Chapter 85
KESTER
They hesitated for half a second.
Then, like puppets on frayed strings, they turned on each her,
The first blow landed with a sickening crack that sent satisfaction running through me.
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Fists flew. Blood sprayed. I watched with a blank expression as they tore into one another like rabid animals in a death match they hadn’t chosen.
They weren’t fighting to survive.
They were fighting to die. What an irony!
And I wanted to watch every agonizing second of it.
I wasn’t even halfway through the entertainment when I heard her voice.
“Kester…” She called me, a bit firmer above the trembling of her voice.
My head snapped toward her, and everything–the rage, the heat, the violent thrumming in my veins–came to a screeching halt.
My fingers, still sticky with blood, twitched at my sides.
She was shaking. Her body curled in on itself, arms clutching what was left of her dress. Her eyes brimmed with something I never wanted to see on her face.
Fear.
Not relief nor gratitude.
My stomach twisted. My chest constricted.
She wasn’t afraid of them.
She was afraid of me.
The pleasure drained from my veins. The high of violence turned to something ugly, something wrong. But never my judgment. My judgment still stood. They would fight to the death.
I forced myself to move, crossing the space between us in an instant. I dropped to my knees in front of her and reached for her.
“Kasmine,” I rasped, “Are you hurt?”
She hesitated, her body still trembling as she clutched at her torn dress. “No,” she whispered. “I–I’m okay. I was just… scared.” she couldn’t look me in the eyes, and that was when I realized Zeth was still sharing partial control with me, and she was yet to get used to him no matter how hard I tried.
She just had to because she’d be our mate soon.
I gritted my teeth, shutting my eyes for half a second before forcing them open again, pushing him to the back of my mind. I caged him in so deep I could barely feel him anymore.
The moment I did, she relaxed. Not fully, though, but enough that some of the tension in her shoulders loosened.
Chapter 15
She swallowed hard. “You shouldn’t have killed them.”
I let out a long, slow exhale and ran a hand through her half “They touched what’s mine,” I said simply, kleding her forehead
I pulled her into a soft lung, hoping my warmth would caluer trembling body down. And it was working. She was gradually calming down.
It was a good thing I had that effect on her.
I closed my eyes, pressing my lips to the top of her head aggon. “It’s over,” I murmured. “You’re safe. You’re always safe with me.”
y man who comes
Her hands clutched at the bare skin of my arms, gripping me tightly, “You don’t have to kill every i close to me, Kester.”
I pulled back just enough to cup her face, tilting it up to meet my paze. “Yes, I do.”
A small, broken sound left her lips, but she didn’t argue. Instead, she whispered, “I’m sorry. I just needed some air.”
I hushed her immediately, pressing my forehead to hers. “You don’t have to apologize for anything.‘
Indus
Her body softened against mine, but the sounds of weak, sluggish blows still filled the air behind us.
She tensed again.
Her fingers curled against my chest. “Kester, make them stop.
I shook my head. “No.”
She pulled back slightly, brows furrowing. “They’re already dying,” she whispered.
“That was the idea, baby. Such people constitute a nuisance to the society. It is best to wipe them out,” I stood and lifted her into my arms, ignoring the way she gasped as I moved. “Wear this.” I pulled off my shirt and handed it
to her.
I carried her out of the clearing, back through the trees, ignoring the sickening, sluggish sounds of the two bastards fighting to the death behind us.
She didn’t speak until we were almost at the house, but I enjoyed her silence and the way her soft breath fanned against my chest.
“Kester?” She called, stopping me just when I was about to push the door open. I stopped with her still wrapped
in my
arms.
“Yes, love.”
“What about June?” She asked
I barely suppressed a growl. “What about her?”
She lifted her head slightly, looking up at me. “What are you going to do?”
I exhaled through my nose, my grip tightening around her. “I don’t give a fuck about her, baby!
She dropped down from my body and reached up, brushing her fingers against my jaw, forcing my
“I need a favor from you…” She began, and my heart skipped a beat.
⚫ to hers.
Chapter 5
Fuck. Her touch detonated through me like wildfire. It was unfair how easily she did this to me. How just the press of her fingers on my skin sent a ripple of heat through me how it softened the edges of my rage like ne smoothing jagged rocks over time. It was fucking dangerous he was dangerous.
And she had no idea:
I swallowed hard, my pulse hammering against my ribs as forced myself to maintain control.
Zeth purred. He liked it–fucking craved it. And that was the problem.
Because, at this rate, I would do anything she asked. Anything at all.
“Promise me,” she began. I didn’t know what she was about to ask, but I knew there was every possibility that I’d grant it. “Promise me you’ll treat June right on this vacation. That you won’t do anything to hurt her. If you truly love me like you say, then don’t do this
I froze
Her thumb brushed the corner of my mouth, and I exhaled, my control slipping through my fingers like sand
She had no idea how much power she had over me. No idea that every time she touched me, she wasn’t just asking for something she was owning me. Claiming me without realizing it.
Her touch was a fucking leash. A leash I had no problem letting her wrap around my throat.
My fingers curled around her wrist, “Kasmine…” I growled through clenched jaws, attempting to fight the spell she was casting on me, but it was futile.
“Promise me,” she said again in a pleading voice that dug into my skin.
I should have resented the way she weakened me with just one fucking touch.
But I didn’t.
Because she wasn’t making me weak. She was making me hers.
“Fuck,” I muttered, closing my eyes for a brief second before opening them again, my forehead pressing against hers. “You don’t know what you are asking of, Kasmine,” I breathed. If only she knew she was unknowingly pushing me in the direction every other person was pushing me to, then maybe she wouldn’t have said this.
“Please…” she whispered one last time, and my restraint snapped.
My hand shot out, cupping the back of her head, my fingers threading through her hair.
“I promise,” I rasped, my lips brushing her temple. “I won’t do anything to hurt her. If it makes you happy.”
She exhaled, but before she’d revel in her triumph, I spoke again, “But what do I get in return, huh?” I whispered in her ears.
She inhaled slowly, “Kester.
“Shh,” I murmured, trailing my fingers down her throat, feeling the rapid thrum of her pulse. Gods, she felt good. Soft. Warm. Mine. “You don’t get to ask for mething for nothing.”
A small moan escaped her lips. “What do you want in return?” She teased, resting her hands on both sides of my waist as she tilted her head to the side, giving me access to the side of her neck where my breath fanned.
Fucking nasty images played out in my head… Like. What if I just sunk my fangs into this delicate neck and claimed her as mine already? A dark chuckle left my lips as I pushed the thoughts aside.
Chapter 85
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My tongue darted out, licking the side of her neck up to her soft chin, “I want you, Kasmine,” I murmured. Anytime. Anywhere. No excuses. When I want you, you give yourself to me.”
I pulled back just enough to catch her gaze, my thumb dragging across her lower lip, and fuck, I want to kiss her.” Say yes, baby,” I coaxed, “Say yes, and I’ll promise whatever you want.”
A slow, seductive smile crossed her lips, “Yes, Kester. I’ll do whatever you want. Just don’t hurt her.”
And that sealed the deal.
Chapter 86
Chapter 86
