He nodded at Takara’s question, even though it was a lie. He wasn’t all right. Far from it.

Ryuichi frowned as he looked around. “Is it just me, or is it getting darker?”

“It’s getting darker.” Koichi kept pace on his right side. “I know you hear the voices whispering.”

That stunned him. “Can you hear them?”

“Not the way you can. I can’t tell what they’re saying. But I assume at least one of them is your father, trying to bargain with you.”

His sensei held insight he wished he possessed. “He’s making some tempting offers.”

Koichi’s expression was priceless.

Ryuichi smiled. “Don’t worry. I’m not taking him up on them. But they are . . . tempting.”

Suddenly, the baggage on Koichi’s saddle sat up. “You’re all going to die!”

Ryuichi cringed as Haruki finally woke up. “Did we have to bring her?”

“Ask your irritable guardian. Masaru thought it safer than leaving her behind.”

“Hmmm . . . what would you have done with her?”

Koichi shrugged. “Leave her out for the wolves.”

Harsh. But understandable.

“When do you—” Ryuichi never finished the sentence. Before he could, a dragon rose up from the ground . . .

And spewed fire all over his friends.

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

Screams rang out. The older samurai rode toward the dragon, intending to slay it.

From the shadows, Ryuichi knew better. “It’s a decoy!” The words had barely left his lips before he felt cold hands on his limbs. They sought to drag him from his horse.

The tengu that had attacked the school were here. En masse.

The sky darkened as lightning flashed.

“What do we do?” Kato turned in his saddle as he looked around at all the creatures coming for them.

With Haruki shouting in protest, Koichi unsheathed his sword. “We fight.” Digging his heels into the flanks of his horse, he headed for the monsters.

Ryuichi wanted that kind of courage, but no matter what he tried, he couldn’t muster it. There was something deep inside that kept him where he was.

Not to mention the cold things holding him in place.

Drums began to beat in the distance.

Haruki cackled as she fought Koichi.

“That can’t be good.” Takara scowled at her in the distance. “Shut up, witch!”

“You’re all dead! All of you!”

That didn’t make him warm and fuzzy. He agreed with Takara. Shut up, witch!

With a breath for courage, Ryuichi braced himself as he kicked at the vicious cold hands that had assaulted him. “Give me strength.”

Those hands were cold, grasping things that sought to drag him down. To pull him where he didn’t want to go.

Ryuichi would have had a better chance of pocketing a hurricane than escaping their unholy grasp.

Then he heard it. Another voice.

Did you think your father was the only one with designs on you?

What?