Chapter Twenty-Nine #2
The blades spin through the air, clean and merciless, before burying dead centre in the target.
She’s right. I don’t know him, not really.
Everything I think I know about Kaden is stitched together from rumour and assumption.
Even with the soulbond, I’ve never tried to see him for who he is.
I just decided he’s bad because he serves The Council, because it was easier that way.
But if I think about it logically… what choice did he ever have?
The memory crashes through me with the force of a tsunami, a battlefield drowned in smoke and blood, Kaden on his knees, his mother’s lifeless body cradled in his arms. The sound he made still echoes in the back of my skull, raw and broken.
He was forced into this life, orphaned into it.
He didn’t choose this any more than I did.
Guilt prickles beneath my skin and my eyes flick toward him across the hall.
Kaden moves with brutal grace as he spars with Thane, his bare chest slick with sweat, muscles flexing as he shifts, concentration knitting his brow. The sight of him makes my knees go weak, and my breath catch in my throat.
“I could stand here and watch Thane spar all day,” Sirena says, her eyes roaming greedily over her bonded.
A smile lifts at my lips, the earlier guilt smothered for a heartbeat. “They’re both really skilled, I guess that’s what growing up in the Tower gets you.”
She shrugs, dropping to the floor and leaning her back against the wall. “I’m staring at the muscle. But sure, you’re looking to admire the skill.”
I laugh softly, dropping to the floor beside her. “I’m not saying they’re not nice on the eyes, because clearly they are.”
“Gods, I just want to run my tongue over every one of his muscles.” She bites into her bottom lip, mouth curving up into a smile as she admires Thane’s shirtless torso.
My eyes roam over Kaden, sinew rippling with every dodge and hit, sweat slick against his skin, those beautiful, mismatched eyes in deep concentration. That ache between my thighs returns, an insistent reminder of last night, of him.
I lower the thin veil of magic shielding me ever so slightly from the bond, and his emotions instantly bleed back into me. Heat and calm… he’s relaxed, far too relaxed for Kaden.
A smirk tugs at my lips as I send him flashes of last night through the mental bridge. His mouth on my neck, the weight of him pressing into me, the sound I made when he made me come.
His focus fractures instantly, stiffening mid-spar, eyes wide and wild. A flush of heat and arousal hits me through the link, thick and heady, right before Thane’s fist connects hard with his abdomen.
The sound Kaden makes is more grunt than groan, air leaving his lungs as he stumbles back.
“Holy shit, I hit you!” Thane laughs, stepping back with a wild grin. “I actually hit you!”
Kaden straightens slowly, glaring daggers. “You got lucky.”
“Lucky, my ass,” Thane says, wiping sweat from his brow. “You’re off your game, brother. I haven’t seen you this distracted since… well, ever.”
Sirena chuckles next to me, smirk sharp as glass. “Distracted? More like satisfied. Look at him, he’s practically glowing.”
Kaden groans, dragging a hand through his hair. “Glowing? Neytiri, save me. You can both fuck off.”
Thane grins wider, cracking his neck. “You’re right, he has been oddly chill this morning.” he turns, looking back at Kaden. “You’d normally be threatening to throw me out a window by now.”
“Maybe he’s just in a better mood,” Sirena sing-songs, tapping her chin theatrically. “Or maybe,” her gaze flicks deliberately to me. “Someone helped him… unwind.”
I bite down a laugh, trying with everything in me not to push my amusement down the bond. Kaden’s gaze flicks to mine as feather-light fingers brush my thoughts.
“Is this funny to you, Elysia darling?”
I let my laughter brush against his mind, a whisper of thought laced with warmth. “A little, you’re welcome by the way.”
Thane turns to look at me, his grin spreading impossibly wide, a stark contrast to the mask of composure he usually wears. “It’s about damn time. You should keep it up, he’s less murdery, more human,” he finishes with a wink.
“For the love of the gods, fuck off, Thane.” Kaden retorts, Thane only laughs in response.
“Oof, touchy,” Sirena teases, flipping a knife in her hand. “He’s right, though. You’re usually all growls and murder-eyes. It’s nice seeing you more relaxed. Unnerving, sure… but nice.”
Through the bond, his irritation spikes, but so does amusement. I brush against his thoughts, deciding to add fuel to the fire and sending another wave of memories through the tether. My body moving with his, the sound of his name leaving my lips.
Desire crashes into me with brutal intent, desperate and hot as his deep voice slides into my mind.
“I’ve kept my thoughts and memories to myself all morning, and now you’re fucking me in your mind. That’s not playing fair.”
I bite into my bottom lip, his gravelly voice sending a flush across my skin as I undo my loose plait—a deliberate move to mess with him a fraction more.
“Gods, your fucking hair. I’m about five seconds from taking you against that wall, Elysia.”
My breathing stutters at the thought alone, heat coiling low in my stomach. I take in a steadying breath, then school my features into neutrality. “Last night was just release, Kaden. Something we both clearly needed. I don’t regret it… but it won’t happen again.”
There’s a pause, then a faint curl of amusement trickles beneath his next thought. “Sure. Keep telling yourself that.”
My pulse kicks up despite myself, and I force the bond quiet, but not before his satisfaction trickles through, smug and infuriating.
Sirena catches his brief flicker of a smirk. “See? That’s what I’m talking about.”
Thane folds his arms, deadpan. “He’s smiling. Gods, you’re right… It’s unsettling.”
