Page 64 of King of the Unsightly

I squeezed my eyes shut and counted to three like somehow it would magically change my situation.

This is fine.My hands shook with uncertainty, and in a split second a rift in the sky opened up, and a body hurled at me.

It smashed me against the ground, and my breathing hitched.

Spilled Blood

“You’re squishing me.” I wheezed, pushing Kaschel’s body off me.

Kaschel stood up and dusted off his black pants and shirt without offering a helping hand. He apparently wanted to overlook the fact he launched out of the sky and pummeled me to the ground.

“Do you always jump in headfirst without thinking of the repercussions?” Kaschel growled; the frustration rolled off his tongue.

“Not always,” I barked back. Yeah, I sounded like a child defending their idiotic actions, which sounded less convincing even to myself, and maybe there was some inkling of truth to what he said, but the hell if I was telling him that. I glanced behind him. “What about the others? Gren?”

Kaschel shrugged as he walked up to me and slanted his cruel eyes. “Your pet raven is of no concern to me.” He paused, crouched down, and brushed some dirt off my shoulder as he leaned closer, his calloused hands teased my neck as they grazed my skin. “I think you should be more worried about yourself and the dangers awaiting us.” He glowered as his cool breath sent shivers down my spine.

Unable to endure his closeness, I waved him away with my hand.

Kaschel’s face reflected displeasure as he launched up and stepped over me.

My jaw clenched. Didn’t he already know I was constantly worried about the keys and our situation? It occupied my mind twenty-four seven.

I took a deep breath, exhaled, and pulled myself off from the ground. Small pebbles embedded themselves onto my backside and I wiped them off and willed myself to stay calm.

“What are we supposed to do now?”

“Find the key.” He grumbled and trudged on ahead, leaving me behind.

I was about to lose my shit on him.

This man tested my patience way too many times. What happened between last night and now? He was as fickle and moody as the weather here.

I groaned and stalked behind him. “No shit. I mean HOW are we going to get it? Do you have a plan that I’m unaware of? You seem to love keeping me in the dark.”

“Labyrinths don’t come with instruction manuals, little flea. So, the plan is, don’t slow me down.”

This man was really going to bring the petty Addy back to the surface.

I cleared my throat and ran my fingers through my hair. “Then can I have some form of protection? I see you’re fit for battle, yet all I have to defend myself are my wits.”

Kaschel stopped, grunted, and turned to me and devoured the distance between us before I could even breathe.

He towered over me with such ferocity I wanted to take back my snarky remarks—almost.

Kaschel lifted his shirt, and I peeled my eyes away. “What the heck are you doing right now?”

Kaschel scoffed and a clang of metal reverberated beside my feet, and I peeked down at a black dagger the size of my hand.

My cheeks flushed from the sudden heat. “Ah.”

Kaschel lowered a brow. “I don’t want you to be completely defenseless since ... just having your wits wouldn’t be your best bet at survival.”

Holy fuck. He wanted to get stabbed. “You really have a way with words. Incredibly charming,” I mumbled under my breath and snatched the dagger off the ground.

Kaschel’s mouth tugged up, and I hated to admit it, but it was chaotically hot.

I abhorred this very moment for showing me Kaschel in such a light. He appeared incredibly attractive under the sunrays as his amethyst eyes flickered mischievously, his defined muscles even more noticeable from how the light reflected off his body. I once thought he looked the most in his element during twilight, but right now, his alabaster hair had a celestial glow, and it mesmerized me.

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