Where Foxes Hunt with Wolves - K.A. Merikan Page 0,101

bales and covered with fresh thatch, it fit its idyllic surroundings perfectly, even though the trim of pale wood added around the windows looked a little bit Alpine.

Radek's grin widened. "Cuter than Ember?"

Something pulled at Yev’s heart. “No fox could ever be cuter than Ember.”

Radek’s laugh reminded him of Ember’s high-pitched cackle. “I love that I can talk to Coal. It’s very basic, but makes me feel like Dr. Dolittle.”

“Maybe that should be your new job? World-renowned fox trainer,” Yev said as he drove into the yard sandwiched between the house and a barn, before stopping by a well.

Radek stilled with his mouth open, which was his usual reaction whenever future jobs were mentioned. “What if I was a fox training… fox? That would be a novelty.”

A dog emerged from its kennel, which had been built in the same style as the cabin of its owners, its eyes narrowed as it analyzed who the intruders in his yard were. Yev stilled with his mouth open.

No. It wasn’t a dog. A wolf. What the hell was it doing here, guarding the property like some German shepherd? He didn’t get to voice that question to Radek, because the door of the house was opening already, and Emil waved at them from inside. The village head was barely into his thirties and handsome, with strong features and long dark hair he often tied into a braid. Yev had taken notice of him when he first moved to Dybukowo valley due to the fact that he was an openly gay man, but now that he knew Emil had been Radek’s first, confused feelings sprung up out of nowhere.

Like the need to make Radek stay in the car and pick up the fox himself. Which was dumb, and not something he’d do, but the itch was there when Radek jumped out into the snow.

He’d worried the wolf might go after Radek, but it yawned and lay down in the snow, as if its master’s presence explained it all.

Maybe he was some kind of crossbreed?

The sense of discomfort only grew when Radek ran up the steps and gave Emil a firm hug. Emil patted him on the back while he looked at Yev. “You guys want to pop in for tea? Adam’s in a baking frenzy.”

“What’s he making?” Radek glanced over his shoulder with a question in his eyes, and the fact that he considered Yev’s opinion, that he left the decision up to him, sent a rush of affection straight into Yev’s heart.

Emil shrugged and offered Yev his hand. “Four huge loaves of vanilla yeast cake. It’s madness. We should organize a charity sale.”

Yev might have squeezed his palm a little bit too hard, but Radek pulled away from Emil before it got weird. And then they sensed it. The scent of Grandmom’s kitchen on Saturday overwhelmed Yev’s senses, and he nodded absentmindedly. Emil stood aside, showing them the way into a tight little hallway with shoes on the floor and coats hung on the wall.

“I know someone who could utilize one loaf at least.” Radek said and left his shoes in the corridor. He got a pair with Velcro while in Cracow, so he didn’t need help with them anymore.

Emil shook his head. “Me too. Coal. He’s been very shy all weekend, but was sniffing around as soon as Adam started baking.”

The little black ball came out of nowhere and stood on his hind legs, placing the front ones on Radek’s thigh, as if he were a domestic dog greeting his master. The eye that had been so badly infected was now missing, as was half his tail, and his fur remained patchy, but there was no comparison between this happy animal and the terrified thing Yev had first seen in the cage.

“Do you have a sweet tooth? Yes?” Radek asked in a cutesy voice and got to his knees to pet Coal, who rolled to his side, whining as he tapped what was left of his tail against the floor.

Emil shook his head. “I don’t know how you do it. He’d barely let us touch him. You’re a fox whisperer.”

Radek wiggled his eyebrows. “Magic touch. Maybe he can sense I’m disabled like him.”

“Are they staying?” Adam yelled from the kitchen, and when Emil confirmed, Radek stood with the fox in his arms and chuckled when it licked his face.

Yev kicked off his shoes and placed his coat on the hanger, since the oven that emitted the sweet scent also produced way too much