“I feel us men always do.”
My lips pull together between my teeth. “Thatyoudo.”
He lifts his body upwards and my eyes fall to his lips. “One day you’ll forgive me for all of this.”
I lean in to him, feeling the heat of his breath against my lips. “Maybe one day in your dreams.” I press my fingers against his head, thrusting him back down.
A sly smirk blossoms against my lips.
“Goodnight,” I whisper, my body shifting to leave, but he pulls me back into him.
“Stay with me.” He clears his throat. “So I can protect you. The men in here will kill you.”
“I can protect myself.” I lean into his body, my chest brushing against his. “But thank you.”
The bed creaks as I climb off of him and head back to my bed, weaving through the men who still peacefully sleep without them ever knowing I was near them. I didn’t get to kill him. Even if I wanted it, but with the slight chance of finding Tilly, I suppose I’ll let him live.For now.
I YAWN. MY BLURRY EYES open and close as men shuffle out of their beds, heading for the door that will take them to the pit. My shoulders rock, stretching my arms side to side as well as my neck. These mattresses are not comfortable. They are flat, worn out with ripped holes everywhere, and unforgiving.
As I roll to my side, Kaine and Theon are propped up with their eyes wide, staring directly at me. My head tilts as my brows deepen; I’m startled by their expression.
“What?” I hiss, shifting up and letting my legs bend over the bed frame.
Kaine’s eyes glance to the left and back to me a few times. Quietly hinting to look.
“What the hell is your—” I grunt as I try to stand, almost stumbling over a leg stretched out across the floor. My foot halts, and my gaze travels upward, tracing the broad body seated upright with a dagger prepped in hand. His head rests against the ladder of the bunk.It's Koen.I suck in a breath, staring at his restless body. Dark circles shadow his eyes as if he didn’t sleep long. Did he really stay here all night?
His chestnut curls have fallen in wild strands over his forehead and cascade down to his chest, having slipped free from the loosened bun. He must have dressed himself before coming, the suit stretches against his thick arms folded over his body. Yet the dagger remains positioned, ready to fend off any threat.Any threat to me?
“Should I wake him?” My toe hits the chilly floor, tiptoeing around Koen who most likely needs the sleep.
Theon hops down from the top bed, tossing his braids to hit his back. “If we don’t, the others will find him weak.”
“And they normally pick off the weak ones quickly.” Kaine tightens his mouth, grabbing the bed before standing. “Up to you.” He pushes my shoulder, rushing to the middle of the dormitory where a wooden table is filled with breakfast.
The thing is, I believe Koen is far from weak.
Theon follows and they grab a few fresh fruits and what smells like sizzled bacon. My stomach growls, twisting into knots as I realize I’m unsure when the last time I ate was. With hesitation, I squat down next to Koen’s body. He deeply breathes, one curl tousled over his nose, and as he exhales, it lifts so gently before falling.
My chest tightens, and my fingers roll into fists.Why the hell would he sleep beside my bed?
I lift my chin, scan the above bunk, and notice Death is gone. My shoulders relax. He didn’t try to kill me.
But now, I need to wake Koen before the others try to pick him off. Even though I know Koen can defend himself, the least I can do is help him as he might be able to help me.
I push on his broad chest, shaking him lightly as he grunts. “Koen.” I drop my voice to a deep whisper. “Koen.”
Within a second, my life flashes before me as Koen jolts awake in a frantic movement. As if a nightmare was consuming him and he cannot escape. He seizes my head, wrapping his fingers into my midnight strands with a trembling yet firm grip and presses the cold, sharp edge of the dagger against my throat. His eyes are wide, a storm of fear darkening within them, and his chest rises and falls with heavy, rapid breaths. The warmth of his breath crashes against my face as he leans closer, his hand shakes with the dagger digging more into my skin.
My heart pounds in my chest and my skin flushes into a chilly temperature, fear coursing through my veins as I stare into Koen's wild eyes. A dark battle rages within them as the flickering torch casts shadows on his face, illuminating the lines of anger etched deeply into his features. His grip tightens on the dagger, a glint of madness brewing in his gaze as he grunts.
This isn’t him.
I swallow hard against the blade at my throat, feeling the cold metal dig into me.What has possessed him to do this?
But as I stare into his emerald eyes with a fire flickering around his cornea, all I see is a stranger before me. Not the man I saw last night. He is consumed by some unseen darkness that is holding him and not letting him go.Trying to control him.With each ragged breath he takes, my hand lifts, reaching closer and closer to his face.
As our eyes lock, his brows narrow and relax as if he is fighting himself against whatever force has control of it.
