Chapter 16 - Kaius

Something is very wrong.

I feel a constant, relentless pull in the pit of my stomach that drives me after Julie. I can't stop myself. I should've stopped her, held her back. She stormed off before I could react, let alone process why she was running. Now, all I can do is follow her and hope I'm not too late to stop whatever I am sensing.

I move swiftly through the woods, my eyes adjusting to the dim light filtering through the trees overhead. I keep my breathing steady to avoid making noise. I listen for any hint of her footsteps, any sign of which direction she's gone. The forest is dense between our property and Merl's. My heart races as I push forward, fear coursing through my veins at the thought that something might happen to her before I can reach her.

I catch the scent of her, down a hill off the side of the path. Relief washes over me, but it's quickly replaced by a surge of rage as I see two figures closing in on her. My blood runs cold at the sight of them, and I feel the shift within me, the primal urge to protect my mate roaring to life.

That familiar ripple of energy rolls over me rapidly. I move quickly, my steps closing the distance rapidly. Julie doesn't see the threat bearing down on her. Two males, based on their scents, are closing in fast. Their eyes are fixed on her with cruel intent. I won't let them get to her. The thought sends a surge of anger through me, and I step forward, my body tense and ready.

I cut them off a few feet before they reach her, the first blow striking the nearest dragon square in the jaw. He's scrawny, and the moonlight glints off his ruby scales. He stumbles back, caught off guard, and I follow up with a second punch that sends him crashing to the ground.

The second dragon, all pale blue, lunges at me, but I'm ready for him. I sidestep his attack and drive my fist into his stomach, knocking the wind out of him. He doubles over, and I bring my knee up to meet his face, sending him sprawling.

The red dragon is back on his feet, his yellow eyes wild with fury. He charges at me, flames coiling in his open jaw. I dodge to the side, but not fast enough to avoid the jet of flames entirely. It grazes my forehead, and I feel the sting of the burn and smell the strange, acrid smell of burnt scales.

I don't let it slow me down. I rip at his wing, catching hold of his arm and spinning his body around before driving my elbow down hard on his shoulder. He crumples to the ground, groaning in pain. I lift him bodily and slam him back into the ground with as much force as possible. I feel satisfied with the sickening crunch that his head makes as it connects with a large rock.

The blue dragon tries to rise, but I kick him back down. He lies there, gasping for breath, and I wrench his arm painfully behind his back. I crouch down beside him, kneeling on his arm as I pin him to the ground.

"Mine," I growl in his ear, and pull my fist back before driving it into his head repeatedly. My fist is bloody before I stop, gripping his head in both hands before twisting it forcefully, snapping his neck.

I exhale a slow, shuddering breath as I push myself up off his dead body. The rage and adrenaline are still pumping through my body. My eyes search for Julie, and I can feel the panic easing and finally releasing the death grip it has on my heart.

Julie is standing there, staring at me with wide eyes, her breath coming in short, shallow gasps. She is okay, though.

"Kaius," she breathes, her voice shaky. "Are you okay?"

I nod, wiping the blood from my hands

"Are you okay?"

She steps closer, but her movements are stiff and guarded. Her eyes search my face, and her fingers reach up to tenderly check the edges of the burn on my head. "We need to get you back to Merl's. This needs to be cleaned."

I nod, reaching out and picking her up in my arms as gently as I can without claws. I'm surprised she doesn't fight me on it as she has every other time I've carried her. The burn is a nagging pain, but I push it to the back of my mind. All that matters is that she's safe.

We reach the cabin, and I lower her gently on the porch before heading to the small stash of clothes in the trees. I shift, and pull on black sweatpants and a black hoodie before dashing back into the cabin. Julie presses me into a chair before setting to work. Her hands are gentle as she dabs at the burn on my forehead, and I wince at the sting.

"Don't be such a baby," she teases, her brows furrowed in concentration. "I'll be as quick as I can."

I watch her work, my heart swelling with gratitude.

"Thanks."

She glances up at me, a small smile tugging at her lips. The proximity has me wanting to capture them in a kiss.

"Least I can do, I suppose."

She finishes cleaning the burn and adds some sort of ointment to it that smells absolutely disgusting. Her touch is light, and I can feel the warmth of her breath against my skin. The draw between us is electrifying, and I can't help but lean into her touch.

Her eyes meet mine, and for a moment, everything else fades away. The tension between us is palpable, and I feel a surge of desire, the same longing that's been simmering between us for weeks. I lean in, my lips brushing against hers in a soft, tentative kiss. I haven't kissed her like this, softly, ever before.

She responds immediately, her lips parting as she deepens the kiss. Her hands come up to cup my face, and I can feel the warmth of her touch seeping into my skin. I pull her closer, my hands slipping around her waist.

We move together, our kisses growing more urgent, more desperate. I need to be close to her, to feel her warmth against me, reassuring me she's okay. She lets out a soft moan, her fingers digging into my shoulders as she presses herself against me. She straddles my lap and I support her there easily. The world outside the cabin ceases to exist, and all I can think about is her, the way she feels in my arms, the taste of her lips on mine.

We finally pull away, breathless and flushed. She looks up at me, her eyes bright with desire, and I can't help but smile. There's something in that look that makes my heart ache, and I feel warmth spreading through my chest.

"I won't let them hurt you. I swear."

She leans her forehead against mine, her breath mingling with mine.

"I think I'm starting to believe that. That was quite the… Demonstration."

She pulls back, looking at me with such a serious expression. I can't read the look, and the need to know what's going on in that mind of hers is killing me.

"Kaius, I don't understand… Why do you care so much?"

I take a deep breath, steeling myself for the conversation I've been avoiding for so long.

"I don't know what you're talking about."

"Don't give me that bullshit," she sighs. "Are you really going to sit here and try to convince me you don't care? What are you so afraid of in letting people see the real you?"

Her brows pull together, and I can see the questions in her eyes. I know I owe her answers about why I feel so strongly about her specifically, and I wish I could give them. Instead, I tell her about my past, about the family that rejected me because of my ability to read thoughts and memories. How I was orphaned and left to fend for myself, forced to fight my way up through the ranks to earn trust and respect.

"Is that why you're always hiding behind the jokes? Your way of trying to fit in?"

Her eyes soften as she listens, her hand coming up to rest on my cheek, and I swear it's like she sees through me.

"I'm so sorry, Kaius," she whispers, her voice thick with emotion.I shake my head, not wanting to actually admit that any of it upsets me in the slightest, but I'm doing a terrible job of hiding it.

"Don't be. It made me who I am today. But sometimes I wonder if I'll ever be able to escape the shadow of my past."