Chapter 4
KAEL
That motherfucker.
In my bed.
I'm never going to hear the end of it.
That smug look on his face is a promise. But it doesn't matter right now, not when we have bigger issues to deal with, and I have a solution…
I just know they're not going to like it.
Looking at Elodie splayed out on my bed beside another man should piss me off, but it lures me closer, offering a distraction I can’t take. So before I do something stupid, I take a step back and head into the living room, closing the door before I go.
My thoughts are thankfully redirected when I spy Thorne on the sofa, elbows braced on his thighs with his hands clasped together. He doesn't meet my gaze, and I get the feeling I know why.
Dragging a hand down my face, I glance back at the door separating me from Elodie and Rion. I'm too antsy to stand and wait for them, but my gut tells me we’re missing someone anyway, so before I can change my mind, I head for the exit.
Thorne doesn’t call after me as I move into the hallway and take the few steps across the hall. Lifting my hand, poised to knock, my mental blockers falter and fear claws up my spine as a memory flickers through my thoughts.
Sadness bleeds through me as I hold my arm against my chest, tears brimming along my eyelids as I try with all of my strength to hold it together.
My father crouches before me on one knee, attempting to take a look at my arm, but I can’t let go. His brows gather with concern as he tilts his head, his stare meeting mine.
“It’s okay, Kael. We can make it all better, but I need you to let me look, okay?”
I shake my head.
Letting him see might reveal what happened, and he can’t know. Not now, not ever.
“I’ll be fine,” I grumble, my words wobbling despite my best efforts.
His gaze softens, as if he understands, but he doesn’t. He can’t.
“How about we get you a cold compress at least, then we can attempt to put some ointment on it to help it heal?” he offers, but I still shake my head. “Kael,” he says softly, dropping his outstretched hand to brace against his knee.
Without a word, he stands, falling back onto the wooden chair behind him, his eyes never leaving mine.
“If I can’t look at your arm, can I ask you a question?”
I nip at my bottom lip nervously before reluctantly nodding.
A question is simple, but it also hides the reasoning behind my injury, which means he might not ask again.
“Does this have something to do with Jude?”
I freeze, my eyes widening as I frantically shake my head, but it’s obvious he sees right through me.
“No!” I yelp for good measure, and although he nods, it’s not in acknowledgement of my words. He’s letting what I’m not saying tell the truth I can’t bring myself to acknowledge.
“Has your brother ever hurt you?” he asks, and I shake my head, causing a tear to fall down my cheek. I’m not fast enough to swipe it away and my father’s gaze lingers on the trail it leaves behind. “Go to your mother, let her fix it. Tell her I’m dealing with Jude.”
“No, Dad. No!” I screech, peering over his shoulder, spying my brother’s shadow in the open doorway. “I’m fine, I’m okay.” Sobs wrack my chest despite my protests, and my father’s eyebrows pinch.
My gaze darts between my father and the shadow, and he spots the movement, understanding quickly washing over his face. He stands, rising to his full height as he plants a hand on my good shoulder. I expect him to leave, but instead, he tugs at my arm, revealing the truth, and I scream.
Bite marks line every inch of my flesh, blood dancing across my skin, but it’s not the pain that scares me; it’s the horror in my father’s eyes.
A shiver runs down my spine, shaking me from my thoughts and returning me to the present with my hand still lifted awkwardly in the air. Desperate to put as much between me and my mind as I can, I pound my fist against the door.
It takes a few moments, but the latch clicks and Ocean appears before me, confusion written across her face as she blinks at me expectantly.
“I have a solution,” I grunt, pointing over my shoulder, and her eyebrows rise in surprise before she nods slowly.
Without question, she follows me out into the hallway, locking the door behind her as she goes.
Silence still lingers as I lead the way, waving her into our room before closing the door and turning to make sure everyone is present.
As Ocean peers around the lounge, Elodie steps out of my room in one of my t-shirts, which hangs to mid-thigh. My cock stirs, but irritation quickly coils through my bones when Rion steps out beside her, wearing the same shorts and t-shirt he had on earlier.
All I actually see is the smug grin on his face, and it’s more than I can handle.
I track his every move with narrowed eyes as he takes a seat on the opposite end of the sofa to Thorne, swiftly pulling Elodie into his lap.
Fucker.
Ocean perches herself on the arm of the sofa on the other side of Thorne.
I grunt, irritated that Elodie is closer to Rion than me right now, but my desire to interject and pull her away from him is halted by the uncertainty that I feel still wavers between us.
I don't know where we stand.
The moment Ocean used her magic to break down what my brother had been exposing me to was quickly outweighed by more drama, more trauma, and more strife before I could see where we were.
I should have taken that moment with her, that night in my room when she crawled into my lap. I was a fool. I thought I was doing the right thing. Now here I am, as clueless as ever.
It’s not hard to understand that my brother placed me in The Sanctum to selfishly fuel his own personal gains, but as much as I hate that reality, it brought her to me. If someone had told me my life would change being confined like that, I would have believed them, but not in this way.
