19. Kairhyse

19

Kairhyse

M y gaze shoots beyond Xeraphine to Clay. "Remove your fucking hand or I'll take your entire arm." The only reason I restrain myself from completely snapping Dominic's neck is because that would bring the Beyond on Hause Sidence, and I just don't have the patience to clean up that mess.

However, if they test me, I'll destroy even my own Hause loyalty.

Clay releases her neck, and I reach down, grabbing her arm and tearing her from his lap.

"Sirion of Achille, Kairhyse, right? Shit, man," Dante comes into my view. "Release my brother; she wanted it."

I slowly bring my gaze down; her head is tilted up at me. The corners of her eyes seep with black, like ink filling a fishbowl. My hand quickly comes to the back of her head, pulling her to my chest.

I heard her; she was about to say cinnamon...

"I find that hard to believe," I hiss, but my grip on Dominic loosens and before long, I let him go.

Clay crosses his legs, and I can see him strained against his pants for my little demon. The absolute rage that nearly sends me into has me gripping her tighter. "She isn't claimed, Kairhyse, it's not our fault. She came here, don't get pissy with us."

She leans back and once again looks at me, her eyes no longer turning demonic. I think she's looking for confirmation, and I give her a gentle nod.

Turning her head then, she looks at Dominic, but rests against my chest. "Sorry," she whispers. I don't know who she's saying that to, but I'm going to assume it is to the dead twin I swear I'm preparing to snap in half. Not only because she obviously didn't want him to touch her, but I can see the sheen across his lips that is not for anyone to be graced with but me.

I turn my gaze to Dante, who I know is the leader between the two of them, "If you ever see her again, remember that she is mine. Do not fucking touch her."

Her hands are gripping at my shirt, and when she turns her forehead back to my chest I hear her murmur, "Stop."

No. Fuck that.

"Do I make myself clear, Dante?"

He raises his hands and steps aside. "Keep her on a shorter leash, or claim her, that is on you Kairhyse. You know this world just as well as we do."

"Sorry man," Clay chimes in, "but Dante is right. The only person you should be lashing out at is that dainty little treat in your arms." Her heart is racing so hard against my stomach. Why is she acting like a damsel? Why did she need me to step in to save her? She has enough power to kill at least the twins.

I swallow as it dawns on me.

"Let's go." I don't continue the conversation, as now I think I may have made a mistake. My arm drapes over her shoulder, and I drag her past them and down the stairs. Before we exit the building, I tear off my jacket and place it over her shoulders.

Her head is down, a shadow cast over her eyes. My anger just moments before is replaced by concern and ache.

I lead her to my car, and as I'm opening the door, she keeps walking. "Wait, Xera…" I close it and immediately get back to her side. "Talk to me."

"I don't want to talk about it," she says, still with her head down, and I can see the small bumps on her neck from the chilly night. "Just…" I wait for her to tell me to leave her alone, ready for her to tell me to fuck off. "I don't want to talk about it, please. "

I'm utterly taken aback when she stops and presses her forehead against my chest. She doesn't hug me; she just leans against me, her hands cupped and tucked between us.

Just as I'm about to embrace her, I hear rushing footsteps, and my head shoots up to see Dominic running out of the nightclub.

"Kairhyse! Wait!"

I feel her tense, and when I see her widened eyes at him approaching, I immediately realize that he is the problem, not Clay. Instinctively, my arm wraps around her head, as if to hide her from him.

When Dominic is just a few steps away, he provides a wide smile, "Listen, those guys are dicks man, please. No hard feelings. We had no idea. She isn't marked and we—"

"Just heed what I said, Dominic, don't fucking touch her." My demeanor makes it clear that my threat will only hold true once. The next time, his head will be rolling on the ground.

"Right, I got it, but let me make it up to you. We haven't had representation from Hause Sidence in so long, come to my father's Sixtieth birthday celebration. Hmm?" There is something layered beyond this boy's act. He seems genuine, but if anyone can see someone's true character, it's my little demon.

She shifts in my hold, "You should go." Her gaze moves from Dominic, to mine, offering me a fake smile. "Make up for my idiocy."

I swallow, and want to deny the request, but her eyes are pleading with me.

"What a good girl, damn." When those words slip from his lips, her eye twitches.

"Please." Now she's actually begging.

After a brief pause, I sigh. "Okay, contact Hause Sidence for my number, then text me the details. I need to get her home."

For selfish reasons, but also because I know she won't fight me with Dominic standing here, my arms tighten around her. Her hands separate from being clasped together and grip at my shirt.

He pats my shoulder roughly, "You got it man. Bring Stephanie here along, you'll be the envy of the party." As he goes to return back to the club, he makes a final comment, "You might want to mark her though, may be easier to keep her in check. "

Xeraphine would soon rather remove her clit than ever be claimed or marked by anyone . A soft growl rumbles from my throat as I move back to bring her into view.

"I'll take you home." I take her chin between my index finger and thumb, lifting her gaze to mine. "We can walk, but it's far and you're cold. I won't pester you on the drive, come on."

She doesn't move, and I sigh, "I'm not against throwing you over my shoulder," I try to joke, but her hazed over expression tells me she's not in the mood.

