brutal

Chapter 34

VERENA

"I disagree. I think we should tell her. She deserves to know."

I stirred at the faintness of a familiar voice. My body shifted on the sheets, too relaxed to even acknowledge the part of me that wanted to investigate, even with the knowledge that the last thing I saw was the library and not a bed. I was simply too exhausted to open my eyes.

A moment of silence passed. When I thought the voice had simply been a hallucination, I heard it again.

"I don't care. You can't stop me from doing what I want." The voice sent a terrifying chill down my spine. The malice in their tone, it was palpable. Just eavesdropping on the conversation alone made me wonder it was like to be on the receiving end of it.

A small sound escaped my lips when I moved again. This time, I gained the energy to open my eyes.

I didn't know what to think when I saw Kai's focus on me as he held his phone to his ear from the balcony. The sunlight was only at his feet as the sun rose. His hair was damp and he had no shirt on, as if he received the call as he was dressing. Or undressing.

Holy six pack.

Kai entertained whoever it was on the other end for a few more seconds before he spoke again, "I have to go. Get it done." He dropped the call immediately after, then he approached me cautiously like a hunter does his prey.

He stopped a few inches from my bed and stared at me. "You're awake," he acknowledged softly.

I blinked. "This isn't the library," I replied in the same tone.

"My room's much more comfortable." Slowly, Kai got down on his knees next to me to level himself equally with me. If I were standing up, I just might have fallen from the shock that coursed through me by such a simple motion.

He seemed hesitant as his fingers neared my face, maybe afraid I'd pull away and avoid his touch after yesterday. But I didn't move when he landed on my cheek, and he took it as an invitation to gently cup my face and stroke it like I meant something to him.

"I missed you," he whispered to me.

An ugly desire within me compelled my hands to grab him by the neck and choke the living life out of him. Luckily, the comfortable pillows were a good enough alternative for the interim.

I showed no reaction to his confession. "You ignored me before you left me."

He looked down. "Yes. I... I had to deal with an urgent matter."

"And what was it?"

Kai wouldn't look at me. I placed my fingers underneath his chin to lift his gaze to mine. "Answer me."

"My father told me not to tell you," he murmured lowly.

I disagree. I think we should tell her. She deserves to know.

So that was his father on the phone. And what he said was not a complete figment of my imagination.

I didn't know what to think of Kai's honesty with me, not exactly. Rarely did he lie, and while he certainly kept his secrets, he was quite open.

Of course, his trust in me did not compel me to return it, especially the history between us only one of us seems to remember. The moment I choose to trust him is the day I lose myself.

"But," he says a few seconds after, "as I'm sure you've heard, I disagree."

I couldn't stop the smile that graced my lips at the sound of his words. For an heir of a very blood historical family feud, he was extremely horrible at keeping tradition.