Page 8 of Catalyst

Saying it out loud only made the embarrassment worse. I needed to stop growing. I felt like a human balloon. With two men lusting after me, I should’ve at least tried to look presentable. Jace and Kane deserved someone beautiful—not the bloated mess I was turning into.

“Steal one of Sul’s shirts,” Kane said plainly, already walking toward Sulien’s closet. He rummaged through the hangers, finally pulling out a dark, worn shirt with a singed collar. “He’s not around to help you raise the kid, so the least he can do is help keep you clothed.”

He tossed the shirt to me, and I caught it, the familiar scent of smoke instantly overwhelming me. My throat tightened as tears threatened to spill. Sulien wasn’t here. He would never meet our child—a child that would one day be older than him.

“You alright?” Kane asked, his voice softer now.

I forced a tight-lipped smile. “I’m fine.”

But Kane wasn't convinced. His eyes lingered on mine as he watched my every move. I slipped Sulien’s shirt over my head, letting the thick fabric drape over my body. His smell almost broke me in a way I hadn't expected.

“Hey, are you hungry?” Kane’s tone shifted, almost like an order disguised as a question.

Was I hungry? Always. But I wasn’t about to admit that. I needed to be smaller than this.

“I’m fine,” I said, more to convince myself than him.

Kane didn’t buy it. His jaw tightened, arms crossing over his chest. “You sure? I made enough for two, and Jace isn’t home. Scrambled eggs don’t reheat well, so you’d be helping me out.”

I hesitated, torn between my pride and the gnawing hunger in my stomach. Before I could make up an excuse, Kane took me by the arm and tugged me toward the kitchen.

“What are you doing?” I protested, trying to keep up with his long strides.

“If you weren’t hungry, you would’ve said no immediately,” he replied, his words dripping with authority. “You’re eating breakfast.”

He led me to the small table by the fridge, already set with two plates of scrambled eggs, toast, and tomato slices. My stomach growled loudly at the sight.

One of Kane’s shadows crept from the floor to pull out a chair for me. “Sit,” he said, guiding me into the chair.

I thanked him quietly, my eyes darting to the plate in front of me. I didn’t have to eat it all; just a few bites would be enough to quell my hunger and keep the peace. It was a good plan—one that crumbled the second I took a bite.

The eggs were fluffy and perfectly seasoned. Damn it, they tasted good—good enough to make me forget, at least for a moment, about the calories.

“I knew you were hungry,” Kane said, sipping his coffee, a satisfied smirk playing on his lips. “I’m not gonna push you to admit why you didn’t want to eat... but just so you know, you don’t have to starve yourself around me.”

His comment hit harder than I expected, and I choked on a bite of toast. I grabbed my glass of apple juice, swallowing quickly to avoid making a scene.

“I’m just worried about school,” I lied. “Appearances matter to my family, and right now, I’m…”

I trailed off, not sure how to finish that sentence.

“Hot,” Kane asserted.

I blinked, unsure I’d heard him right.

“... What?”

“Hot.” He leaned back in his chair, his dark eyes never leaving mine.

My heart skipped a beat. I wasn’t used to this side of Kane—this bold, assertive confidence. I scanned his thoughts, half-expecting to find a joke, but no. He was dead serious.

And his thoughts… holy shit. His mind was full of images—dirty, primal fantasies of bending me over the table, fucking me hard enough to make my legs tremble, of worshiping every inch of my body. Literally, every inch. The sheer intensity of his desires was almost overwhelming.

“You alright?” His voice dripped with amusement. “You’re looking a little red.”

I bit my lip, trying to keep my focus on the food in front of me. But now, all I could think about was what I’d just seen in his head.

“Your... your thoughts are very loud,” I squeaked, my voice barely above a whisper.

---