I couldn’t sleep.
I stared into the darkness, my shoulder throbbing where the silver had burned me. The bed beside me was empty–Kaius hadn’t returned since Frost had brought me back to our room. Hours had sed, and still no sign of him,
When the door finally opened, I tensed, unsure who to expect. Kalus’s silhouette appeared against the dim light from the hallway. He closed the door quietly, moving with the fluid grace.
“Kaius…” I whispered, unable to stop myself.
“Go back to sleep, Elowen, he replied, his voice unusually gentle.
I sat up.
wincing as the movement pulled at my injured shoulder, “Would you punish me for what I did earlier?”
He paused in the act of removing his shirt, turning to look at me. “Is this what is keeping you awake?”
“There are many other questions,” I admitted.
edge of the bed. I could feel his warmth even from where I lay. “Like?”
He finished undressing and sat on the ex
“Your mother talked about you being punished for doing the forbidden. The words tumbled out, anxiety making my voice higher than normal
“You shouldn’t be worried about that. His dismissive tone didn’t reassure me.
“You are the Alpha…” I began.
“And he is the Alpha King,” Kaius cut in. “There are these ancient wolves called the elders; they would have to enforce some kind of punishment. That’s why the old man wouldn’t let go of his title easily; he knows the power the crown comes with.”
A chill ran through me. “And you are going to let them punish you?
“It is expected of me, but it’s nothing, just some regular whipping or whatever those elders come up with, nothing to bother about.”
His casual acceptance of violence as punishment shocked me. Then again, after what I’d seen in that room, perhaps I shouldn’t be surprised.
Kaius shifted beside me, his hand reaching out to touch my injured shoulder. I couldn’t stop the small gasp of pain that escaped me
“You are hurt,” he said, his voice hardening
“No, I’m not hurt; is nothing really.” I tried to sound convincing, but the silver burn throbbed with every heartbeat.
“I tried blocking Ophelia,” I explained.
“He did this on purpose. The coldness in his voice made me shiver.
“I’m sure he didn’t mean to,” Even as I said it, I knew it was a lie. The satisfaction in Alaric’s eyes when the whip connected with my flesh had been unmistakable.
He could have stopped if he wanted to, but he didn’t; he wanted you hurt, just to annoy mu. Kaius sut up, tuming on the bedside lamp.
1/3
“Stay,” he commanded as I tried to slide away,
He moved to a cabinet across the room, retrieving a small jar filled with what looked like green paste. Returning to the bed, he dipped his fingers into the mixture.
“This might hurt a little,” he warned before applying it to my wound
The pain was immediate and intense–like ice and fire combined, spreading from the whip mark across my shoulder and down my arm. I bit my lip to keep from crying out.
“It will heal faster this way,” he explained, his touch surprisingly gentle as he spread the salve.
Thank yo
you,” I managed once the worst of the pain had subsided.
His fingers lingered on my skin, tracing the edges of the burn. “Flown, I want you to promise me one thing.”
“And what is the
that?”
“That next time you will walk away. His amber e eyes held mine, uncharacteristically serious.
“L… I…” I stammered, unsure how to respond.
“Do you know why I couldn’t walk away?” I asked instead.
He didn’t answer, but his silence felt like an invitation to continue.
“Once, I was in that position,” I said softly. “I cried out for help, but no one came to my aid, and so… I felt like maybe muld make a change.”
I didn’t elaborate further, but memories of Dorian’s cruelty flashed through my mind–times I’d been punished, humiliated, hurt, all while others pretended not to notice. How many had heard my cries and chosen to walk away?
“I am interested in finding out,” Kaius said, his voice pulling me back to the present.
“The elders, are they on their way here?” I changed the subject, not ready to explore those memories further.
“They’ve already arrived.”
My stomach knotted with dread. “I don’t care what happens to you. But I caused this, and so it is my fault. I worry even if you are a complete…
I trailed off, not wanting to finish that thought.
“I am agused you could face Alaric,” he said, a hint of pride in his voice. “Impressed and turned on ted. But I don’t want you hurt, not by any other person.”
“That doesn’t change anything.” I insisted.
you are not sleeping; I can tell. His tone was knowing, almost teasing.
Please don’t punish Kalis.
I closed my eyes, willing my racing thoughts to calm
“Elowen, the last thing you should do is worry about me.” His fingers traced my jawline, turning my face toward his,
2/3
“It is amusing that you worry about a man who is not your mate and would probably forget about you when the contract is over.”
His words stung, even though they were nothing
hing but the tru
truth.
“The truth is, I had wanted to give the old man a punch or two for a while now; this was a good opportunity to do i continued.
just that,” he
“You do?” I asked, surprised by this admission.
“What would?
d? Maybe if I did punish you, you wouldn’t feel so bad; after all, you’ve paid for your felony.” His fingers moved from my jaw to my neck, tracing the curve where his mark still showed.
“Kaius…” My voice caught as his touch sent shivers across my skin.
“Maybe you need to be a bit relaxed, and I know just how to do that. The suggestion in his voice was unmistakable.
Before I could respond, his mouth claimed mine in a kiss that was surprisingly gentle. Not the demanding, possessive kisses Id come to expect from him, but something softer, almost tender.
His hands moved over my body
ly with the same
same unexpected gentleness, careful to avoid my injured shoulder. Each touch seemed designed to ease rather than inflame, to comfort rather than possess
I found myself responding without hesitation, my body arching into is touch, seeking more of the warmth and connection be offered. For once, there was no power play, no dominance or submission–just two bodies finding solace in each other’s embrace
When he finally entered me, the sensation was different from our previous encounters. Not the rough claiming or punishment I’d experienced before, but something that felt almost like… caring.
“Let it out.” he whispered against my ear as pleasure built between us.
And I did–releasing not just the physical tension but the fear, worry, and guilt that had been consuming me since witnessing Ophelia’s abuse.
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