The Demon's Reprisal

Chapter 38⁓ Kane

When Reid approaches at high speed, Hannah's yanked from her stupor, looking miserable while leaning a shoulder and her temple against the cold concrete of the wall. Kane finally catches her gaze. Her brown eyes are wet with unshed tears.

There's a memory of not long ago, when she walked into the shop. She was dangerous. He felt it in his bones. Distracted him from everything until all he could think of was her. At first, he contemplated her intricacies and what she was hiding.

After the pier, he began to contemplate why the bruises she always seems to have on her thighs and knees gave him the urge to have his fingers replace hers, prod and press until she flushes, and then soothe the ache with his tongue. Never has he felt the need to have anyone around other than Reid, but with Hannah, it's different.

Quite quickly, Kane found he didn't want her to return to her life because she filled a hole he didn't know was there. Not because of their kiss; a big part of why Kane's drawn to her is because she's exceeded his expectations.

She's a warrior, tough as hell; the bruises that only work to make her look more beautiful and the nasty scrap on her elbow are a display of that tenacity. Kane's closed off and cold; he's an asshole; he's aware, but Hannah still kissed him, even post-battle. She approached him.

She's amazing, prickly, and bitchy, but also endearingly kind. She doesn't let Reid get away with shit and gives him what he deserves, but also shows a forbearance toward the idiot that others don't. She makes Kane think that if something irreversible happened to him—if he really does die one of these days—Hannah would take care of Reid, and a weight Kane didn't know he'd been holding has been lifted.

Hannah slid into their lives so effortlessly. She doesn't return Kane's smile, but her gaze softens. Her lips quiver as if trying to make words, but they're getting caught in her bobbing throat.

She looks confused at Kane's head gesture, signalling her towards Reid, trying to convey that she needs to leave first with the idiot in tow.

There's no doubt Hannah's on his mind, but there's something important Kane has to deal with first.

Reid is staring at the open doorway while Lucas whispers near his ear. The bags are held tightly in his arms and pressed against his stomach. And whatever is being said has Reid's face turning varying shades of splotchy crimson.

There's a mindset Kane has perfected over many years. Emotion flipped off, and he's merely a machine, and that's what overtakes him when he approaches with soft scruffs against the pavement.

Lucas straightens at Kane's approach. "You look like hell, mate."

"Feel like it," Kane lies. He feels incredible. Hungry. No magic until he sleeps and regains his strength. But his body had a sort of reset, healing the worst of his injuries, and he could run a mile; he's got vigour to spare. "I need to talk to you alone."

There's a flicker of apprehension in Reid's gaze, and the idiot sighs. "I want to sleep. I think we all should sleep and then talk. You agree, Hannah, right?"

Hannah remains silent, even when Reid pouts at her.

There's a spark behind Lucas's gaze that's been perfected by someone who's faced battle many times. When a blade or a bullet could be their end any second, the mind adapts, and the danger sense is conditioned.

Because Lucas is a big bastard, he doesn't shake in his shoes like others would while being the object of Kane's ire, the asshole dares to smirk. "Sure, you want to leave Tweedledee and Tweedledumb alone?"

Reid scowls. "Which one am I?"

"Tweedledumb, obviously." Lucas shifts his head in a way that has Kane battling the urge to not lay him out for daring to stare at Reid through hooded eyes. Like he's staring at some roast—okay, admittedly, Kane might be hungry, and it might be bleeding into his anger.