Chapter 31 Avilyna
Avilyna
KNOTS IN MY GUT
“Alright, alright! I got it.” Kai snaps, clearly irritated after my third round of instructions. This guy wouldn’t know finesse if it slapped him across the face. A few strands of his dark blond hair fall into his eyes as his tattooed bicep flexes while he scoops the salad into two bowls.
Once we sit down, I can’t hold my nerves any longer. Kai’s hot-and-cold behaviour is driving me up the wall. Seriously, do boys do this on purpose? Then they turn around and say we’re complicated. No, buddy, you’re just unreadable, ugh.
With nothing else to focus on, I start bouncing my leg under the table.
My mind is racing, regret choking me. What was I thinking?
Everyone warned me not to trust any guy, and what do I do?
I trust the pretty one. Honestly, if I end up in prison or poisoned tonight, I’d say I had it coming.
A warm hand lands on my leg, stilling it with a firm, but gentle squeeze.
“You’re thinking so loudly, I’m getting a headache,” Kai mutters, mouth half-full. I shoot him an exasperated look and shove his hand off my thigh.
“Why are you helping me? I thought you didn’t do charity.”
“I don’t,” Kai mutters, his mouth half-full. “Who says I’m not getting something out of it?”
I roll my eyes. “All you’ve gotten so far is a headache.” He smirks into his bowl, and I hate that it makes me almost smile.
“And this amazing salad,” he adds, his mouth full of food.
I clear my throat, swallowing my bite. “Anyway… What’s the plan?”
He jabs his fork at me. “You train, learn, and don’t attract attention until you awaken.” At that, I stand up abruptly, frustration bubbling over.
“Well, clearly that awakening isn’t happening anytime soon. Is there a way to provoke it or something?”
“No,” Kai says flatly, looking at me like I just suggested we fight a dragon with a toothpick.
He tilts his head. “Well, maybe… Something’s clearly blocking it.
You did say you can’t remember your past. Let’s figure that out.
Maybe if we can break that memory lock, it’ll let you tap into your powers. ”
I blink at him, unimpressed. “Wow. Groundbreaking. Next, you’re gonna tell me fire’s hot?”
He raises a brow, not missing a beat. “Just trying to help, Princess.”
“Sweet, but if I wanted obvious advice, I’d use the library. Again.” Kai’s jaw tightens, that familiar glow sparking behind his eyes, a warning. I smirk, tilting my head just enough to twist the knife. “Aw, did I ruffle your feathers? Not so fun when the claws come out in your direction, huh?”
His silence says more than words ever could.
Before I can blink, I’m flat on my back, bowls crashing to the floor, ceramic shards echoing through the kitchen.
The cold of the table bites into my back, but it’s the pressure at my throat that steals my breath.
Kai looms over me; he was too fast, too strong.
His grip, unrelenting, forcing control. His knee slides between mine, leaning in closer.
"Careful with the games, Princess," he growls, a dark smile curling on his lips, his fangs glinting. "I like it rough."
My eyes lock on his, unbothered. “Yeah? Like you could handle me.” I don’t give him the satisfaction of elaborating.
Instead, I push on the inside of his elbow, destabilizing his grip, and flip us in one clean move.
I’m even a little impressed. Good thing the table is immense, or we’ll be on the floor by now.
On top, straddling him, I’m pressed against every inch of lean, unforgiving muscle.
Heat radiating off him like a damn furnace, addictive—dangerous.
Kai’s eyes widen just enough to betray his surprise, and I drink in the victory. I’ll be lying if I say it left me indifferent.
“Still think you’re in control?” I whisper, arching an eyebrow. “Fucking psycho.” Kai’s laugh is low, cocky, sending shivers down my core.
“If I’m a psycho, then you're straight-up delusional.” He rolls his hips just enough to make a point. “Not that it matters, Princess. But, you smell fucking delicious.”
I bite my lip, holding back whatever sound might confirm his statement, not like he needs it.
The only thing breaking the silence is our heavy breaths, electric, tense, like trying to breathe underwater.
Denying his little game, because let’s be real, that’s all it is.
I’m clearly the only girl who’s ever told him no.
That’s a win right there. To him, I’m just a challenge, a distraction from whatever mess he’s supposed to be handling.
“You’re gonna help me.”
“I already said I will.”
“No. I want a plan.”
Kai shrugs. “You need allies, Vi. We can’t take down whatever wiped out Elgar’s greatest warriors, and half the population, alone.” He’s not wrong. But there’s a fifty-fifty chance those so-called allies could turn out to be enemies, except… No risk, no reward, right?
