Page 12 of Blood of the Fallen
Her smile widened, and she squeezed my hand. “You should lay down and rest.”
“I will.”
“I’ll try to get some sleep, too. I need to recover my strength. Tomorrow we move on. The Academy will come looking for us. I have a feeling that man won’t rest until he gets his revenge.”
I had the same feeling. Val was stubborn, but more than that, the brand of hatred I’d seen in his eyes was not the kind that simply went away.
Ila didn’t leave until I lay down. I’d been afraid that resting my head would make me sleepy, but I shouldn’t have worried. I had no trouble keeping my eyes open, focused on the two wolves, attentive to their slightest move. Except they didn’t stir unless I counted their slow, rhythmic breaths.
I had the sense that the sun was rising. It’d been several hours since we’d arrived and—
Sheela.
I sprang to a sitting position and scanned Kall’s bandaged face for any sign of change, but he looked exactly the same.
I’m here,I pushed my thoughts down that strange bond that felt as uncomfortable as a stone inside my shoe. I scooted closer and laid a hand on his flank.I’m here, Kall.
Don’t say that,his voice sounded distant, weak.
What? Don’t say what?
No vows, Sheela. Nothing you will regret.
A memory flashed in my mind, a conversation we’d had a few days ago.
“Your coda has barely started to fade, and I can already feel you.” Kall had said, placing a hand over his heart and caressing the spot. Heat rose up my neck into my face as our energies—I couldn’t think of another word to describe them—pushed against each other.
“What are you doing?!” I demanded.
“Giving you a taste of how it will feel when I claim you.”
I fought the forceful push.
“I can’t wait for your coda to be completely gone. Then Maki and Novuk will see you’re mine.”
“Stop saying that!” I hissed, spittle flying from my mouth. “I’m not yours and never will be.”
“Don’t fight it, Sheela.” He reached for my hand.
I jerked back. “I won’t tell you again… keep your filthy hands off me.”
“Oh, yes, my filthy hands.” He raised them and examined them closely. With a frown, he met my gaze. “But how did you know they will do filthy things to you? Have you already imagined me touching you?” He licked his full lips, animal hunger and strong desire in his eyes.
A wave of heat rushed to my belly, quickly followed by something much different: disgust at the thought of his hands gliding over my naked body. As if I was in that pit again, my skin turned cold and clammy. I heard the thud of bodies as the guards flung them into their sacrilegious, shared grave. I smelled the tang of their spilled blood and the dankness rising from the earth.
Chin quivering, I said, “You. Will. Never. Touch. Me.”
The erotic quality of Kall’s expression died slowly, though his gaze kept a certain level of conviction as if he was sure it was just a matter of time before I let him do with me as he pleased. He was wrong. Very wrong. And I was determined to make it crystal clear.
“I will never allow it,” I said. “I would rather die than let you touch me.”
“It’s because of that city rat, isn’t it?”
I frowned, then realized he was talking about Val.
“He’s nothing but a shackled boy, and you need a man.”
“If I do, it isn’t you.”
