He jabs his fork at me. “You train, learn, and don’t attract attention until you awaken.” At that, I stand up abruptly, frustration bubbling over.
“Well, clearly thatawakeningisn’t happening anytime soon. Is there a way to provoke it or something?”
“No,” Kai says flatly, looking at me like I just suggested we fight a dragon with a toothpick. He tilts his head. “Well, maybe… Something’s clearly blocking it. You did say you can’t remember your past. Let’s figure that out. Maybe if we can break that memory lock, it’ll let you tap into your powers.”
I blink at him, unimpressed. “Wow. Groundbreaking. Next, you’re gonna tell me fire’s hot?”
He raises a brow, not missing a beat. “Just trying to help, Princess.”
“Sweet, but if I wanted obvious advice, I’d use the library. Again.” Kai’s jaw tightens, that familiar glow sparking behind his eyes, a warning. I smirk, tilting my head just enough to twist the knife. “Aw, did I ruffle your feathers? Not so fun when the claws come out in your direction, huh?”
His silence says more than words ever could. Before I can blink, I’m flat on my back, bowls crashing to the floor, ceramic shards echoing through the kitchen. The cold of the table bites into my back, but it’s the pressure at my throat that steals my breath. Kai looms over me; he was too fast, too strong. His grip, unrelenting, forcing control. His knee slides between mine, leaning in closer.
"Careful with the games, Princess," he growls, a dark smile curling on his lips, his fangs glinting. "I like it rough."
My eyes lock on his, unbothered. “Yeah? Like you could handle me.” I don’t give him the satisfaction of elaborating.
Instead, I push on the inside of his elbow, destabilizing his grip, and flip us in one clean move. I’m even a little impressed. Good thing the table is immense, or we’ll be on the floor by now. On top, straddling him, I’m pressed against every inch of lean, unforgiving muscle. Heat radiating off him like a damn furnace, addictive—dangerous.
Kai’s eyes widen just enough to betray his surprise, and I drink in the victory. I’ll be lying if I say it left me indifferent.
“Still think you’re in control?” I whisper, arching an eyebrow. “Fucking psycho.” Kai’s laugh is low, cocky, sending shivers down my core.
“If I’m a psycho, then you're straight-up delusional.” He rolls his hips just enough to make a point. “Not that it matters, Princess. But, you smell fuckingdelicious.”
I bite my lip, holding back whatever sound might confirm his statement, not like he needs it. The only thing breaking the silence is our heavy breaths, electric, tense, like trying to breathe underwater. Denying his little game, because let’s be real, that’s all it is. I’m clearly the only girl who’s ever told him no. That’s a win right there. To him, I’m just a challenge, a distraction from whatever mess he’s supposed to be handling.
“You’re gonna help me.”
“I already said I will.”
“No. I want a plan.”
Kai shrugs. “You need allies, Vi. We can’t take down whatever wiped out Elgar’s greatest warriors, and half the population, alone.” He’s not wrong. But there’s a fifty-fifty chance those so-called allies could turn out to be enemies, except… No risk, no reward, right?
Even if I know that, there’s still the fact that Dad wanted to protect me so badly, he ended up hurting me with his lies,making me feel like something was wrong with me. Somethingiswrong with me. And that feeling, it doesn’t just switch off. Even if I know some of the truths now, my wounds haven’t even stopped bleeding yet. There’s this deep hole inside me, whispering that I’m meant to be alone, after all, that’s the only life I’ve ever known. One where nothing’s ever really been expected of me. So why should it matter if I get this right? In the end, I am no one.
“That’s the plan, Princess, you in?” His words hit me harder than I expected. The fact that I have a say, maybe he actually cares, even if it’s just a little, and that throws everything off balance.
“And just who could our allies be?” I ask, sliding off him and brushing my shirt back into place. Kai leans back on his elbows, casual.
“Wyll, Caleb… maybe Nalaka.” He lifts a brow. “Who else even knows what you are?”
I hesitate. “My dad. Ruby. You… and I think Sakura might have figured something out.”
“Sakura?” he echoes, clueless.
“She’s the head of the healing ward.”
“Oh, her. The one who talks like she’s in constant vision?”
“That’s her.”
Kai snorts, jumping back into his feet. “And you trust her?”
“I don’t think she knows how not to be honest. Or how to stop talking, for that matter.”
He smirks. “Perfect. A human lie detector with no filter.”
