Page 39 of A Warrior's Fate

Seconds became minutes, minutes not quite hours, as they remained standing in silence on the roof of Callisto’s infirmary. While Isla was lulled by the murmurs of wind through trees and the hush of breaths, she could feel the tension release from her muscles, webs unweaving from her mind. Occasionally, she’d peek over to watch how the moonlight and faint fire glow danced on Kai’s face, and then she’d hold in her sigh.

Goddess, did she hate Fate.

The peace, their bond was a parasite, latching onto her thoughts and leeching her sense. She was so…tired. Tired of fighting—for now. Tired of the answers that only spurred more questions. If only he was completely irredeemable, enough that she couldn’t even tolerate the sight of him, that would make things easier.

On another scan in his direction, Kai turned, too, like he’d been aware the whole time of her roaming eyes. The corner of his mouth was up in a smirk, and Isla snapped her head forward again, silently cursing. Maybe she should’ve been thankful for it because whatever he was about to say would surely break whatever enchantment of ease she’d been feeling.

“You know,” Kai began. “I’m sure there’s a reporter skulking around somewhere that we can grab a camera from. You can take a picture and leave it by your bed for those lonely nights back in Io when you’re having those dreams of me. Help get you there.”

And she was right.

“You make it so hard to enjoy your company,” Isla sighed. “I’ve surely had my fill and had enough of men like you. Thinking you’re the Goddess’s gift to women. You’re all the same.”

Kai chuckled and turned around, leaning back against the railing with folded arms, that cocksure grin on his face. “According to the Great Book, I’m specifically the Goddess’s gift to you.”

“Open to interpretation.”

“I’m not too sure it is.”

He was right—the language of the Book was explicit when it came to mates—but she wouldn’t endorse it.

There was a sudden flash of puzzlement across his features as he shifted on his feet. Clearing his throat, he trained his eyes around them, saying offhandedly, “Exactly how many men like me have there been?”

Isla’s eyebrows rose at his interest. “Jealous?”

“No.” Kai sustained the air of indifference, shrugging. “Curious. That mouth came from somewhere.”

She couldn’t hold back a wicked grin, ready to go toe-to-toe with him again.

“I think I got it from Levi,” she said, pulling her own facade, once more, of innocence. “He wasn’t my first time, but he was the first guy who ever took me outside of a bedroom. And the first to get me there a couple of times. There was this thing that he did with his—”

“Alright, alright.” Kai’s face was a mix of amusement and slight perturbation. “We’re not doing this again.”

“You started it,” she cooed mockingly, secretly happy he’d stopped her. After Levi, there was only Callan, and there wasn’t much to rattle about in that regard. “I can write down how it went for you if you want. You can leave it by your bed for a read during those lonely nights in your palace when you’re dreaming of me. On top, right? That was it? Just put yourself in his place. Should help get you there.”

Kai’s grin, bright and full, his laugh genuine, made her heart skip.

“I don’t live in a palace,” he said before the air seemed to change. His joyous demeanor dissolved gradually.

He drew his eyes over her—in long, slow lines—from her feet to the top of her head, back down, back up. Not with impish intention that could’ve been spurred by her words, it seemed, but just taking her in. For a moment, Isla swore that he frowned, but it was hard to judge as he’d recovered quickly.

He lifted himself from his spot. “It’s getting late. We’re departing early, and you should get some rest.”

Isla’s stomach twisted and she straightened.

Kai took a couple of steps forward, stopping between her and a path to the stairwell door. “Goodnight.”

She looked up at him and blinked. It felt so jarring, like the floor was dropping out from under her—but this was the plan all along.

“Goodbye,” Isla affirmed gently despite the piece of her clawing its way out attempting to cry “stay”. “Hunt’s over.”

“It is,” Kai agreed before a flicker of mischief, of defiance, shone in his eyes. He closed in on her again, slowly, and bent so his breath was warm on her ear as he whispered, hot on her cheek, a phantom kiss to her skin. “Goodnight, Isla.”

Antagonistic until the end.

Isla inhaled sharply, eyes closing for just a moment, embracing as her heart tightened, as the tether went taut. As if it were a last-ditch effort by that part of them to bring them close, like it knew. It took all her willpower not to lean into it, into him.

She shivered. “You really like to test limits, huh?” Her whisper caught in the breeze.

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