Page 64 of Secrets and Shadows

“Is that supposed to make me feel better?”

“No. It’s simply the truth,” I reply. “I want you to be able to make an informed decision about how to proceed. Bennett isnotyour friend.”

“Now you decide to be honest with me?” She scoffs, her eyes narrowing in suspicion. “Well, I don’t fucking believe you.”

I shrug, meeting her gaze. “You don’t have to believe me. It doesn’t change the fact that it’s the truth. You can ask me anything, and I’ll answer honestly. I’ve never had a reason to lie. Especially not to you.”

Her arms wrap around her slender frame as she stares at me with wide eyes, conflicting emotions swirling within them. Part of her wants to trust me, but another part remains hesitant and fearful. I can feel all of that through the bond.

“I won’t know if you’re telling the truth.”

“You will,” I point out. “Through the bond.”

A heavy silence envelops us as we both contemplate the weight of those words. Finally, Lilith dares to move, pacing back and forth in front of me as she processes her thoughts and potential questions. The tension between us is palpable, thick enough to cut with a knife. But I’m determined to break through that barrier and earn her trust, no matter how fucking long it takes.

“Have you ever killed someone?” she asks at last.

Interesting choice for a first question.

“Yes,” I reply, without hesitation.

Her eyes widen, and I can see her throat tighten as she swallows. “How many people?”

“Too many to count.”

I can practically feel the chill that spreads through her. She wants to know more—wants to ask if they deserved it—but for some reason, the question doesn’t come out.

Instead, she softly asks, “Did you plan to kill me too?”

The answer comes easily, like taking a breath. “No. Despite what I told the headmistress, I never planned on harming you. It was all part of a ploy to keep you safe and to continue gathering information from Bennett.”

Lilith stands before me, arms crossed tightly over her chest. Skepticism flickers in her eyes as she stares at me, unsure if she can trust my words. “So, you feel it too? This...” She trails off, uncertainty lingering in her tone.

I take a deep breath and move closer, towering over her small frame. She flinches slightly, but the fear in her eyes disappears. The bond between us has given her a sense of trust. She knows now that I won’t hurt her.

“It’s not just a feeling,” I say. “It consumes my every thought and decision. It’s in everything I do—how I think, how I move, how I breathe... It’s obsessive, and insatiable, and unlike anything I’ve ever experienced before. You drive me fucking crazy, Lilith.”

“Kai…”

“You drive me insane,” I reiterate, my voice laced with both frustration and desire.

She scoffs at my words, but there’s a hint of something else in her tone. “Considering you just admitted to multiple murders,I think I’m hardly the reason behind your insanity,” she retorts quickly.

Yet I don’t doubt she feels the shift in the air, too. The bond is strong—so damn strong—and honestly, I’m not in the mood to fight it. The pull between us cannot be denied any longer. It’s continued to grow and grow every time I have been near her, which has been almost constantly lately. I was keeping my distance because she had enough on her plate and I didn’t want to overcomplicate it, but now that she knows and feels the bond…

For a brief moment, I hesitate, unsure of what to do next. It’s not like me to lose control, but all I can think is, fuck it. I want her. I need her. I’m done with being a shadow following her.

In an instant, all boundaries shatter.

Without a second thought, I lean down, and our lips collide as she meets me halfway. Her hand sinks into the hair at the back of my head, while one of mine finds its way to her cheek.

Everything else in the world fades away, and in this moment, I finally understand the allure of the bond. I see what everyone has ever said about it, and now, I’m experiencing it firsthand.

The world spins around us, but in this moment, all that exists is her.

A soft moan escapes her lips as our kiss deepens, muffled by the sheer intensity of our connection. Her hands move to my shirt, gripping tightly and pulling me closer—a sudden and rare display of urgency that I eagerly welcome.

Any semblance of self-control I had is long gone. My hands find their way to her hips, and we stumble backward until we hit the smooth wooden desk. There’s nothing gentle or slow about our movements; even our kisses are rough and frenzied, driven by instincts and a primal need that neither of us can deny. It’s woven into the very fabric of our beings, fated to happen between us.

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