Chapter 47 Jasmine #2
I never imagined Kane would be a cuddler, especially not a public one. Maybe not even in front of them. But then again, this isn’t cuddling. This is claiming.
His chin settles on my shoulder as his arms lock around me, nose brushing along the curve of my throat.
“Ignore Sai,” Kane murmurs, breath skimming the shell of my ear and raising goosebumps. “He’s annoyed I didn’t share.”
Then he chuckles.
Kane. Chuckles.
That dark, quiet kind that vibrates against my skin.
Sai’s mouth drops open as he stares at Kane, and he’s not alone. They’re all staring because clearly, none of them are used to this.
To Kane.
Touching me. Holding me. Laughing.
Sai squints, voice dripping disbelief. “Who the fuck are you, and what did you do with Kane?”
If it weren’t for his cold, addictive touch, those lips I definitely remember, or the way our darkness intertwines… I’d be asking the same question.
“I can feel your emotions,” Kane says to them. “All of you.” Then he brushes a kiss to my throat, and I have to fight not to make a sound. “Especially you, immaru.”
Okay. I might let out a little gasp. But it’s not fair.
I’m the empath in this bonded unit. Emotions are my speciality. My domain. But now? He’ll know how I feel, all the time. Like right now? When I’m flustered, breathless, and very aware of where his mouth just was.
And I know how happily he’ll use this new power. To tease, arouse, unravel me, whenever and wherever he pleases.
Kane chuckles again—right against my throat—and that’s all the confirmation I need.
I’m doomed.
“With the rune partially removed, you’re now experiencing Jasmine’s empathic abilities.” Julien crosses his arms, studying me and Kane.
“Does it work both ways?” Ezekial steps closer. “Do you feel stronger, Jasmine? Like you can feel us more—”
Kane steps back, pulling me with him and the shadows respond, thickening around us in warning.
Ezekial straightens, silver eyes sharpening with confusion, then a hint of protectiveness and concern.
Sai drops down from his stool, inching closer too. Julien stands up from his lean against the counter.
When Ezekial takes another step, Kane’s hold tightens, and the shadows creep out. His emotions are raw, potent and completely possessive.
My eyes lock with Ezekial’s. “Is this like when you touched my mark for the first time and each went a bit… crazy?”
“No, this is all him.” Ezekial’s voice is tight as his piercing gaze flickers over us. “Brother, Jasmine’s safe—”
“Mine.” The word doesn’t just cut through the air, it echoes. Aloud. In our minds. Clear and absolute.
I guess Kane hadn’t been kidding about the possessiveness.
“You can feel our emotions now, huh?” Sai snarls, dragging his tongue across his teeth. “Can you feel how close I am to knocking your fucking teeth out?”
Julien steps in front of Sai. “That seems to be the problem.” Then makes his way towards Ezekial’s side with cautious steps. “Kane’s never felt emotions like this. Not his, or ours, nor Jasmine’s. Not this deeply or all at once. It’s overwhelming him.”
And suddenly, I understand. I know exactly what that feels like.
The confusion, the chaos, the raw flood of it all. Not knowing where you end and everyone else begins. The rune, the bond, the fact that we’re all here—together—for the first time since the rune altered again…
He felt me when we were alone together. But now, he feels them too. All of us. And he doesn’t know how to separate the emotions. He just knows he’s never had anything like this before, and he’s terrified it’ll be taken from him.
I feel it. That fear bleeds through the bond like ink dropped in water. No edges, no end. Just his need to keep me close and everyone else out.
My hands curl around his arms. “Kane.”
His body softens, just slightly. Some shadows recoil, but don’t leave.
“I’m safe,” I whisper, trying to look up at him. “Everything’s fine. You just need time to… adjust.” I push calm through the bond.
For a moment, nothing changes. His breath still ghosts across my throat, his arms a cage, darkness defensive.
“I’m not leaving, Kane. I’m here, with you. Always.”
His arms loosen then, just a fraction, but it’s enough to let me pump him full of soothing emotions.
“I…” His voice is rough, cloudy with uncertainty. Then I feel his arms fall away as he steps back.
When I turn to face him, my heart clenches at his expression.
Stormy. His black eyes are wild with conflict and fear, there’s too many emotions crashing through him.
Kane has always been good at hiding his feelings, burying them beneath that cold, indifferent exterior. But now they’re written across his face.
And he looks… scared.
I reach out, fingers brushing his wrist—
He leaves.
No words. No warning. Even the shadows hesitate, reluctant to follow, but eventually disperse.
I stare at the empty space and the ache hits instantly, like something’s been yanked away. I press my palm to my sternum, trying to breathe past the hollow, then wrap my arms around myself. It doesn’t help.
“He was worried about this,” I murmur, still staring at the place he’d been. “Not this exactly, but… he said he’d be too much. For me. For you guys.”
“Well, when doesn’t Kane think he’s too much for anyone?” Sai scoffs, but it’s a softer sound than usual. Less bite. “He hates himself more than a shifter who finds out they’re a fish.”
Ezekial stares at him, deadpan. “That’s the first comparison you could think of?”
Julien’s lips twitch. “A real tragedy.”
Somehow, impossibly, after everything—after Kane fleeing—I’m seconds away from laughing.
But then the cold returns. Not on my skin, but somewhere deeper inside of me. The ache blooms in my chest like a bruise freshly touched.
I tighten the hold around myself, trying to trap the warmth that’s slipping away. And goddesses, I’m so tired. When did I get so tired?
“I’m worried about him,” I say quietly.
They move closer before I even finish.
“Baby,” Sai says gently, and that softness, that tone, nearly undoes me. My lip trembles. “We’ve been around Kane a long time. This is classic Kane behaviour. He doesn’t care about much, but when he does, he either pushes it away, or he’s protective as hell.”
Ezekial steps closer, placing a warm hand on my shoulder. We’ve shared far more intimate touches than this, but somehow, he knows this is what I need. That quiet, grounding weight. The gesture I’ve seen them use on each other.
And it helps.
“We’ll speak with him.” Ezekial’s voice is low and soothing, but also so certain. “Sai is right. We know him, and he’ll be fine. Try not to worry.”
I nod, or try to, but my head feels… heavy.
Ezekial’s fingers shift, brushing the side of my neck. The touch is small, soft, but filled with warmth. “You’re still tired?”
“Only a little…” I murmur, but the way I sway says otherwise.
“Every time the rune’s been altered, you’ve needed extended rest.” Julien steps closer, his voice soft. “You need to sleep.”
Right on cue, pain flickers behind my eyes in a tight pinch I try to blink away. Julien steps forwards and Ezekial’s at my back, hand supporting my neck.
Sai’s voice drops. “She’s crashing.”
“No…” I try to protest, forcing myself to stay upright. “We need to find Kane…”
“We will, but not now.” Sai saunters beside Julien, then smirks. “You won’t win this fight, Red.” His fingers brush my cheeks, smirk widening into something a little feral. “Although I do love it when you fight.”
Zeek sighs, and Sai winks at him. Julien just smiles.
I try to laugh, and maybe I do, but it’s quiet because everything feels far away. Fuzzy…
One moment, I’m upright. Next, I’m weightless, being held in a strong, warm hold that I recognise as Ezekial’s arms.
The pinch behind my eyes sharpens, black dots rushing in as I try to keep them open, try to fight it the urge to sleep.
But just before the darkness swallows me, I manage to force out in a drowsy whisper, “Please find him.”