Page 80 of Our Blood, Our Pain

“Not your call to make.”

“And what the hell is that supposed to mean? He’s my son, Jules. Of course it’s my call.”

“Kai’s an adult and he’d want me here.”

Jenny goes quiet again, her face now in contemplation. Her eyes narrow on me, questions buried under that curious gaze.

“He called out for you.”

“What?”

“When he was panicking. He muttered your name several times before he went under again. I didn’t realize you’d gotten so close.”

“He’s everything to me.”

She nods slowly. “Yeah I know. He’s family. I’m sorry, I’m just tired.”

I’m seconds away from telling her Kai is not family. He’s my soul. My life eternal. My beginning with no end. But of course, idiot Tim enters the room to ruin the chance for me to come clean.

“Jules. You’re back.”

“Anyone tell you what a perceptive cop you are?”

“Jules!” Jenny hisses at me.

“It’s fine. Why don’t we go get some rest. Jules is here to take over.”

“I don’t know. What if he wakes again?”

“Then I will call you,” I say, not taking my eyes off Kai’s face. Her presence is starting to annoy me as I want Kai to myself.

“Just a few hours, then I’ll be back. Call me if anything changes.”

“I will. Now go.”

Jenny runs her hands through her hair, then walks over to the other side of the room and collects her coat and handbag. She gives one last look at Kai and gives me a small smile before turning to leave with Tim in tow.

Finally. Alone.

I remove my coat and close the door to Kai’s room, strolling over to his bed to take the seat that Jenny just vacated. I take Kai’s palm in my hand and watch every breath that leaves his body.

“You come back to me now, sweetheart. We have things to discuss. Your bad behavior, for one. Being stabbed won’t get you out of being punished.”

Beep, beep, beep. The sounds start to feel like a relaxing melody, my shoulders relax but my mind won’t quit.

“They’ll never bother you again. I got rid of them. For you. I’d do worse to protect you, Kai. From this moment on you will not leave my side.”

Beep, beep, beep.

I roam my eyes over his chest and abdomen, noticing something is missing. My marks. My branding. I bet he missed it when he left. While I can’t do anything to his chest or stomach, you know, because he was stabbed, there is one place I can reclaim his body. I stand and move to the other side of the bed and pull down the sheets until that hot as fuck tattoo comes into view. Needing a taste more than I need to breathe, I lower my mouth and suck on the thorns of the rose, suckling at his skin, drinking up his sweetness. My teeth gently bite down and the monitor to his heart increases in pace. I move away and lick where a bruise now forms, pleased with how it looks. Hopefully when he wakes he’ll feel it.

44

KAI

I’m so thirsty. My head hurts. My stomach hurts.

Water. I need water.

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