“I’m fine,” I whisper, my voice soft but steady, the words carrying more reassurance than I feel.
Maybe I’m not fine—not yet. But with him, like this, I know I will be.
“I wasn’t going to come inside of you unless you told me to.” He leans forward and presses his lips against mine, briefly holding them there before moving back. “Do you want me to suck out my cum, you know, just in case?”
Heat floods my face, and I can’t help but chuckle.I’ll be okay.
“That isn’t how that works, I know you aren’t that stupid.”
That rumbling laugh Iloverolls straight through his handsome smirk. “Oh, I know.”
“But it’s hot.” I take a breath and return his smile, one that speaks volumes without a single word—emotions that could remain unspoken for eternity but are felt just as deeply.
Kai knows how hard it will be for me to say those three words, even ifI already feel them. I do love him—beyond my life and my revenge. But feeling it and saying it aloud are two very different hurdles I’ll have to overcome. I nearly said it when Tali took me from him, but that was desperation—a fear that I’d never see him again. That he might believe I could feel anything other than love for him.
But now, with him here in front of me, I’m ready to feel it come to me naturally. This isn’t that moment, and as he draws his lips down my chin and chuckles, it’s like he knows it, too.
“My complicated little demon.”
“My obsessed monster.” His eyes lift as if sensing my gaze. “Go ahead and clean up your mess before I tend to the one I made.”
We fell asleep togetheron the bench, me sprawled on top of him, with blood, sweat, and cum everywhere. When the sun rose, it stirred us both. I wouldn’t have cared if someone had found us, but I’m grateful no one did as we put on the same clothes from the day before—just a T-shirt for me and shorts for Kairhyse.
My body hasn’t returned to its Mundane form, which is mildly concerning, though Kairhyse couldn’t be more thrilled. He’s been begging me to keep my tail out, and I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve had to remind him that I have no idea how to control it.
I can’t magically say,“Hey, tail. Stay out, will ya?”
A few hours passed with just us, and we sat mostly in silence. It’s where I am most comfortable, even if I know he would rather we talk more about the events over the past several weeks. I will, in pieces, tell him about all the things they did to me.
This wasn’t like last time, and I’m not sure if it’s because I understand why they did it, or because my own mother was involved. Either way, I’m still processing the trauma internally.
The only major topic of conversation was Mister. Kai told me he hadn’t been able to find him when he returned to his apartment. He thinks the feline got out, and was likely looking for me as they had been.
I can’t lie, I nearly started crying. Imagining Mister out there searching for me… The safest place for him isawayfrom me, even if that does hurt. I’ll make it my mission to find him when I kill that bitch, Tali.
“Morning.” Niyla cuts into our silence, making her way up the stairs toward the navigation system. She has her eyes trained down, or straightat the captain’s chair, can’t really tell, but they are anywhere except at me.
“Good morning,” Kairhyse says as he places a kiss against my temple. “Be right back, going to grab you some water.”
He leaps over the backside, down to the hull, and I can’t help but roll my eyes. For a man of so-called patience, he really has none in certain situations.
Can’t take the stairs.
Ripping clothes off.
I groan but inwardly laugh to myself. It’s cute, I’ll admit it.
Niyla’s red eyes flick to me, I suppose expecting me to say something to her.
I cross my legs, take a deep breath, and gaze out into the distance. According to the coordinates, we’ll make it back to land a full day earlier than expected. I couldn’t be more grateful for that.
I’ll likely need to be carried once we make landfall—just standing on this boat has me wobbling like one of those inflatable tube men.
“Had an eventful evening…” she comments, while taking a seat in front of the navigation system.
Silence hangs between us, her eyes drifting away from mine to the space around us. It’s a mess up here, but I’m too far beyond caring. From what Kairhyse has said, Alaric has no shortage of funds. He can afford to lose the deposit.
“I'm not one to judge,” she continues, and I stare at her with an unyielding gaze, unsure why she keeps talking to me.
