The way all the shadows of the room bend to her will, spilling out to surround, makes every dark piece of me snap to attention.
“This is bad,”I mutter, only to Kane whose eyes are locked on the storm of shadows crawling around us.
“I want him out. Now.” Her voice drips darkness, eyes flickering in and out of burning red.
We move without speaking, Kane to her front, me at her back.
I lower my mouth to her ear. “It’s not that simple, baby.” My fingers trace her spine. “He asked for the chains. If we bring him out now, he’ll go straight to you.”
“I can handle him.”
Kane’s fingers reach her jaw, cupping it. “If we let him out now, he’ll find you, and he will feed from you.”
For fuck’s sake, what is he doing?
“And afterwards, he will drown in the guilt. The Pit is temporary, that would not be.” He lowers his face, levelling his eyes with hers. “That would be his undoing. Hurting you. Do you understand?”
I’m not sure if what Kane says makes it better or worse, so I track the shadows.
They hold, then slowly ease back.
“I understand. I wasn’t thinking straight.” She blinks, and more shadows slip away.
Kane and I don’t move an inch, and for just a second, I wonder if maybe he has done this before. If he’s actually got experience sharing.
That thought sparks something filthy. I’m painting all sorts of pictures—Red tangled in his shadows, those little whimpers spilling out as he holds her down. Me watching, then joining—
“Can you at least pass a message on from me?” Red glances over her shoulder at me, because she knows I’m the weakest link.
“No.”Kane’s voice barks in my head.
“Sure, Red.”
“Idiot.”
“Tell Julien I understand and I... I appreciate what he’s doing for me.”
“Do not tell him that.”
“Done.”
Kane cants his head.“Leave. Now.”
I slap on a brilliant grin. “I’ll take this to Zeek, andpass on your message, Red.” I brush my fingers over her cheek, almost touching those soft lips, and she doesn’t even try to pull back.
Fuck. Yes.
When I step backwards, I refuse to take my eyes off her. “Pick you up same time tomorrow, Red. Yeah?”
She’s smiles and fuck, I love that.
And I think Kane says something, but I couldn’t give a shit, all I see is Red’s face as I flit away.
Chapter 19: Kane
Drinking is easier than eating, though still unnecessary.
Yet I ensure to take a sip every time her eyes land on me. And each time, she rewards me with a soft look, a small smile, a brimming laugh.
