Chapter 15
fifteen
Eryn
I wasn’t running…exactly. There was no point.
That throbbing in my chest meant Kaiden could find me anywhere in the world if he was close enough.
I just had to get out of that apartment.
I felt trapped, in more ways than one. Kicking dirt and pebbles out of my path, I continued my hike along the rising cliff face.
Campus wasn’t where I wanted to be right now.
Nature. Open space. Freedom. That’s what I needed to think it all through.
I didn’t want this, that was the main argument overwhelming my mind.
Was I grateful to be alive? Of course, I didn’t want to die.
Kaiden vehemently cared for my well-being and that was…
nice. Okay, it might make me a little giddy inside, but I shut that shit down fast before it spun out of control.
The fact remained, no matter how or why it happened, I hadn’t wanted to initiate this bond.
I felt him all the time now, even with his emotions locked up.
It was like a phantom stranger in my chest. This wasn’t how things were supposed to go.
I had a plan and a future I was working toward, which didn’t include being locked away in close quarters with a man I fought tooth and nail to keep my hands off.
Kaiden was attractive and kind—when he wasn’t being an ass.
That didn’t mean I was willing to throw everything away.
He claimed he wanted my happiness, for me to pursue my goals.
How much of that was lies to get me to bond, though?
How much would change now that the threats against me almost succeeded?
Gods, and what did I tell my parents? I wasn’t even sure saying something was a good idea. Better to let them stay safe and in hiding while we figured out how to stop the hunters ourselves. I could handle Kaiden on my own.
The dusty trail ended at the peak of the cliff, a wide area overlooking the tumultuous ocean far below.
Mother Nature wasn’t the only one unsettled right now.
That connection in my chest fluttered, and I knew my time was up.
I stepped closer to the edge—away from that feeling—soaking in my last moments of freedom.
Small rocks crumbled and fell over the side as my toes cleared solid ground. Cool shadows, obvious even in the fading sun, wound through my legs and up around my waist. I rolled my eyes and turned to where Kaiden stood off to my right.
“I wasn’t going to jump.”
He warily stepped closer, hair in disarray and hands clenched at his sides. His gaze briefly glanced over the edge, and his jaw tightened.
“I can never be too careful with you. You’re unpredictable.”
I watched his throat bob as he swallowed. His shadows reeled me in until I stood in front of him. Both my feet back on solid earth, he sighed, and the tension left his shoulders.
A little of the Kaiden I was used to seeing returned. “Scaling the trellis? Really?”
His shadows guided us toward the trees, still in view of the ocean, but at a much safer distance.
I looked away. “It was better than being tackled on my way out the front door.”
“My shadows and the new wards would have stopped you. No tackle necessary…unless that’s something you’re into.”
I scoffed but couldn’t fight a small smile. He was teasing me. I’d take that over yelling and threatening punishment any day. “You don’t stop, do you?”
“Just being honest.” He winked.
We watched the ocean and the setting sun in a peaceful silence.
Our hearts beat softly and in tune, that detail didn’t evade me, but rather than send me into a spiral, it was comfortable.
Definitely less frightening than I built it up to be.
Kaiden’s shadows retracted, but a few lingered around my legs, brushing lightly against me like they couldn’t help themselves.
“Give me a week.” His voice caught me off-guard and I turned to him with eyes slightly widened in surprise. “The rest of this week to figure out how to keep you safe. Please.”
“I can’t be your prisoner,” I told him.
He sighed, and true remorse shone in his eyes. Enough light reflected off the ocean that I could still make out the creases around his mouth as he frowned.
“I’m sorry I made you feel like that for even a second,” he whispered. “But it really is too dangerous right now.”
A little of his honesty and desperation leaked through the bond. I knew he believed that—but when would it end? Wouldn’t we always be in danger? Him a faction heir, and me the last nightmare. He was trying. I could at least meet him halfway.
“One week,” I agreed. “At the end of spring break, whether you’ve figured it out or not, I’m going back to class.” He stiffened and I added, “But I’m open to finding ways of doing it safely.” I wasn’t a complete idiot. Someone was actively trying to kill me.
He relaxed. “I ask for nothing more.”
Yeah right. “Really? Nothing?” My head tilted. Bullshit.
