Page 120 of A Kingdom so Crimson

My heart, body, and mind were numb as he grabbed the reins of Levon's bay mare, extending his hand to me, but I couldn't lift my arm to his.

I didn't want to. I didn't want to do anything anymore.

"Eliah, please!" he choked, coughing.

"You left him," I breathed, feeling the tears stream down my face, barely able to hold myself up. More voices and shouts echoed through the deep, smokey darkness that cloaked us. My lips curled back as I looked at his burning gaze glowing against the darkness. "YOU LEFT—" I screamed, only to have Kaizen cup his hand over my mouth, cutting off my words.

"I took an oath to protect you,not him!" he hissed into my ear. "He knew what he was getting into. Now get your rutting behind on the horse before I have to force you."

"Over here!" A voice boomed nearby. Kaizen's bright amber eyes locked onto mine, filled with unease as he held his finger over his bruised lip, still holding my mouth closed.

"You're a coward," I seethed through clenched teeth, shoving his hand away. "You let him die."

"You think I wanted this? You think I had a choice?" Kaizen snapped, grabbing underneath my arm and yanking me into him.

"You always had a choice!" I spat back with tears, my voice shaking with rage, not backing away from his infuriating face, mere inches from mine. "And you chose to run."

Kaizen's grip tightened as he looked down at me with ferocity. "I'm choosing to saveyourlife. So move, or so help me, I'll drag you through this forest unconscious."

The fear and anger in his eyes mirrored my own as we stood there, locked in a battle of wills.

"Someone call for help!" The shout came closer, and Kaizen's eyes flicked towards the sound, his fear palpable. His handsclasped around my waist, and before I could retort, he growled, lifting me onto the mare that pranced nervously.

I clung to the horse's reins with little strength as he swung up behind me, his ragged cloak hanging to the side. He wrapped his arms around me, taking hold of the reins as I slumped into his warmth reluctantly, unable to stop the weight of sorrow stabbing deep into my mind.

He clicked his tongue, urging the mare into a gallop. The tall pines blurred past us, the crackling flames and the shouting faded into the sound of the mare's hooves slamming onto the ground.

Kaizen wheezed out another cough as we journeyed deeper into the dense forest. My mind swelled with exhaustion, grief, despair, and sorrow that turned my thoughts depressive and overwhelming.

I began to cry, not believing this was happening to me.

I am just a pathetic orphan of no importance, not a Magic or whatever extraordinary person Levon thought I was. I'm nothing and should return to nothing.

More tears streaked my soot-lined face.

"Don't say that," Kaizen snarled behind me, his voice a low, dangerous growl.

I snapped my head back, glaring at him in confused anger. I opened my mouth to protest, but he cut me off, his eyes flashing with fury.

"We're going to a safe haven, but we won't get there until late," he replied, his grip on the reins so tight his knuckles turned white. "So rest. You need it."

The tension between us hung in the air as we rode in stifling silence. Minutes dragged by until I couldn't hold my tongue any longer.

"Why did you do it?" I seethed through gritted teeth, forcing my tears back, seeing Calum's swollen and bloodied face haunt my mind. "Why did you hurt him?"

"Calum isn't who you think he is," Kaizen warned, his voice raw from the smoke.

"You know nothing about him!"I snapped, my voice hoarse. I leaned away from his warmth, my skin on fire from the burns.

"He was the one who blew up the carriage, Eliah," he growled into my ear. "Levon is deadbecauseof him." I shook my head in doubt, anger billowing in my core like the swelling smoke. "He found out about you—your Magic. I didn't think he would truly want to be a part of the Onyx Market, let alone try to bring you in—"

"No!You're wrong!He'd never hurt me!" I interjected, my voice trembling with anger and despair.

His body tensed with frustration. "He wanted to hurt you, was sick of living in your shadow."

"My shadow?" I scoffed with irritation, not believing him for a second.

"I watched and followed him but never saw signs that he knew until that night he kissed you under your wishing tree," he grumbled.

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