"I—" She pulls my jacket tighter around her and looks away, "I don't want to go home."

I know this isn't an act for her, and I'm trying to pay attention to the person that she is and always will be. She may not want comfort, but I want to give it to her. I'm resisting my instinct to treat her like she's broken because I know she isn't.

"Tell me where you want to go, Xera. I'll take you there."

The drive back to my place is quiet, even though I try to break the silence by asking stupid questions like ‘Is it warm enough?' or ‘Do you need food?'. She didn't even give me a nod or shake her head in response.

I said I wouldn't pester her, but that didn't apply once we got home. Even though it's my home, right now it's hers.

So the moment the front door is closed and we step inside the living room, I ask, "What happened tonight?"

"You said you wouldn't—"

"That applied to the drive home. We're here now. What the fuck happened tonight?" I ask more forcefully. She drops my jacket onto the floor and crosses the space toward the stairs, her mouth clamped shut. "Xera, I'm serious." I follow her as she begins moving up to the second floor.

"I don't want to—"

"We will talk about it!" I'm behind her, following step by step. "I won't allow for you—"

She whirls around on me, her face inches from my own, "Allow for me to what?! Huh?! You don't have some fucking claim on me, Kai. What you did for me, calling me yours, it didn't have the effect you think it did."

I narrow my eyes, "Then why are you here? Why didn't you have me take you home?"

She clenches her jaw and spins back around, heading into my room, "Because I don't want to be alone."

"You have Sydni for your loneliness." My tone is sour, and I don't like that I'm speaking that way to her, but she's pissing me off. As I'm about to step through the threshold, she slams the door in my face. "Did… Did you just close MY door on ME ?"

I can hear her rummaging through my drawer, and I sigh. She pauses, and the gentle intake of air she pulls in sounds as though it gets caught in her throat. Oh, fucking Vayl above, little demon…

"Can you just shut up, please?" Her voice is strained.

I place my forehead on the door and breathe softly through my nose.

If she wants silence, I guess that isn't much to ask for. She could be asking for so much more, but if quiet is all she wants… then I can at least give that to her.

The sound of fabric hitting the floor fills the silence, and soon after, she opens the door. I don't move back; instead, I lean against the doorframe and look down at her wearing my shirt.

Her cheeks are slightly red, and I go to touch them when she stops my advancement. I can hear her thinking ‘I don't want your comfort, prick.' , so I immediately lower my hand.

I move, and she brushes past me, heading back down the stairs and into the living room. I don't hesitate to follow her, but first, I grab a cup of water from the kitchen and place it on the glass table for her in case she wants it.

She nestles in front of the fireplace and looks at me, "Do you have wood?"

With a nod, I step out onto the patio toward the storage closet. After gathering a few pieces, I return and stoke the fire until it roars to life, filling the room with its comforting warmth.

That is the last thing she says to me tonight. She stares at the fire until her eyes begin to grow heavy. Even as I suggest the bed upstairs, she denies it with a shake of her head and curls into herself on the floor .

Once she falls asleep, I carefully move her to the couch, though not permanently. She wants to be by the fire, so that's where I'll keep her. I go upstairs, grab the mattress from my guestroom, and bring it downstairs.

After a few more trips, the bed is fully made in front of the fire, which I add some more wood to. Then, she's back in front of it, curling into a ball and holding the pillows as though her life depends on it.

I leave her lying there and step out onto the patio, closing the door behind me.

The phone is at my ear, ringing, "Hello?"

"Hi, Isabella, it's Kairhyse," I respond promptly, leaning against the railing as I do.

"Oh! Sirion Monroe, it is quite the hour to be calling," her soft giggle causes me to roll my eyes. "I'll be off in—"

"I'm actually calling you for work," I can hear the groan she's trying to hide. "I've been invited to an event with the Mortars Syndicate. While we are all acquainted, I'm always on high alert for possible issues that may arise for Hause Sidence." The clicking of her nails against a keyboard indicates enough to me she is working on my request already, "I need some information on Dominic and Dante Bastilla. It's their father's birthday celebration. Do you mind getting me a file on them?"

"How far back are ya looking for, doll?"

I hum, "Let's just do ten years, not too long, but enough to see their history with and before Mortars, if there is any."

"Got it. Give me a few days, anything else?" The eagerness in her tone triggers an exasperated shake of my head.

"No, Isabella, thank you. But if you can deliver that within twenty-four hours, I'll send some flowers and chocolates your way." Without waiting for a reply, I end the call and tuck my phone away in my pocket.

I linger here, a silent observer amidst the city's gradual descent into slumber. All I can think about is why she had been so submissive in those moments. It was painfully obvious she did not want them to touch her. They had laced the liquor, as they always do at those events, but that wouldn't affect her.

So… what happened?

"Let me go—" she's murmuring, "let me go—"

Gradually, I retreat into the living room, shutting the door to fend off the creeping chill. She's still sleeping, but she's flipping from one side to the other. I can see her eyes rapidly moving behind her lids.

"I'm down here."

I move closer to her side, finally acting on the impulse I had earlier, and gently brush the back of my hand across her cheek.

"Down here."

Down where … I pull her hair behind her ear, and rest my palm against her cheek.

"Down here."

What happened to you, Xera?