Chapter 30 #2
“Can’t a man just make his woman a nice breakfast after an evening of…pleasing her?” He turned to face her, revealing his whole face. “Why would the Wardens, the impending war, or the fact that you just resurrected your evil lover from a past life have anything to do with it?”
“Fenn.” She slipped out of the tangled bed, scanning the floor for her clothes, finding nothing but shadows and empty space where they should’ve been.
“Yes, love?” He poured coffee into a fresh cup, watching as she yanked the sheet from the bed and wrapped it tight around her bare skin before the morning chill could bite.
“As much as I’ve enjoyed the pampering these last six hours, you’ve stalled long enough.
” She padded across the polished wood floor and wrapped her arms around his waist, pulling him close under the sheet.
The warmth of his skin seeped into hers, and she buried her face into his chest, inhaling deeply.
He rested his chin on the top of her head. “If you want me to talk, why are you distracting me?”
As she traced the line of his collarbone with her lips, she felt him harden against her stomach.
Damn it, he’s right. I’m avoiding it, too, she thought, reluctantly pulling away.
“Good,” he said with a small nod. “Now go put some clothes on while I can still think for myself.”
She smirked, knowing full well the effect she had on him, just as he had on her. Slowly, she sauntered toward the closet, letting the sheet slip lower and lower with every step. When she reached the door, she turned to glance over her shoulder, allowing the fabric to slide fully to the floor.
“You sure?” she asked sweetly.
“Rynna,” he growled, brandishing the spatula like a weapon, his knuckles whitening as his other hand gripped the countertop.
“Fine, fine. You win.” She pouted, slipping into dark, fitted trousers and a sleeveless tunic, its sides slit allowing for swift movement. “We shall very seriously discuss the business of war and evil exes.”
The tension eased from his shoulders as he turned back to the stove, moving the meat onto a nearby plate. “You might want to sit down for this.”
Her brow furrowed, but she took a seat at the low wooden table where they shared most of their meals when not with the regiment. “Okay. Spill.”
He handed her a plate, then leaned back against the counter. “He’s willing to share his intelligence.”
“That’s...good,” she said, nibbling on the crispy bacon. “But how do we know it’s reliable? Skarn had absorbed him, basically ate his essence. For all we know, he wasn’t even conscious for most of it.”
“He’s given a sample that we’ve already confirmed as highly valuable.”
“I see.” Rynna took another slow sip of coffee. “So, what’s the problem? Keep him locked up and pump him for information. Does he want his freedom or something?” It was easier to harden herself against Kaelith, to forget everything they’d once shared when she was here with Fenn.
“He’ll only share the information directly with you. In person.”
“What?” She coughed, choking mid-sip. A spray of the liquid shot from her nose, leaving her sputtering and wiping her face with the back of her hand. “Why?” she managed to get out, though she already knew the answer. He wanted more than just his freedom; he wanted her.
Fenn raised an eyebrow, his silence saying everything.
“But...but...” she stammered. “He’s… He’s… I’m just an Awakened here.”
“We both know that’s not entirely true.”
“Fine. You know that. Takara knows that. But nobody else does.”
“Did you think you’d be able to stay under the radar through all of this?” he asked softly. “If I understand what you’ve told me, it’s bad if you’re here. End-of-the-world bad.”
“But…” She hesitated, her mind spinning. She liked what she had here, this life with Fenn, without all the apocalypse crap looming over her. She wasn’t ready to let it go.
“Kaelith is a monster,” Fenn continued. “But.” His jaw tightened. “It seems like he might be your monster. And we need his intelligence. We may even need him on the battlefield.”
“He is not my monster,” she snapped, crossing her arms. “If anything, I’m your monster.”
“And you will always be, little blade.”
Her mouth twitched. He only used that nickname when he was trying to irritate her. “Fenn, you don’t understand what you’re asking of me.”
He studied her, his gaze lingering on her face as if trying to memorize every feature before offering a sad smile. “I think I do.”
“No, you—”
“There’s a good chance that whatever you felt for him in the past will reignite if you spend enough time with him. Especially if he’s the original version of himself as a result of your extraction...like he claims to be. That more of your old self will come to the surface. The part that loved him.”
“That’s crazy,” she said, though deep down, she knew he was right.
“I don’t pretend to understand how your Missions work or your lives before this.
Hell, I don’t think you fully understand it, either.
But I know that you have faced Kaelith more than once these past eight years with Fang Unit, and not once did two of the most ruthless Hollow-born I’ve ever encountered kill each other. ”
Her frown deepened. He was definitely right.
“With every encounter, one of you always found a way to disengage more or less peacefully.”
“And...and that doesn’t bother you?” She couldn’t believe it.
“Of course, it bothers me!” His cool exterior wavered, his voice rising, the calm slipping away as his fingers flexed open and closed.
“I love you. And now we finally have a life together, one we can share openly. That life with you is everything to me.” His shoulders heaved as he struggled to keep control.
“But it means nothing if we lose the Reach, or if we lose the whole world to whatever Skarn or whoever is acting behind him is planning.”
“Fenn...”
“I will not be that selfish, Rynna.” He moved forward, placing both hands firmly on the table, fingers splayed wide against the surface.
“He’s just one man, Fenn. What makes you think his cooperation will be the key to winning this war? What makes you think we’d ever be able to trust him?”
“I can’t risk it.” His chin dropped, and his crimson-tipped hair fell around his face like a shimmering curtain. “And I trust you. You will turn him.”
He’s right, she thought. Kaelith was one of the legendary Four Ember Demons and one of the most formidable Hollow-born of the era.
Plus, he had critical information on the enemy’s plans and movements.
In any other situation, she wouldn’t have hesitated to take a personal, hands-on approach to bring him to their side.
She could turn him; she knew it. He was practically begging for it, in his own twisted way.
“What would it mean for us?”
“I don’t know.”
“Fenn...I can’t lose you. Please don’t make me do this.” The familiar weight of dread and despair swelled inside her, the suffocating darkness tightening its grip around her lungs, threatening to pull her under.
“Lose me?” The man looked up, his eyes widening just a fraction. “I’m not going anywhere as long as you still want me.”