Coveted [New/Revised Version]

DETERRING WAR

     Iris's head throbbed uncontrollably. It was like a giant hand wrapped around her skull and was slowly crushing it. She never experienced pain in such a degree. As if a migraine weren't enough, an excruciating ache in her neck accompanied it. Darkness shrouded her and panic took over.

She blinked her eyes open but the sudden assault of light increased her head pain so she quickly closed them again. Her heart rate slowed at the knowledge that she wasn't blind or worse. She was in pain but she was alive. A groan threatened to slip from her lips but the agony it caused both her head and throat made her cut it abruptly. Iris painfully took a deep breath through her nose and lied still for a while, trying to remember all that happened.

Though some things were unclear, the fact Valentine Jayden tried to kill her was crystal.

Iris braced herself and eased her eyes open only to shut them again because it worsened the ache in her head. However, she had an objective. She needed to examine her injuries and surroundings. Iris took a deep breath then managed to sit up on the bed. The simple act left her panting. She thought a good dose of morphine was in order for the anguish afflicting her but still forced her eyes open.

They were slow to adjust to the intrusive sunlight. The moment they did, she realized she was in a bedroom that wasn't hers. Few furnishings adorned the large space and the bed she rested on was larger than a queen-sized with fine linens. Her eyes started darting around and mostly took in varnished wood and then something that caused the hairs on her arms stood on end.

A long-limbed frame was seated in a chair beside the bed. Her heart skittered screechingly at the sight of silvery blue eyes. Full recognition that Valentine's older brother was staring back at her wasn't lost on her. The very fact that it was Valentine's kin put her off.

"Sleeping beauty is finally awake," he said with a lopsided smirk. "How are you feeling?"

He attempted to touch her but she recoiled. As soon as he tried again, she struggled backing up against a wall only to tumble onto the floor. She wasted no time in retreating in the nearest corner. Sky held up his hands in surrender and slowly settled back into his chair. He studied her curiously for a moment. "I won't hurt you."

"Funny," Iris spat. "Earlier, your brother tried to kill me."

"I'm not my brother."

"No, but you're family. I'm pretty sure you'd do anything to protect him, even if it means tying up his loose ends."

Sky didn't verbalize a response.

He simply watched her. All the while, Iris endeavored to come up with a plan of escape but couldn't think of anything under his glare. Whereas Valentine's eyes were dark holes that pulled in light and gave nothing in return, Sky's were incisive. It was as if he was looking into her very soul, unraveling her darkest secrets.

She was defenseless. She had no weapons. She had no escape plan. All she did have was her brain and a few precious seconds before the situation turned ugly.

"Let me see if I get the gist of how this works." Iris measured the distance between her and the door in her head. "Little brother goes out and catches the prey then brings it to big brother to kill, all for the sake of this sick homicidal family game. Am I warm?"

"Don't be ridiculous." Sky stood and Iris tried shrinking farther into the corner. "Believe me when I say this: If I wanted you dead, you'd be dead."

She didn't doubt a word he said staring into those eyes as he spoke. His rolled-up sleeves exposed glimpses of intricate tattoos running down his inner forearms. Iris squinted at them from where she was curled up in the corner. She'd never seen anything like the dark swirls and burgundy, spidery vines unusually interwoven into one another. They appeared indented into the ivory of his skin.