Page 29 of Blood and War
Infuriating, but interesting.
The room around them grew silent as neither dared to say a word. He focused on their surroundings. Listening. Taking count of the bodies that wandered around the building.
Three. With weapons.
The humans hadn’t realized that their weapons couldn’t hurt him. No regular weapon could. Kellan could count on one hand the number of times he had been severely injured. Twice. While not severe, three times if he counted the run in with Noel. Angel blades were the only thing that could truly hurt him. Anything forged on Eden proved to be deadly for not only his enemies, but his own people as well.
“Are you… Did you really just thank me?” The soft tone of her voice carried throughout the room, breaking Kellan from the trance-like state he’d been in.
“You say that as if it’s the most shocking thing in the world.” With a slight chuckle, he began to dress in the clothing she’d so carelessly tossed his way, pulling the familiar dark shirt over his head. Tugging at the hole in the fabric on his chest, he sighed.
The human watched with curious eyes, and he could practically see the questions she harbored, but couldn’t bring herself to ask. He supposed she didn’t really have experience with his kind, none usually did. If she decided to ask them, he might give her the answers. It was still up for debate.
His body ached. Not from the wound itself, but from being immobile in that thing they called a bed. While the poison would have run its course naturally, whatever they had done had sped up the process. He guessed it was better than being left in the middle of nowhere for days on end while his body healed.
“It is shocking. I did not take you for a thankful per—being.” She corrected herself quickly.
He watched as she busied herself around the room. Dumping a small pail of water down the sink before making her way once more to the other side of the room. He watched the way her body moved. Confident. Sure of herself.Unafraidof him. Swinging open a plain cabinet door, he watched as she turned a dial on the surface of whatever was inside before the girl pulled a familiar object from the interior and tossed it on the bed beside him.
“I wasn’t supposed to give you this, but I trust you’ll keep your word, then?” Her green-gold eyes flickered to the sword she’d tossed toward him.
Kellan nodded. He would not bring harm to her people. “Again, I’m not this blood thirsty barbarian your kind makes me out to be.” There were so many emotions playing on her face. So many things she wanted to say, but held them back. It only madethe same questions arise. She seemed to have little knowledge of his kind beyond the Ascension, and yet the council had deemed her such a threat. He didn’t understand it. Any of it.
The click of a door pulled him from his thoughts. Somebody had entered the building. His body tensed, hand discretely reaching for the sword on the bed as he tapped into his senses.Unarmed, non-hostile. Kellan’s hand returned to his side. One set of footsteps, walking toward the room. He had his eyes on the man before he entered through the door.
“You’re awake?” He sounded surprised, but smiled anyway. Such curious beings…
“I am.” He nodded, his gaze not leaving the man.
The girl beside him didn’t say a word, but the air around her changed as the man had entered. Lightened, somehow.
A friend, perhaps?
“I wanted to thank you for saving Demi. She told me what happened.”
Kellan raised a brow in surprise. Had she really? He didn’t think the man would be thanking him if he’d known what his plans had been. That he had meant to end her life before kidnapping her. Or that they were now on their way to reunite with his siblings. His eyes meet hers. The subtle shake of her head gave him his answer.Interesting.
“I don’t know what I would have done if she didn’t return.”
“You’re welcome?” It hadn’t been by choice. She had been saved purely for his own motives. Answers. He needed answers, and obtaining some of them would prove a hell of a lot harder if she was dead. The demon wanted her alive. A conversation with the girl afterward seemed imminent. He always needed more answers.
“You are welcome to stay a few days to regain your strength, but nothing more.” Theboywas abrupt and to the point. “For the safety of my community, that is all I will permit you. Thatseems like more than enough time for someone like you to be back on his feet.” He was much taller than the girl. Muscled, yet lean. Kellan could tell by the way he moved that he was a fighter for his people. The way he sized him up without even an ounce of fear.
“She will be leaving with me.” He stated, stepping in to meet the human before him. The top of his head coming to his own nose.
“The hell she is.” Jace squared his shoulders, as if in challenge. Like a predator ready to attack and defend what was his. “That is not an option.” The fight would be over before the man could even blink.
“Jace you idiot, stand down.” She gripped his arm, pulling him back a step. “I’ll explain later, but I am leaving with him.”
The way he looked at the girl spoke words he didn’t have to, his entire demeanor shifting.More than friends, perhaps?With a heavy sigh he nodded at her as he made to leave. Only turning around once to point and utter
“Three days.” Before slamming the door behind him as he left.
“You will come with me, either of your own free will or force. That choice will be yours.” Kellan pinned her with his stare, driving a clear message. “I promised I would not harm your people. When I instructed you not to come here it was an act of mercy. You staying here is a risk that I’m sure you don’t want to take.”
“I don’t want any harm to come to them.” She whispered. The girl had shunned his gaze and kept her focus on her hands as she spoke. “To Jace… I’ll do whatever it takes.”
“Very well.”
