The fire is going strong, destroying the homes of the villagers. I close my eyes as I summon the rain. I have gathered enough energy from the soul I devoured earlier.
I call on it, and it begins to pour down on the fire-ridden village. I look up at Kai, making sure he’s ok with the heavy rain, but it’s not fazed him at all, cutting down the rest of the fire fae.
When he’s done, he lands on the ground a mere few feet from me, his eyes running over me, the rage burning in them making my blood run cold. He’s extremely angry…
Oh gods, he knows.
His eyes linger on my torn clothes as he pulls his mask down,and I tense, unsure what’s about to come my way.
“Who did this to you?” he asks, his words making my eyes fly open in shock.
I hold Sarena close to me, my heart pounding as I arrange my thoughts. “I-I killed them,” I answer hoarsely as he removes the remnants of his torn shirt and places it around my shoulders. His knuckles brush along my breast that is half exposed before he wraps the shirt to cover me.
“Then they got lucky,” he says roughly.
He slides his sword into its sheath and takes Sarena from me.
“They know what you are now,” I whisper, glancing towards the villagers, who are murmuring between themselves.
“It doesn’t matter. If my last message didn’t get through to Morcant, then I hope this one does. I’m coming for him. It would be an insult to me if he isn’t prepared.” With those words, he goes down on one knee and, wrapping his arm around my thighs, takes off with me. I gasp, grabbing hold of his shoulders as he takes flight, with both Sarena and me in his arms.
It only takes him a few minutes to get to Alfren’s home, where the older man is kneeling beside his wife, who hasn’t regained consciousness.
He looks up, his eyes widening with fear as Kai lands.
“You… you’re…” his eyes flick to Sarena as he stands, as if preparing for Kai to do something.
“She’s safe,” Kai says. “If you want, we will leave.”
Alfren looks torn, glancing at his unconscious family and then at both of us. “No… no, I am never a bad judge of character. Don’t leave. Thank you for protecting my family. I assume you killed them?” He motions to the three men I had killed.
“That would be Sira,” Kai informs him, and I may have imagined it, but I felt as if I saw a hint of a smile, but it’s gone as quickly as it came.
“These bandits…” Alfren’s shaking as he picks up Dorene. “They’re holding a personal grudge.”
“We both have our own enemies,” Kai says as he finally sets me down, his eyes meeting mine. “Are you good to walk or shall I carry you inside?”
I shake my head quickly, my cheeks flushing. “N-no, I can walk!”
He lets go of me, and I clutch his torn shirt. As he retracts his wings, my gaze roams over his broad back, gazing at those tattoos, but this time, there’s no disgust. They simply tell a tale.
He walks over to Alfrea, picking her up and motions for me to lead the way back to the house. I nod and follow Alfren inside as he tries to place a blanket on the floor with one hand. I take it from him and spread it on the floor, allowing him to put Dorene on top of it. Kai places the girls beside her.
“I’ll get bandages,” Alfren says.
“I’ll go change…” I say, looking down at my torn clothes. Kai walks to the entrance, his eyes scanning the fields before he shuts the door and locks it.
I go to the bedroom and take out a black and green dress. This is the last one now. I’m reaching for my corset when the door behind me opens, and I turn to see Kai enter. My heart races as he walks towards me, his eyes locked with mine as his fingers go to my corset and he begins to unlace it.
I remain still, not caring when his torn shirt slowly slides off my shoulder and falls to the ground, leaving me almost naked before him. I want him to see me…
Kai’s eyes darken when they fall on my breasts. Yet he focuses on what he’s doing, unlacing the corset until it falls open. He then grabs the centre of my dress, all that’s holding it together, tearing it off in one motion. It falls off, leaving me standing there naked.
My core clenches, my heart pounding as I look up at him. His eyes skim over me, his fingers brushing the cuts and bruises on my body. “The only one who is allowed to tear your clothes is me. The only one who can leave a mark on this body is me, am I clear, my Little Liar?”
Little liar? He knows I’m holding secrets.
“Yes…” I say softly.
