Page 93 of Kingdom of Chaos
His thumb glides gently across my cheek in a soothing rhythm. “I never want to go through that again,” he murmurs.
His hand slips down, tilting my chin up, and he presses the softest, most heart-wrenching kiss to my lips.
It’s not like the other kisses we’ve shared. This one doesn’t ignite a spark of passion, it wraps around me like a blanket, warm and steady. Comfort. Safety. The two things Becks has always been to me, and probably always will be. And even though there’s a small voice in the back of my mind whispering that things aren’t the same anymore, I shove it aside, choosing instead to lose myself in the way this kiss feels like coming home.
When Becks pulls back, there’s a hint of turmoil in his expression. A furrow creases his brow, and his eyes sweep across my face like he’s trying to find an answer I don’t know how to give. He opens his mouth to speak, but before he can, Kade knocks sharply on the door, signaling that my time is up.
My shoulders sag. “I have to go.”
Becks nods and steps back.
“Are you really okay?” I ask, gesturing to his wound.
He glances down at the bandages wrapped around his chest. “What, this? It was barely a scratch,” he says with a lopsided grin.
A shudder runs through me because I can still clearly see Shadow Striker punch a hole in his chest.
He must see the distress on my face because he says, “Hey, truly. I’m fine. I won’t lie, it was touch and go there for a while, but I still have accelerated healing. In a few days I’ll be like new. Promise.”
I pull in a big breath of air to steady myself. “And they’re treating you all right?”
He shrugs. “They’re the ones who patched me up, so I can’t say they’ve treated me badly. I don’t exactly trust them, but without their med team I might not be standing here.” He glances around the cell with a wry smile. “Still not thrilled about being locked up like a criminal, but yeah, they’ve been decent.”
“I’ll get you out of here as soon as I can,” I promise.
He nods, and I turn toward the door, my heart squeezing tighter with every step I take away from him.
My hand is on the knob when he says, “Tell Talon if you get hurt, I’m holding him responsible.”
I glance over my shoulder at him, thinking of how Talon threatened Kade.
These guys . . .
“I’m responsible for myself.”
He smiles, but there’s sadness behind it. “I know. But still, the thought of beating the ever-loving crap out of him brings me a little comfort.”
Despite myself, I laugh. Shaking my head, I turn and step back through the door, where Kade is waiting.
“Content that we haven’t hurt your friend?” he asks.
I purse my lips, a pulse of irritation running through me, but also confusion. If what Becks said is true, they saved his life. So why lock him up?
“Why are you keeping him down here?” I ask, crossing my arms.
Kade lets out a slow sigh. “There’s a lot you don’t know. For thousands of years, we’ve been preparing for the day a great evil would enter our world. When Becks came through the portal, we had no idea who—or what—he was. We couldn’t risk releasing him until we were sure he wasn’t the threat, or aiding it.”
I throw my hands up. “Well, he’s clearly not! So why is he still locked up?”
Kade crosses his arms. “Because now we need him for other reasons.”
“As leverage, you mean?”
He dips his head in a subtle nod. “Yes.”
“Is what you need me for really that important? Is it really something you and the other members of the Order with all your resources can’t take care of yourself?”
“Like I said, there’s a lot you don’t know.”