His grin was slow and seductive. “Not yet. But you’ll fall for my charm soon enough.”
I laughed, but deep inside I worried he might be right.
Ezra was staring at me. I blinked my bleary eyes until they cleared and revealed what I thought I’d hallucinated. The lean, bleach blond stood on my side of the bed with a dirty grin and a blaring cellphone in his hand that he ignored.
“Looks like things are working out better than I thought.” His grin widened as the arm around my waist tightened.
Kaiden pulled me against him, his hand flat and warm on my bare stomach. At some point in the night, all the pillows I shoved between us so this exact situation wouldn’t happen, ended up on the floor, and my ass found its way against Kaiden’s dick. I blushed as I realized it was an early riser.
“Go away,” Kaiden grumbled, burying his face in my hair. “It’s not my morning to make breakfast.”
Gods, he was a snuggler. Ezra chuckled at my futile attempts to break free.
Every morning. I woke every morning with some part of Kaiden touching my body: my very overheated and very aware body.
Damn, this bond and its endless campaign to click us together like a horny set of Legos.
As I wiggled my way to the side of the bed, the cellphone in Ezra’s hand began to screech.
“That would be Rani. Again,” he sighed and shoved the phone at me with a grimace. “It’s for you.”
Crap. They mentioned something about her being on a rampage to find me.
My heart twisted. I’d never had a friend care like that.
I wanted to ease her panic, I did, but I still avoided calling her back these past couple days.
What if I couldn’t sell the story? I couldn’t explain to a human why I was hiding or that magical beings were trying to kill me… because I was also a magical being.
“Just stick to the plan, princess. It will be fine.” A rumpled Kaiden sat up and stretched, his muscles bunching and flexing as his arms rose.
I took the phone from Ezra, if only so I wouldn’t be caught staring. One deep breath, and then I answered.
“Tell me where she is or so help me—”
“It’s me.”
Silence. And then…
“Eryn! Where the hell have you been?”
I held the phone far from my ear, but we all heard her. She was a wound-up mix of pissed-off and hysterical. My guilt grew with each question she shouted down the line until I thought I’d sink under it.
“I’m so sorry, Rani,” I whispered. “I should have called you the moment I felt better. I’ve been sleeping off this bug for the past few days.”
Her ranting stopped, and I glanced over at Ezra who gave me a thumbs up.
“But you’re feeling better now?” she asked, her worry making me hate myself even more.
“Yes. Kaiden has taken great care of me.”
The rest of the conversation continued at normal volume, and the boys leaned forward to try and listen in.
I paced the room to keep out of reach and to keep my nerves in check.
Any minute Rani would realize I was lying to her; but I mentioned staying here for the rest of spring break, and she didn’t question me.
In fact, she sounded downright excited about it.
“You have to tell me what the sex is like when you get back,” she squealed.
I stopped pacing. My feet rooted to the floor. Had he heard that? I spared a peek at Kaiden; he’d be smirking if he heard, right?
“I-Uh. I have my own room,” I lied. There would be no details of sex because it wouldn’t be happening. Ever.
When we finally hung up, with promises to have dinner the night before classes resumed, I felt like I’d run a mile.
Who knew lying took so much out of you? Ezra left us to start breakfast and then patrol, and just like that, Kaiden and I were alone again.
Three more days of this. Just three more days to get through.
And nights. I pushed that thought aside. Buried it.
“That wasn’t so bad, was it?”
I glared because he knew it was. Thankfully, Rani hadn’t asked many questions, and the story was easy to keep simple. Less chance of slipping up later.
“Don’t look so smug,” I told him. “You got what you wanted. I’m living here.”
“And it’s about time, young lady.”
Kaiden cursed and sprung from the bed to slide on a pair of sweatpants. My head swung around, searching for the voice. Was someone spying on us? I watched Kaiden make a beeline for the dresser, more annoyed than concerned. He reached up and pulled at the dark cloth covering a mirror.
In the glass was a stern face. The woman was older but had the same eyes and shade of blonde hair as Kaiden. There wasn’t a wrinkle to be found on her flawless skin, though I could tell she was older. No laugh lines around her mouth or eyes. Who was she?
“Mother,” Kaiden growled, shoulders tense.