Page 111 of Quiet Burn

I wasn’t prepared for him to say that atall.

“Are you sure that’s wise, Jas?” Zavida whispers as he hugs his tails. “It’s dangerous for us to be there at all, much less when some of us are recovering.”

X snorts. “Guys, I’ll be fine by tomorrow. I’ve been regenerating all day and I spenthoursin my animal form. And KK’s been good all day, I think. Right?”

All eyes whirl to me and I want to deny it, but I know it’s true. I’m fine now and I have no good excuse for avoiding the place I ran away from to come here.

God damn it.

One Step At A Time

Salem

We spent the rest of the evening eating dinner and studying. Kit Kat was visibly shaken by the upcoming trip, and though I know my brothers wanted to discuss it until we all zonked out in our spots, he was definitely not ready for it. I suggested we watch a recent movie and Zav scrambled to go grab his laptop so we could pick something that would help us make sense of the place above the surface.

None of us besides KK have been there much—some not at all—so it was a good idea.

Slash grumbled that he would have to ‘hide himself’ and Jasper agreed, making Kit shake his head ruefully. He informed us all that unless we were going to a supernatural community, we would absolutely have to hide any spare parts or start a panic. Oriel looked like he wanted to ask follow-up questions, but the kid just snuggled into his chair further, pulling his blanket up, and I glared until everyone shut up.

This morning has been just as tense—he seems like he’s as jittery as a StyX fiend and I’m not sure how to help him. As he pours a coffee, I arch a brow and finally give in. “Uh, Kit Kat? Do you think caffeine is… a good idea right now? You already seem set to blow at any second.”

His head swivels and I swear to fuck, it’s like that possessed little girl in the poorly done human movie. The absolute evil in that glance makes my poof shrivel up like a cotton ball. “I don’t need baby-sitters, Salem. I’m perfectly capable of deciding what I can or cannot handle.”

“Well, yes, but, um…” I rub the back of my neck, trying not to respond to this tiny dude like I would Jasper’s wrath despite the similarities in their behavior. “You’re just… it feels like you’re practically vibrating. That’s how StyX heads feel when they’re running around and I don’t know if it’s your anxiety or being up there or worry…. I didn’t want it to be worse for you.”

Kit frowns, waving off the concern to ask, “What the hell is StyX? I amnevergoing to learn how to be one of you guys. There just aren’t enough hours in the day.”

Of course that’s what he would focus on.

“Premier party drug down here. Bad stuff, very addictive. Makes demons super paranoid and shaky, but also gets used to boost energy for shit like exams or sex or whatever. Not my thing, but we saw a lot of people using it in secondary school.” I shrug and think about it for a moment. “We haven’t here because we’re not going out to parties to make noise at Discordia.”

“Is that a bad thing?” Kit sips the coffee then wrinkles his nose, adding more berry sweetener to it. “Does it hurt us in the long run?”

“Probably? Anton and X would be better resources on the whole socio-political tie-in stuff. They’re the ones that picked everything we attended and Jasper laid down the rules and shit. I went because I had to; that shit isn’t my jam.”

He tucks his chin, smiling at me for the first time since we got up. “Not mine, either. My issue was at a party, and um… I haven’t been to one since. That is, except for that damn Halloween thing where Jasper’s cockgobbling father got in my face.”

I grin broadly as he dumpsmoreCantu berries into his coffee. “You should add some of that Dark Cow to smooth out the Hellfire beans. They’re spicy as fuck.”

“Could have told me before I took a drink,” he mutters, stomping over to the fridge. He sighs as he pulls out the container of black dairy, then his shoulders scrunch. “I’m sorry, Salem. I’m being a pill because Ihatethe thought of going back up there.”

“Even though everyone down here wants to kill you?”

His scowl is cute as he pours the creamer, then puts it away. “Not everyone. Just… mostly everyone. But yes, despite that, I was so adrift on the surface. I’m not popular here, but Iamstarting to feel like I fit for the first time in my life. So I’d prefernotto take steps backwards, you know?”

Walking over to Kit, I lean my hip against the counter as I look down at him. He’s frowning into his mug like he’s trying to figure something out. I reach out and lift his chin, smiling as his eyes meet mine. “KK, you’re not going to become an outcast just because we go up there. You know we’re only portaling up to root around for clues about your past and what’s going on with the Games.”

Something odd flashes in his gaze and his expression turns to panic. “We can’t go back to where I was living—like, not at all. It wasn’t where I was born, anyway, and um… I don’t think I can deal with seeing those people. Please, Salem.Pleasedon’t let Jasper choose there.”

The sudden fear radiating off him worries me, and I don’t know what else to do except pull him into my arms. Hugging him tightly, I wait for the little tremors to fade before I pull back. I don’t get why going back to the town he lived in before the doc snatched him up has Kit flipping out, but it’s obviously abigtrigger. The way he’s breathing tells me that he’s trying extremely hard not to fall into an attack and he’s gripping me like he might fall off the edge if he lets go.

I like it, so I have to think of really gross things before the poof unshrivels.

“Salem?” Kit whispers as I work to get a grip on myself. “Why are you suddenly like a statue? You give good hugs and um, I was glad you gave me one. But if that’s not okay, then?—”

Gritting my teeth, I look up at the ceiling for help. I know there’s nothing there but Ineedto keep control of myself so I don’t make this panic attack worse. But when I look down at his unsure expression and the pouty bottom lip, I realize I’m definitely going to lose that battle. My arms tighten on Kit and I duck down, brushing my lips over his without so much as a word.

He squeaks and I almost pull back, but a soft sigh keeps me in place. I think the sound means he’s okay with the light kiss, so I do it again, being careful not to increase the pressure unless he initiates it. Our breath mingles, warm as Kit melts into theembrace with so much trust that I can feel my heart thumping like a bass beat,

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