He started to lie, but it would be useless. One of the witch’s worst powers was the ability to know whenever someone lied to her. And since lying was one of his best abilities, it always put him at a disadvantage whenever he dealt with her, as she was the one and only creature he couldn’t bluff. “I lost the scent.”

She cursed, which caused the scars on the side of her face to redden even more. “Master will not be pleased.”

“Then go scare children.” It was, after all, what she did best. Even better than detecting lies. “Maybe one will fight back.”

And if the child used magic, they’d know instantly if it shared the Ryukage’s bloodline.

She scoffed at his suggestion. “They’ll all fight back. That won’t make them the Kage-taro.”

True, and they needed the heir. Time was running out to capture him and drive away those who threatened them. Those who wanted to extinguish them forever.

This was a fight for their very survival.

Soon the Kage-Gokuri who were trying to seal the gate would overtake them and return them to the never-ending darkness, where they would rot for eternity. Their only hope was to find the Kage-taro. He alone could stop the Kage-Gokuri and reestablish a natural order.

With them on top and the human vermin as servants to their every whim.

So it was in the beginning, so it should be now and would be again.

Kagi growled. “We need the heir.” The Kage-taro could protect them.

Haruki glared at him. “I know.”

The last thing either of them could afford was to tell the Ryukage that they’d failed to find his son. Again.

The Ryukage had fed the last demon who disappointed him to his monster, Tatsu. And while Kagi was extremely handsome, he was quite sure he’d taste bad.

“Are you sure you smelled him?” Haruki pressed.

Kagi nodded. “The Kage-taro was definitely here.”

“Then we will find him and return him to his father.”

“And if we can’t?” Kagi asked.

Haruki looked around the courtyard where the two of them took refuge with the tengu, after the sorcerers had come for them. “We will begin feeding the master those children in our stead until we find the right one.”

CHAPTER THREE

For the first time in years, Ryuichi dreamed. It wasn’t a big dream—just him chasing after a rainbow. But it was enough.

It left him with a feeling of peace and calmness, the likes of which he’d never known.

Getting up, he quickly washed and dressed with the rest of his classmates.

A new day. New beginning.

New uniform.

The yellow was a stark contrast to the drab brown and tan he was used to. But he liked it, especially the dragon that wrapped around his shoulders as if it were hugging him like the one their sensei had worn.

That alone made him feel special.