Page 42 of Hidden Kingdoms

Well fuck, I think I do trust him right now.

I couldn’t afford the time to second-guess myself as I nodded.

“Then let me in.”

So, I did.

All it took was a fraction of a thought and a fissure opened just enough for Kaius to push a hand through the barrier. I didn’t miss his wince as my magik surged around him, grazing the edges of his skin as it reacted to his intrusion. Kaius’ hand made contact with mine, our fingers twined together,as somehow, he provided a channel for my emotions.

The anger, frustration, confusion. All of it condensed until the feel of his skin against mine was enough to shut them out.

I could feel the power that was mine to wield more than ever before. It was a part of me that had slipped out into the world. I pulled on its edges, testing, finding its weaker parts and marvelled as it responded, pooling back inside me and pulling the rest with it. Using his hand as an anchor, I worked on finding the loose strands, gathering them close until all that was left were the sparks that danced through my fingers.

Fingers that were linked tightly with Kaius’.

I didn’t know how to convey the gratitude I felt as he squeezed my hand, the remaining sparks fading away. The high of the magik retreated, leaving me bare and empty, exhaustion hammering at the space it left behind as I kept my feet rooted to the spot.

My anger hadn’t faded with the loss of magik.

The Prince’s eyes were alight with it, too. The flames that had been wrapped around his arm now danced in his eyes. I took a step towards him, ready to meet his anger with my own. Ready to demand answers.

I tried to untangle my hands from Kaius’, but he held me firm.

“We’re going,” he growled, pulling me away without waiting for a response, his own anger just below the surface.

“How is she meant to help us? She’s like a fucking child!” the Prince roared as we turned our backs to him.

Help them? How could I help them?

I spun ready to reply, but Kaius again pulled me back, the growl now resonating in his chest—I resisted the urge to lay my hand on it. Now wasn’t the time.

“When have you ever seen a child hold that much power, Bastian?!” Kaius spat as they stood glaring at each other, the anger as suffocating as the heat that had flooded the room. Kaius broke first, the disappointment clear on his face as he pushed us through the door.

“Kaius.” I had already stepped out into the corridor when I heard Bastian speak again, Kaius’ hand still in mine close behind me. “How do you know her name?”

“Because I asked her, Bas.”

A roar of anger preceded the shattering of glass, and we had both passed into the corridor with a second to spare before the door slammed shut behind us, cutting off the sound inside completely.

The guards flinched slightly but made no attempt to move from their posts, the guard who had brought me here eyeing me suspiciously. Kaius gently guided me in a different direction from the one I had arrived, when a hand grabbed my shoulder, and I was turned around sharply.

“You can’t take her! She’s supposed to go back to her room.” My escort stood in front of me, hand still on my shoulder, and I shrugged out from under his grip.

What was it with this dude and grabbing me?

“And you are?” Kaius’ voice was a deadly calm. His eyes moved from the hand that had grabbed me and back to the man’s face, fear flashing across his features, but he held his ground, and I could swear shadows began to dance just out of sight.

“The Prince put me in charge of moving her around the palace.” His brown eyes were darting between me and Kaius, the stubborn look stamped across his face starting to redden.

“You are relieved of that duty,” Kaius replied, dismissing the guard with a flick of his hand. Turning away, we started down the corridor, yet the thud of footsteps followed and once again a hand was on my shoulder. I twisted from his grasp as energy throbbed under my skin, still alive from its exploits only moments ago.

“But, the Prince...” he started, unbelievably reaching for me a third time.

“You do not touch her!” Kaius snarled, his hand an iron grip around mine. The threat of his magik skimmed along my fingers and heat tightened within me. He didn’t need his magik right now and kept it pulled in, pulsing between our joined hands.

A thrill ran through me at the force of his words, and the look on the guard’s face said he felt it, too, though I was guessing not in the same way I was. His arm fell slackly by his side as heswallowed whatever he had been about to say, eyes falling to the floor.

Kaius’ eyes were hard as steel as he spoke. “Leave now. The Commander will be hearing about this.”

---