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‘What the heck do I do now?’ she said, giving him some side-eye.
‘Place them in your mouth and chew.’
She lifted her hand to her face and then paused midway. ‘Are you about to get me hooked?’
He chuckled. ‘This isn’t koko, beautiful. It’s natural and good for you. Perhaps it’ll ease some of that snark you carry around like a cloak.’
She glowered at him while shoving the leaves between her lips.
At first, the taste of a bitter and smoky essence overpowered her. She choked, and tears pricked her eyes, but still, she powered on, chewing down.
The texture was rough against her tongue. But the leaves soon melded into a paste that turned into a smooth, gum-like consistency, giving off the hint of mint and a subtle smokiness she now associated with Killen.
A spicy, minty warmth spread throughout her body. With a gasp, its potency surged into her blood, easing her muscles and lifting the ache in her joints.
She breathed in, buoyant, liberated and lighter than she’d felt in years. Not even tik? made her this euphoric or pain-free.
She must have sighed out loud because Killen leaned into her dazed face. ‘Good?’
‘Better than. Is there more of that where it came from?’
‘I brought a satisfactory supply with me,’ he murmured.
He added a slow, smokin’ hot smile that set off a pounding in her chest and throbbing between her legs. ‘You only have to ask.’
‘Sante.’
That was when he reached a finger under her chin and lifted it. ‘Don’t think I don’t see your agony Sana’a. I’ve caught you struggling after a long day of training. Something ails you.’
She couldn’t meet his penetrating gaze, and her heart shuttered as she scrambled to hide her secrets.
He leaned in. ‘Not wanting to step out of bounds, khany’s, but I’ve seen you wince after training. But I won’t push you. Share with me when you feel ready to do so. Meanwhile, I’m happy to deal klaw to you.’
He winked.
She reacted, her eyes narrowing. Freakin Killen. He had a way of seeing right to her core and compelling her hidden truths.
She thought as much even as she whispered, her voice flat. ‘I have an autoimmune disease that causes extreme fatigue, loss of motor control and muscle weakness after exercise, heavy exertion, or illness. My overactive defence system disrupts my body’s normal communication between my nerves and muscles. So I have to take tik?, a muscle relaxant to help.’
He tilted his head, his expression sombre. ‘The more I discover about you, Sana’a, the more there is to admire.’
She shook her head and shrugged. ‘It’s nothing to applaud.’
‘It’s the resilience, woman, that I appreciate.’
She shut her eyes from his silver laser focus.
Something about the herb had relaxed her to the core, even though she’d typically be fleeing a conversation like this one.
His evident care also touched the dark depths of her cold soul, which she couldn’t deal with right now.
Can we talk about something else now?’ she sighed.
‘This discussion making you uncomfortable?’ he rumbled.
‘It’s making me something,’ she told him, giving him a pointed look. ‘Not sure we can unsheathe that blade yet. Back to inane topics. Please.’
He conceded with a small smile, leading their dialogue to safer waters.