Never in a million years could I have seen this coming.
Clearing my throat, I shake my head, eager to pull myself from my thoughts once again, but as I stare at her, bile burns up my throat.
The wedge between us is too real. My betrayal will linger forever. And as much as she may come to forgive me, I don't know whether I will be able to forgive myself.
“What's going on?” Ocean asks, breaking the silence, and I exhale, thankful for the interruption.
Peering at each of them, I stuff my hands in my pockets, opting to remain on my feet.
“Elodie wants her parents out of Castle Jude, and—”
“Castle Jude?” Ocean interjects, and I roll my eyes.
“That's what he calls it,” I explain, and she scoffs.
“Why am I not surprised?” she mutters, more to herself than anything, but the rest of them nod in agreement.
Wiping a hand down my face, I focus on keeping the conversation on track. “I think Elodie is right.” All eyes are on me now, except for Thorne. “I think we need to call the Rebellion out, but doing so means we also need an in.”
Rion frowns, and as I turn to him, I sense Thorne’s gaze for the first time, but it's Elodie who speaks.
“I can't tell what you are alluding to.”
She can. Deep down I know she can. She just doesn’t want to admit it.
I rock back on my heels, staring at the floor as I take a deep breath, hating how exposed I feel right now, but the moment they all saw me under the control of my brother, they saw me at my worst. I have to learn to offer this side of myself if I want to succeed; if I want us all to move past this.
“Drawing Jude out leaves his captives exposed, but we're going to need someone there to set them free,” I explain, and Ocean purses her lips.
“And you think that should be you?” Ocean clarifies, and I shrug, daring to lift my head, opting to keep my focus on her instead of looking to the girl who matters the most.
“It makes sense,” I offer with a shrug, despite the tension in my muscles.
“Sure, if you have a death wish,” Rion scoffs, and I aim a withering look in his direction, avoiding Elodie’s gaze right beside his big, stupid head.
“As reckless as I might be, I'm not quite there yet,” I insist, pulling my hands from my pockets only to plant them on my hips.
Elodie waves her hand, making it impossible to avoid her any longer. The second our gazes connect, she exhales. “Sorry, sex-induced haze right now, but… what am I not getting?”
Ocean snickers as Elodie clamps a hand over her mouth in embarrassment, while Rion beams obnoxiously.
My chin finds my chest as I take a deep breath, mustering the strength to face her head-on and speak the truth. “I think the in we need is me.”
“Absolutely not,” Elodie balks, jumping to her feet with a huff.
No hesitation.
No question.
Nothing.
It’s the part of her that drives me insane and makes me hot for her all at once. Swallowing the temptation to grin, I cock a brow at her. “That's cute, Elodie, but I'm not asking. I'm explaining before I follow through with my plan,” I offer, and she shakes her head at me in disbelief.
“Kael…” She starts taking a step toward me, and I lift my hands.
“It's what has to be done.”
“There's another way,” she insists, and I scoff.
“If there was, someone else would have come up with it by now. The likely fact is, they have, and it's the same as mine, but they don't want to say it,” I murmur, my gaze snapping to Thorne, who quickly looks away, confirming my suspicions.
Elodie eliminates the rest of the distance between us, coming toe to toe with me as she wraps her fingers around both of my arms. It’s not lost on me, even in these moments when her emotions are a little heightened, that she is mindful of her hands not making contact with my chest.
I wouldn’t care if they did.
I’d let her burn me from the inside out if it meant I got to be close to her.
“I can't let you do this, Kael,” she breathes, pulling me from my thoughts. I offer a small smile, but I know she sees through it.
“I already am, because it's our best shot.”
“I need you to hear me, Kael.” She speaks slowly, her eyes wild despite the calmness she's exuding. “I will not risk you falling back under that asshole's power again. Especially not for me.”
My heart softens as I brush her hair back off her face, curling it around her ear as I let my fingers ghost across her skin.
She looks deep into my eyes, her gaze almost touching my soul as her shoulders sag. I know she can sense the resolution I feel; she just doesn't want to believe it.
“This time, it will be different,” I assert. “This time, we are going to be the ones in control.”
Ocean clears her throat. “My magic may not be strong enough to withstand him,” she murmurs, and I nod.
“I know, which is why we have another step to take before I go.”
“You're really doing this?” Thorne clarifies, and I nod again, my head bobbing repeatedly when I can’t find the use of my tongue.
“And I can't stop you?” Elodie adds. The fear in her tone makes my stomach clench, but I stand by it.
“No matter how hard you try. I owe you this, Elodie. My sacrifice is yours, but it won't come to that, because we're going to be one step ahead.”
“How?” Rion asks, and I stand tall.
“The Veilstone.”
Everyone stills, their eyes widening in disbelief, and once again, it's Ocean who breaks the ice.
“Isn't that a mind-controlling device?”
“Yes,” I answer.
“I’m struggling to see your vision here,” Rion grunts, and I clear my throat, my eyes latching onto Elodie’s as I speak the truth.
“He won't be able to control me if you already are.”