AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Letting out a shuddering breath, I immediately turned my attention to her, my anger shifting to worry. “Sihaya,“ I coaxed, “let me see.”
She nodded, offering her bloodied arm to me without fear. Unlike the other soldiers, who watched me warily as they pulled the headless body away. I checked the wound, glad to find that she was right. It had already stopped bleeding, even though it was larger than I’d expected. I reached for a small healing plate from my pocket. As I pressed it against her wound, I channeled my magic into it, warmth wrapping around her arm, binding and healing the slash.
Kael gritted her teeth but didn’t cry out as I pulled away the plate, inspecting her arm once more. “Thank you,” she whispered, her fingers reaching out to touch mine.
I only nodded, lost for words. If I’d been a second later, I could have lost her. Glancing up, I met the gaze of Haemir who’d just arrived, no doubt coming to see the cause of the commotion. His eyes held a mixture of shock and understanding.
Kael flexed her now-healed arm, still in disbelief. “That could have gone much worse.”
I pulled her into an embrace, needing to hold her close. “I won’t let anything happen to you,” I murmured into her hair.
Haemir approached us hesitantly, his stern face softened with concern. “Hey Kiddo, are you alright?” He asked, scanning her from head to toe.
She nodded, pulling away from me to address him. “Yeah. Theron blocked him from getting the strike he wanted.”
The Inferi Remnant’s gaze shifted to me. After a heavy pause, he spoke. “Protecting Kael was always my role, but it seems now it’s shared.” His voice held an underlying tone of respect. “Thank you for keeping her safe.”
I nodded. “Yes, sir. Always.”
The two of them exchanged a loaded look, a silent conversation passing between father and daughter.
“I’m sorry, kiddo,” Haemir murmured. “Can you forgive me? I was wrong. I see that now.”
“Dad,” a sob caught in her throat as she let go of me and hugged Haemir. She hadn’t shed a tear when her arm was slashed open, but this made her cry. “Of course, I do.”
He held her tight before releasing her. “Why don’t we eat dinner together tonight? It would be nice to spend time as a family.” She pressed against my side as Haemir turned his attention to me. “Would you like to join us, Mar--I mean, Theron?”
I nodded. “Yes, thank you.”
Kael staggered, her face flushed. “Whoa...”
I reached out, steadying her. “Sihaya? Are you alright? Did he hurt you somewhere else?”
She shook her head, her expression contorted with confusion and a hint of alarm. “No... I just... I feel strange. My skin feels too tight, hot.” She looked around and met Haemir’s eyes with a sudden, mortifying realization. “I need to leave.”
Before I could process her words, she was already moving towards our tent, leaving Haemir slack-jawed in her wake. I darted after her, sending an apologetic shrug his way. “Kael, talk to me. What’s wrong?”
Inside the tent, her behavior became even more erratic, her fingers tracing lines across her skin with a fevered intensity. Her pupils blew wide as she approached me, rubbing up against me like a cat. “What’s happening to me? Was I poisoned?”
Before I could answer, Raenisa entered, concern etched on her face. “I heard about the attack. Is Kael—?”
Kael turned on Raenisa with a sudden, feral growl, stepping between me and my second. It was a sound I’d never heard from her, her eyes flooding fully white.
“Atar’s fiery balls. What’s wrong with her?” Raenisa’s alarmed gaze met mine as Kael draped herself across me.
“I don’t know.” I turned to Kael, gasping as she cupped me through my breeches. “Kael, are you alright? Does anything hurt?”
Kael moaned, leaning forward and wrapping her arms around my neck. “No. I feel... good. I want you.” She purred the last word and Raenisa’s eyes widened in understanding.
“It’s her transition. Shit. Theron, you need to get her away. Now.”
“I can’t. The brawl—I need to reassure everyone that we’re allies.”
Raenisa threw up her hands. “I got it. Just take her out of here.”
Kael’s fevered touch intensified. “Theron, please,” she moaned, pulling me closer, her movements desperate as she ground against me.
“Seriously, Theron. If any other male comes near her during her Ascension, you’ll try to kill them. You need to leave the camp until it’s over.”
