Page 68 of King of the Unsightly

I swallowed, hard, wiping my clammy hands on my jeans. “What are you doing?”

Kaschel didn’t spare me a glance as he stood there exposed; his tight backside blinded me.

“What? Have you never seen the male physique before?” Kaschel remained serious as he dipped himself in, scrubbing the dirt and grime off his clothes. He titled his chin and looked back at me, his sharp eyes devouring mine. “If there’s another monster tracking us, we need to get the blood off.” It was a calculated thought, logical even, but I still didn’t want to strip down to nothing. “I have no urge to look in your directionif that’s what you’re thinking,” Kaschel clipped, not caring to elaborate.

I wanted to be offended, but the dry, crusted blood in my hair and clothes stiffened up and scratched against my skin.

I peeked at Kaschel who rinsed the remaining blood off his chest wounds, and I saw they already started to stitch back together.

I sighed.He was right.I leaned down, took my boots off and then my clothes, dipping myself in the water.

The abrupt coldness stole all my warmth and gooseflesh sheathed my body.

A shaky breath escaped my mouth, and I submerged myself.

My teeth chattered uncontrollably as I popped up and rinsed the remaining blood off my clothes.

I wondered if the best way to die was from hypothermia or getting mauled by a beast.I think hypothermia wins.Shufflingout of the water, I struggled to put my wet clothes back on as they stuck to my skin like a second layer.

Kaschel rose from the water, and he resembled a god ascending his throne. His white hair matched the moon’s luminance. His ripped chest muscles and arms on display, showing no remnants of blood.

I turned my body before I allowed myself to look any lower.

If Kaschel caught me ogling him again I would never hear the end of it. It would be like screaming he won this twisted game of cat and mouse.

And Ihatedlosing.

I shifted my body away and compelled all the indecent thoughts to disappear. “Can you see anything with thatfaeryvision of yours? I assume you have better eyesight than me,” I teased, but it came off quick and curt.

Kaschel shook his wet, long hair, and it dripped down his back to the dimples on his—no. Damn it, Addy. Stop.

I pinched my arm and refused to falter by his lack of apparel.

“Even after a near-death experience, you still have a mouth on you. I’m amazed. Truly.” Kaschel didn’t say another word as he clothed himself and walked toward the waterfall.

“I think you were the one who almost died, not me.”

Why did I feel the need to clarify myself again? Did I subconsciously want to push his buttons?

Kaschel huffed but didn’t respond, and I followed behind him. We slid past the cascading water; it splattered against the rocky floor, and we proceeded to go deeper into the night. The farther we went, the more it reeked of moss and dew. An oddly refreshing mixture.

“Stay here. I’ll be right back.”

“Excuse me?” I squeaked out, unable to hide my nerves.

“You murdered a beast in cold blood. Brutally, I might add. You’ll be fine for a few moments without me.”

It was a fluke. We had no idea for certain I could attempt the same thing twice, but I let my overwhelming pride win and flicked my wrist for him to leave. “Fine.Go.”

Shrouded in darkness when his light hair left the cave, the only comfort I found was the faint splashing of water against the rocks.

I swore an eternity came and went before Kaschel returned. His vibrant presence lit up the gloomy tunnel.

“Miss me?” Kaschel dropped an assortment of logs and branches beside me.

So Kaschel went out to gather wood for a fire.

A spark ignited and it erupted into flames. The heat instantaneously blazed against my skin. It crackled and hissed, illuminating Kaschel’s sharp jawline.

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