Even if I know that, there’s still the fact that Dad wanted to protect me so badly, he ended up hurting me with his lies, making me feel like something was wrong with me.
Something is wrong with me. And that feeling, it doesn’t just switch off.
Even if I know some of the truths now, my wounds haven’t even stopped bleeding yet.
There’s this deep hole inside me, whispering that I’m meant to be alone, after all, that’s the only life I’ve ever known.
One where nothing’s ever really been expected of me.
So why should it matter if I get this right? In the end, I am no one.
“That’s the plan, Princess, you in?” His words hit me harder than I expected. The fact that I have a say, maybe he actually cares, even if it’s just a little, and that throws everything off balance.
“And just who could our allies be?” I ask, sliding off him and brushing my shirt back into place. Kai leans back on his elbows, casual.
“Wyll, Caleb… maybe Nalaka.” He lifts a brow. “Who else even knows what you are?”
I hesitate. “My dad. Ruby. You… and I think Sakura might have figured something out.”
“Sakura?” he echoes, clueless.
“She’s the head of the healing ward.”
“Oh, her. The one who talks like she’s in constant vision?”
“That’s her.”
Kai snorts, jumping back into his feet. “And you trust her?”
“I don’t think she knows how not to be honest. Or how to stop talking, for that matter.”
He smirks. “Perfect. A human lie detector with no filter.”
“She’s odd, not dangerous. And honestly, who isn’t weird?”
Kai hums, half-convinced. “Well, if you think she’s trustworthy, we can add her. But I’m not explaining anything if she starts talking to plants.” I roll my eyes. “Alright, tomorrow we should gather everyone and make a plan.”
I curtly nod, the reality of it all settling in.“Shouldn’t we clean this mess first?” I ask, gesturing to the chaos in the kitchen.
Kai shrugs. “Nah, that's tomorrow's problem, or Caleb’s.”
Shaking my head, a smile tugs at the corner of my lips. “You’re horrible.”
“Guilty as charged,” Kai replies with a wink. We ascend the stairs in a somewhat comfortable silence.“My offer still stands for that shower.” He then says, adding to the lingering tension that’s always somewhere between us.
“And my answer remains unchanged.”
A soft laugh escapes Kai, and I catch the shy undertone. A rare sound from him. It’s disarming, like the unexpected warmth of sunlight on a winter day.
“We’ve met before,” I whisper, more to myself than to him, and his smile falters; he contemplates me.
“I suspected as much, but for some reason… I can’t remember.” The last part is whispered as if it’s a secret. We stand there, the weight of unspoken words hanging between us. The silence stretches, laden with possibilities, and finally, I break the stillness.
“Goodnight.”
I turn away, retreating into my room, choosing solitude over the magnetic pull of his presence. Being near him is a constant battle of wills, and tonight, my emotions are edging dangerously close to surrender.
Another nightmare wakes me, but this time, it offers nothing new, just sharper angles of what I’ve already survived. Still, the longer I’m here, the more I begin to remember. Pieces come back in flashes, and I’m starting to understand them for what they are: memories, answers.
I just need to learn how to read them.
Exhausted to the bone, I prepare myself for another day in Elgar.
I have plenty of time to make a mean iced caramel latte.
Searching through the pantries, I gather all my ingredients.
Toasting white sugar until it’s melted before I add butter, cream, and salt.
Using Kvirr to accelerate things and keep everything under control.
In five minutes, I get a smooth golden syrup.
My taste buds are so happy, it’s orgasmic.
Who needs boys when you have this divine potion?
I’m so proud of myself, I end up writing down the instructions for Wyll.
That will teach him to judge my favourite drink.
Reaching the yard, I see the guys returning from their run, sweat gleaming down their torsos.
"Lyna, care for a hug?" Wyll’s wolfish smile is on full display.
"Don't even think about it." Kai's booming voice answers for me.
"Kai's very protective of what's his," Wyll remarks, feigning conspiracy.
"I'm not his—” “—That's right.” Kai and I say in unison, contradicting each other.
That fucking guy.
"Weren't you dating Heather, you know, with her being the daughter of Elveron's alpha and all that?
" Caleb interrupts, wiping his face with a towel, clueless to the effect his words have. Kai doesn’t bother explaining or denying anything; he just stares at me, typical.
The only tell is the flicker in his eyes, softening just for a second before his usual wall of indifference slams back into place.
I let out a dry scoff, shaking my head, and turn away.