Page 36 of Bladed Kiss

I take a moment to catch my breath and gather my strength before hauling him up to the loft. There, I leave him on the floor while I go about finding something to tie him up with. In a cabinet, I find an extra thick set of chains, rusted with age.

My muscles tense with aches and pains by the time I’m done tying him up. Retiring to the edge of my bed, I wipe a pool of sweat from my forehead and grant myself a much deserved break.

Fuck me,I think as I pant breathlessly.

I take a few minutes to collect myself, peeling off my outfit as my skin becomes exposed to the air. A refreshing sensation runs down my spine as I splash cold water on my face, washing the sweat off.

Standing in front of the mirror, I remove the glamor from my body. I watch as the jet black hair fades into silver, starting from the roots and running all the way down to the tips.

As that happens, I glance at Denve in the reflection as he rotates gently from side to side, like a compass trying to orient itself. I can’t help but feel as though something is off. Walking over, I cross my arms and stroke my chin in deep thought as I inspect the unconscious elf.

I thought I would have felt better after subduing him. After all, this exact image is what got me to accept the contract.

Blowing it off as exhaustion, I break away from him and get dressed, slipping into my training leathers. Despite trying to take my mind off of things, my thoughts keep reverting to the problems bouncing around in my head. I take a seat and decide to confront it all.

I need to calm down. Everything has gone according to plan. The letter demanding a heavy ransom was already sent off this evening, and I have the Thuvrol bastard here in my captivity… So why the hell do I feel so damn conflicted?

I close my eyes, trying to envision myself departing Vhoig harbor on my return journey back to Milthar. Somehow, as hard as I try, I just can’t see myself leaving after collecting the ransom money. The reason why baffles me.

Can I truly bring myself to kill him?

“Fuck me,” I groan out. “I was so eager to do so beforehand, and I would have done so if that prince hadn’t interrupted us at the ball… So what’s stopping me?”

I contemplate deviating from the plan by simply departing after receiving the ransom, without sticking a blade in Denve’s guts.

I haven’t told him anything that could give away where I’ve come from. Even with the connections that a noble like him is sure to have, I highly doubt he can trace my movements all the way back to Nakam…

At that moment, I subconsciously tune out the world around me. Playing in my mind is the attack launched on the Lunar Flame coven. I hear the dreadful screams of my sister, a sound that haunted me in nightmares for so long.

All because I let Ocuri get too close… Well, it’s a good thing I didn’t repeat the mistake with Denve.

“Never again,” I say aloud, snapping my mind back to reality. “After all, the Nakam has taken extra steps to ensure it’s never discovered by an untrained eye.”

I glance at Denve, the look on his face so peaceful as he sways about gently. Rising from the bed, I amble over to him. Despite his immense frame and intimidating look, he somehow looks as though he’d never harm even a small insect.

Should I just do it right now? The only thing that’s stopping me is my mind.

My hands gravitate to my dagger, but I don’t find the strength to brandish it.

Do I even have it in me anymore?

I’m so engrossed in thought that I take no notice of Denve’s eyes gradually blinking open. I only become aware when I spot a pair of violet eyes narrowing in on mine. I retract, unsheathing the dagger by instinct.

Denve grunts, the range of his sway increasing as he scrambles back and forth. His eyes move to the restraints above him. I smile menacingly as his eyes meet mine once again.

In them, I anticipate fear and terror, relishing the rush it’ll give me as I see the dagger up and down.

“Don’t bother trying to escape. Restraints are my specialty.”

Immediately after I speak, he smiles, a sight that throws me off of my guard.

“You know, Salina, if you really wanted to tie me up, all you had to do is ask nicely.”

This son of a bitch…

“Shut the fuck up, you bastard!” I hiss. “Don’t you see the situation you’re in?”

“Uh-huh,” he answers, looking up at the restraints once more. “I’ve got to say, I’m loving it, although I would have gone a little tighter on the chains, but hey! We can try it out next time, eh?”

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