“You’re a monster.” She snorted, taking a seat at the table. “I don’t believe you.”
“You’re absolutely right. I am a monster. You’ve always known that.” His smile faltered, and his voice lowered. “But I do have regrets. Things I wish I hadn’t done. I went…too far.”And none of it was worth it without you.
“Kae.” She slumped forward in her chair, her elbows resting on her knees. “I…”
Why did you leave? The words teased her mind.
She swallowed hard. He hadn’t bothered to ask that question during their brief conversation after Taren’s disappearance. At the time, she thought he didn’t care. But now...maybe he just hadn’t dared to ask.
It wasn’t my choice. The thought floated hollow between them.
She vaguely remembered the storm swelling around her, the familiar signal that a new Mission was pulling her away to another distant world. She remembered…begging to keep him as her body and mind broke apart against the will of the Weaving.
They’d been searching for a boy who had gone missing. Kaelith hadn’t been worried. This wasn’t the first time the kid had wandered off, and each time, he or Rynna had brought him back to his grateful but exasperated mother.
But she had never made it to that side of the mountain.
It wasn’t your choice,he echoed, nodding to himself, then slammed his fists into the concrete floor with a deafening crack.What does that even mean? You were supposed to stay until the world burns.
I’m sorry.Rynna flinched, her body shrinking inward.
When he looked up again, the sneer he always wore had vanished, replaced by something far more unsettling, a cold, unreadable mask.Did you even want to stay?
Of course.The thought escaped her, raw and unguarded, before she could stop it.
His eyes narrowed.Did you even look for me when you returned?
That’s not how it works. She hadn’t even remembered him until that moment when he revealed himself at the Ascension.
Too busy enjoying your new toy, I suppose? His mouth twisted into a tight, bitter line.
Her jaw dropped, caught off guard. She couldn’t tell if it was hurt, or jealousy, or both, but it was the first time she’d seen anything deeper from him in this life beyond the flashes of anger or cold indifference.
“Everything all right in there?” one of the guards called through the door. “Why are you just staring at each other?”
Kaelith's head snapped up. And his fangs dropped as he released a low hiss, trembling with barely contained rage, eyes wild.
“Kaelith!” She jumped to her feet, slamming her heel into his gut and pinning him to the floor. She knew exactly how fast he could be. The door and restraints wouldn’t protect the guard.
“Release me!” he bellowed, writhing beneath her, his hands locking around her ankle as he tried to throw her off.
“Awakened Rynna?” another guard called through the door. “We’re coming in!”
“For fuck’s sake, stay where you are! I’m fine!” She glanced down, seeing Kaelith’s neck extending, his jaw unhinging. “If you fucking bite me, snake, I’ll kill you.” Her voice dropped low, though the tone was no less vicious. “Now calm the fuck down.”
The command in her voice rippled through the air, and his hands loosened their grip on her ankle as his body sagged back into submission.
“Awakened Rynna?” The door creaked open.
“I’m fine,” she said, not taking her eyes off Kaelith. “Close the door. I’m almost done here.”
“Yes, ma’am,” came the guard’s quick response.
“Ma’am?” Kaelith raised an eyebrow as the door clicked shut. His lips twitched, and then, before she could react, his tongue flicked out, sliding across her bare ankle.
Rynna shivered as the forked edges traced a slow path along her calf, lingering longer and longer with every second. She knew exactly what that tongue could do.
Damn it!Rynna thought, pulling away, though she couldn’t help but savor the feel of him sliding down her skin as she extricated herself.What do you think you’re doing?!
