prolong it?”
Toka would have rolled his eyes if he could. Someone was rather sure of themselves. Inevitable? He’d see about that.
Spotting a hollow log inclined against a large tree, Toka dashed toward it. He sped through the inside of the log and emerged at the other end. The hollow log was sturdy and lodged tightly against the tree it had fallen against. Toka hopped on the corner, and sprang up just as the log was knocked away. He landed on the nearest branch, then hopped from branch to branch, smiling inwardly.
“Clever little fox,” the voice said in Toka’s head.
Toka wiggled his butt and made the leap onto a branch of the next tree, ignoring the tiger jumping and swiping at him. As expected, Toka soon ran out of branches, and he soared through the air and landed gracefully in a pile of leaves. They fluttered up in the air before cascading down, and Toka darted away.
“When I catch you, you’ll have to give me anything I desire.”
Toka wasn’t prepared for the silky words, and he faltered, his paw catching on a rock, sending him tumbling. Oh sugar! He changed to his human form and sat up, eyes narrowed when a familiar shadow stretched over him. A hand appeared before his face, and with a groan, Toka accepted and slipped his hand into the fairer one on offer. Unlike the Soldati, who had the appearance of larger, stronger humans, foxlings wore much of their animal features in their human form. Toka’s hands and feet were a smoky color that traveled up his forearms and calves to fade into his bronze-colored skin, whereas Rayner was fair all over. Toka had never known a more handsome Soldati. Rayner’s hand was large and warm, enveloping Toka’s. Cheeks flushed, Toka was pulled to his feet.
“You cheated,” Toka mumbled pitifully.
Rayner’s amber eyes sparkled with mischief, his husky laugh sending a shiver through Toka. Why did the man have to be so darned handsome?
“Perhaps,” Rayner admitted, placing his hands on Toka’s waist as he edged closer, and then he walked Toka back against a tree. Rayner smelled wonderful. Of sandalwood, juniper, and cedar with something else mixed in, along with a scent unique to Rayner, one Toka would know anywhere.
“What… is it that you desire?” Toka’s breath hitched as the black of Rayner’s eyes spread, leaving slivers of molten amber. Rayner’s proximity was doing awfully naughty things to Toka’s body, especially when Rayner eliminated the distance between them, his knee between Toka’s legs.
“You’re trembling,” Rayner said, his sinful lips inches from Toka’s temple and his breath hot against Toka’s skin. He brushed the back of his fingers down Toka’s bare arm before bringing them to rest under his chin, tilting his head back.
Oh goodness. Toka swallowed hard. His eyes widened slightly, and his lips parted when Rayner dropped his gaze to Toka’s lips.
“What I desire, my little fox, is a kiss from those sweet lips.”
“Anything,” Toka breathed, curling his fingers into Rayner’s sleeves. He loved the way Rayner eclipsed Toka’s slighter frame. The breadth of his shoulders was impressive, leading to an expansive chest with muscular arms hidden under the billowy black sleeves of the shirt he wore beneath the chestnut-colored jerkin. His thighs were powerful, his calves strong and sheathed in black leather boots. Rayner exuded more than strength, power, and confidence. He radiated an inescapable sensuality, one others couldn’t help but gravitate toward when he was close.