Page 62 of A Sky of Storms
I didn’t know if there would be a tomorrow, or a day after that, but I damn well wanted to make everything count while I could. And Kendra was right. I didn’t need to promise myself to anyone or to be mutually exclusive to just one man. I was free to spread my wings and fly my own path.
My life had always been filled with pain. Agony had been carved into my heart and I’d been broken in too many ways to count. But bruises faded, and scars marked the victory of survivors.
It’s time I took my own life into my hands and explored what I wanted from it. Found pleasure at the hands of another instead of torment.
And maybe that was within my reach after all.
I padded through the doorway and to the far room on the landing, finding Zane and Noah curled up near each other. I glanced down at them with a soft smile, seeing their faces relaxed in sleep.
Without overthinking it, I nestled into Zane’s bedding and lay down next to him, his arms immediately wrapping around me and tugging me closer.
Green eyes blinked open sleepily, and I smiled as they glittered in the reflection of a lit torch on the wall. “Hello Starfish.”
“Hello Zane.”
I kissed him, long and deep, his tongue curling around mine in the most sensual way. Heat fired down my body, but I was content to just kiss him for the time being, and I think he was happy with that too.
Just exploring, lost in the comforting embrace of each other’s arms.
“Whatdidyouget?”I asked, leaning back in my chair. It was the only chair in the garrison and might as well have been my throne.
“We found a group of random Potentials who weren’t prepared at all,” the woman before me snickered. Pam, I think her name was. “They just about shit themselves when we turned up. They handed over everything they had. Food, meds, and even a few knives. They weren’t great at managing their supplies, so they’d gone through a bit.”
I nodded, steepling my fingers. “If they were so happy to give you all they had, then why are there only three of you? I sent out five to scout that part of the marshland.”
“We got attacked by those giant bats again,” Pam said. “Lost a couple to the fight but saved all the supplies.”
I smirked. Pam had her priorities in order. “Drop the supplies on the second floor to be sorted.”
“Yes, sir,” she replied, dipping her head then ushering those behind her out.
I loved how they’d all taken to calling me sir. It was like they had already submitted to my rule. All I needed now was for the next few weeks to go smoothly and I could wash my hands of the first trial. We were currently halfway through our month and so far, I’d managed to build and maintain an empire. We had a good stock of supplies and weapons, and we’d managed to keep the monsters at bay with minimal loss of life. Losing the two scouts was disappointing, but I was sure it wouldn’t ruin what I’d built here.
“You’ve got someone else waiting to see you,” Flynn said, leaning against the doorframe.
I raised a brow. “Who is it?”
“Victoria Auger.”
Fuck. What was she doing here?
“Send her in,” I replied and he nodded before striding away.
I could hear his feet stomping on the stone steps as he made his way down. Naturally, my room was the biggest in the whole tower and on the third floor for extra safety. I had a big ass bed made from blankets and a stash of supplies including antibiotics and chocolate—necessities and luxury items I’d kept for bargaining. If someone wanted it, they’d have to go through me, and I gave nothing away for free.
I was curious to see what Victoria could possibly want from me other than trying to take what I’d built. Only over my dead body would she take what was mine, and I definitely wasn’t going to worry that she was in my stronghold. I’d throw her out my window if I had to. Footsteps sounded and soon I found Victoria striding through my door, her hips swinging as she walked. She was wearing the same black jumpsuit as everyone else but hers was cleaner, not a speck of dirt to be seen, as though she’d just been valeted in.
“Kayden, Kayden, Kayden,” she purred, stepping into the centre of the room and looking around the place. She flicked her long blond braid and whistled. “What a castle you have found yourself. A true lord of the marsh.”
She laughed, though the sound was far from pleasant, and I gave her a smile that didn’t reach my eyes. We were two predators eyeing each other. The problem for her being that I was the bigger, more dominant one. I’d send her scurrying back to her hole if she put a foot wrong.
“What do you want, Victoria?” I asked, leaning forward and resting my forearms on my thighs.
“I was in the neighbourhood and thought I’d visit,” she replied, pouting at me. “Thought you’d like some real company in this tower of yours. You must be getting lonely with no one of your calibre here with you.”
I angled my head to look past her and out the door. “Did you bring someone with you then?”
“Very funny.” She laughed, that grating sound making me twitch with the need to punch something. “I always knew I liked you.”