Kaden exhales sharply. “I hate both of you.”
Sirena grins. “No, you don’t. You just hate that we’re right.”
Kaden’s eyes narrow as he pins them both with a sharp look. “You done?”
“For now,” Thane says, a smirk tugging at one corner of his mouth. “Wouldn’t want to tire you out.”
“Gods, give me strength,” Kaden mutters, dragging his hand down his face and sauntering off to drink from his waterskin. His throat works with each swallow, the muscles in his neck rippling.
Fuck me, everything this man does is attractive.
“Elysia.”
My name being called drags me out of my indecent thoughts. Ronan walks over, a small smile tugging at his lips.
He clears his throat as he approaches, “Do you have a minute?”
I nod, offering him a small smile, but a bundle of nerves begins to form in my stomach, and my throat dries. “Of course.”
Ronan holds out his hand, and I hesitate for a millisecond before accepting the gesture. Warmth crawls up my arm from his touch as he pulls me to my feet and slinks an arm around my shoulder, gesturing forward.
Annoyance and jealousy begin trickling through the bond, and sure enough, Kaden is watching us with a glare sharp enough to cut.
My eyes roll before I can stop them, a sigh pressing against the edge of his mind. “Stop scowling, you’re acting like a territorial asshole.”
“What the hell does he want?”
“I don’t know, and it doesn’t matter. I’m not yours; you don’t get to keep acting the part of a jealous lover.”
A deep, dangerous chuckle echoes around my mind in response, his voice following a second later. “You sure felt like mine last night.”
My heart jumps, a flush crawling up my skin at his words, but I push it back, focusing on Ronan as we come to a stop a few meters away.
His arm leaves my shoulder as he leans against the wall.
“It was really shitty finding out about you and Kaden from Odette.”
Guilt rears its ugly head, clawing at my skin. “I’m sorry, Ronan. I wanted to talk—”
He cuts me off, holding up a hand and shaking his head. “I’m not here for an apology, Elysia. I’m just letting you know it wasn’t nice finding out like that.”
I swallow, words jammed useless in my throat yet again.
His shoulders shrug as he continues, “We weren’t exclusive; we both knew that. You didn’t and don’t owe me anything, but I thought we were close enough to be honest with each other.”
“I’m so, so sorry. I planned to speak with you alone; I never wanted you to find out the way you did. I think we can both agree it was… embarrassing,”
He chuckles lightly, ocean blue eyes glinting with subtle understanding. “Leave it to Odette to stir the pot. She’s reliable, I’ll give her that.” His shoulders ease back against the wall. “Look, I’ve had time to think about it, and I realised something.”
My brows knit. “What’s that?”
He exhales, eyes flicking up toward the ceiling before finding mine again. “I care about you, Elysia. Probably more than I should, but I also know whatever is between you and Kaden isn’t nothing.”
My throat tightens. “Ronan—”
He shakes his head, a sad smile tugging at his lips. “You don’t have to explain it. I understand, and it’s because I understand that I’m going to step back. I value our friendship too much; you deserve peace, not a tug of war.”
The words sting even though they’re said gently, his voice steady and honest.
He pushes off the wall, his hands sliding into his pockets. “You and Kaden. Whatever that is, even if it’s just attraction, it’s real. And you deserve to explore that without me standing in the way. You’re soul-bound, Elysia… It’s worth giving it a shot.”
A lump forms in my throat, guilt and gratitude warring in my chest. “You’re being too understanding.”
He lets out a quiet laugh, rubbing the back of his neck. “Brynn says it’s my fatal flaw.” His smile softens. “If we ever had the pull that you and Kaden have, we’d explore it too.”
That familiar warmth rises in me, the same one that drew me to him in the first place, his kindness, his humour, the quiet strength beneath it all.
I step closer, searching his face as a soft smile tugs at my lips, “So, safe to say you don’t hate me?”
He chuckles, “I could never hate you.”
His eyes trace my face like he’s memorising it, then he pulls me into his chest and presses a kiss to my forehead. Soft, lingering, slight heartbreak wrapped in affection. He’s solid and warm and for a moment I let myself sink into it, into the comfort of what could have been.
“Maybe in another life?” he mutters my hair.
I look up and meet his eyes, “Maybe in another life.” I pause, placing a gentle kiss on his cheek. “Thank you, Ronan. For being you.”
He chuckles, his arm swinging back around my shoulder, nudging us back towards the centre of the combat hall. “Don’t thank me yet. I’ll still kick your ass in training tomorrow.”
I scoff, “Yeah, sure. I don’t recall you winning against me in a sparring match for at least two months.”
He shrugs, a smile tilting at his lips, “Maybe tomorrow you’ll let me be victorious, since I’ve been so kind and understanding.”
A chuckle slips up my throat “Hmm, maybe if you’re lucky. I might have an off day.”
We reach the centre of the hall as Instructor Seraphine walks in, his arm dropping from my shoulder as he walks off towards Enzo.
Odette saunters over, tugging me into her side. “Was it brutal?”
I roll my eyes. She truly can’t help herself.
“No, but it’s Ronan. So I’m not surprised.”
She lets out a low whistle “Agreed, he is far too kind.”
Silence stretches across the hall as Instructor Seraphine speaks, but all I can concentrate on is the regret pooling low in my chest. Not for what Kaden and I shared, but for how it happened. For how it hurt Ronan, and how even after the fact, he still treats me with kindness.