Chapter 29

Chapter 29: Chapter 29

Chapter 29

My eyelids tightened as I awakened from my slumber. I was in someone’s arms. The warmth made me snuggle closer, reassured that I was indeed safe. For a long moment I stayed still, breathing in the familiar scent of him, letting the steady rise and fall of his chest settle the last traces of tension still lingering in my body.

"You’re a menace." Kai chuckled, the deep bass of his voice sending tingles through my core.

I lifted my arm and slid it around his neck, my wrist dangling loosely. We were in my house, the scent unmistakable. Soft, cozy lamps were switched on as Kai settled me onto the bed, and then I opened my eyes fully. The dim light painted the edges of the room in gentle gold, enough to see the exhaustion written across both our faces.

"My God, you look like a zombie."

"Well, you don’t look any better yourself." he countered, tone laced with teasing.

But I shook my head. "I’m serious, Kai. What you did tonight will warrant consequences. And usually, that comes with punishment."

I was one to know that well, currently bearing a punishment of my own. The weight of it pressed quietly at the edges of my thoughts even as I tried to push it aside.

"Well, until then, the council will adjust."

"You’re certain it won’t affect your kingship?" I asked.

Kai sat on the edge of the bed, his hand brushing through my hair while I remained curled at the knees, leaning into him so the heat of his body melted into mine, forcing me to acknowledge the warmth rising in my own. His fingers moved slowly, almost absently, as if the simple contact was enough to keep the rest of the world at bay.

"You, my dear, are overthinking." he finally said after a pause.

I stared at the opposite wall for a while. Neither of us had spoken about what I did to Nathan, but beyond that, I was not like these Alphas. I did not have the stomach for killing.

The question lingered in my mind. Did I kill Nathan?

I only wanted to stop him, and somehow that happened. The memory hovered, unfinished, refusing to settle into anything clear. I kept turning it over without finding an answer that felt solid.

"Again, you’re overthinking..." Kai drawled, pressing his lips against my forehead. The touch was brief, grounding, and still it made my thoughts scatter for a moment.

"You need a shower. You’re covered in dried blood."

"And you were fucking irresistible today. What you did." he smiled, pushing out a grin I did not even realize I had been holding back.

Please, don’t indulge me...

My lips were captured by Kai’s. I pressed my hands against his chest to steady his weight as he came over me, both hands framing my face while his lower body pressed into mine. The kiss started slow, then deepened, drawing me further into the heat of him. He hooked one of my legs around his, shifting me so my body angled to the side while he caressed my ribs, trailing soft touches down to my back.

A sudden pressure against my spine made me gasp, allowing him deeper access. The kiss grew hungrier, my senses dissolving into the moment, until a disturbing wet sensation broke through it.

I snapped my eyes open. Blood stained my clothes.

"Shit, I’m tainted." I muttered, then looked at Kai. "You must be bleeding."

"No, I’m not. I wasn’t wounded." he claimed. "I’m going to be the Alpha King, Alex. Do you seriously think I don’t heal faster than others?" Kai remarked, attempting to kiss me again.

But my concern did not ease. I slid out from under him, earning a low growl, and insisted he take off his shirt. A crooked grin formed on his face.

"Ooh, I didn’t know you had a fetish for licking blood off my chest."

"Ew..." I began, then froze when I saw the scratches across his chest, though no visible open wound remained. I motioned for him to turn, and only then did I see it clearly. The skin around the injury looked angry, the edges still dark in places.

"It’ll heal..." Kai said casually.

"You knew about it?"

"Yeah. I got pierced a little by the spear, but I mean, you saved me." he explained, unbothered while I was the one panicking for both of us.

The blood was still seeping slightly. "The skin is torn and needs treatment. This wound is deeper than it looks, and from the appearance, the spear was coated in wolfsbane." I clarified.

"How do you know that?" Kai asked, mildly intrigued, though not nearly worried enough.

"Because unlike you Alphas, Omegas are not restricted from nutrition courses, which includes healing. Many Omegas are even trained as healers." I added before moving to retrieve the necessary supplies. I took my time gathering what I needed, checking each item twice even though I already knew what I was looking for.

After about thirty minutes, I dressed Kai’s wound, though he kept teasing me by grabbing my thighs, making me jolt every time. It only slowed me down further, nearly making me forget what I was doing. Every brush of his fingers pulled my attention away, and I had to force myself to focus again on the bandages.

"You should visit the pharmacy tomorrow, or the royal clinic, whatever. Just have them treat it properly, or it won’t heal on its own." Kai said, watching me. "Don’t let your ego get in the way."

"But you’ll still try to patch me up yourself, won’t you?"

"No, I won’t." I lied. The heat in my cheeks betrayed me immediately. "Stop, Kai. I’m trying to wrap these bandages."

"Nah, leave them for later. Let’s go shower." Kai said. He did not wait for approval before lifting me into his arms, my legs instinctively wrapping around him as he carried me toward the cramped bathroom. The short distance felt longer with the way he held me close, the steady strength of him surrounding me completely.

"You can’t bathe now. Not yet at least. You’ll wet the plaster and it’ll come off."

But my words fell on deaf ears.

"Oh, at least there’s warm water." Kai whispered, ignoring my warning and earning an eye roll from me. "Did you just roll your eyes at me? Disrespect." he muttered, and the next second, all five fingers of his landed sharply on my ass.

I jumped as he pressed me against the tiled wall. Sliding off his pants, his hard length brushed against me, settling between my thighs. The cool tile at my back contrasted with the heat of his body, heightening every point of contact.

Kai groaned near my ear. "Please, don’t let this moment ever end. Please."

I wished for the same too...

"I want you to take me here, Kai." I said, my face pressed against the tile while his chest pressed against my back.

"I wouldn’t wish for anything else." he replied right before filling me completely.

The pleasure was immaculate. It rolled through me in slow, overwhelming waves, leaving little room for anything else.

Kai increased the shower flow, the cascading water drowning out thought, and the rest of the night dissolved into each other’s arms.