Page 90 of Us Dark Few

If what we have is unknown,

no one can spell the chaos it will reign.

Khalani released a heavy breath. Her head was buried in a soft pillow, and she groaned, stretching her legs and toes out. The satisfying sound of cracks and pops echoed in her ears. For the first time, she woke without the familiar knots burning through her spine and neck.

Her fingers clutched the cool sheets closer, and Khalani slowly opened her eyes. The first thing she noticed was Takeshi’s absence. She sat up, realizing her pillow had a lovely drool stain.

Swell.

What a wonderful departing gift that would have any man lining up outside her cell, awaiting her tantalizing company.

She promptly flipped the pillow over to hide the evidence and glanced around the empty room.

Where was Takeshi? She never heard him leave.

Almost as if he heard her thoughts, the door opened and Takeshi walked in wearing his guard uniform. He halted a few steps in, his enigmatic, surprised eyes locking with hers. “You’re awake.”

“I just woke up.” Khalani cleared her throat, rubbing a hand through her tangled hair.

“Good. That’s…that’s good.” A line appeared between his brows. “I need to escort you back to your cell before roll call.”

“Oh, right. Almost forgot I was in prison for a split second,” she joked with a half-smile, flipping the sheets and awkwardly crawling out of his bed.

Takeshi didn’t return it. The hard mask was back in place, and his frown deepened as he followed her movement. Khalani stretched her arms behind her back, ignoring the renewed tension in the room.

“We need to talk, Kanes.”

Her brows knitted at the solemn expression on his face. “About?”

“What happened last night.”

Khalani straightened, traces of exhaustion abruptly disappearing. “Are you in trouble for what happened with Guard Barron or something? Whatever it is, I’m sure we’ll figure it out,” she reasoned, already doing mental calculations of how best to help him.

It was the least she could do after Takeshi saved her life. And since last night…something changed between them. He wasn’t her enemy anymore.

But why was he staring at her like that? Like she was the living manifestation of all his angels and demons brought to life.

“No.” He brushed a rough hand through his hair. “It’s not that.”

“What exactly are you referring to?” She stood very still, a sizable knot forming in the center of her chest. The knot grew tighter under her skin, hotter as blood pooled away from her heart.

Takeshi shifted uncomfortably.

He opened his mouth but hesitated. War waged in his eyes, but a firm resolve planted over his face.

“You already know the answer, Kanes. I brought you here for a good reason. But us sharing the same bed. Me telling you things I have no right to share with someone like you. The way you’re looking at me right now. It all has to stop.”

She recoiled. “Someone like me?”

“Look at you, Kanes.”

The invisible knife he held threatened to split her in two. And all she could do was stand immobile in her dirty overalls.

“You’re a prisoner. And I’m not.” His jaw clenched tighter. “You were sentenced here for a reason, and my responsibility is to keep you locked up. There isnothingbetween us. There is no ‘we,’ and to think otherwise is laughable.”

Her muscles contracted like she was punched in the gut. The dark walls of his room were closing in around her.

Escape.

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