Kill Or Be Killed

Chapter Thirty-Nine

Scale Number: slight 4 (In office)

Kalayavan momentarily forgot all the shit that was caked on his plate, allowing the stress of his upcoming mission to melt away for just a few minutes. Simply enjoying the feel of his pet in his arms as he spun the two of them around on the dancefloor. If he wasn't supporting ninety-three percent of her body weight so effortlessly, there was no way they would be moving so fluently. If he cared what anyone else thought, they might say he looked to be leading her like one might a child who was standing on their shoes.

Half entertaining the idea to take her and run, the thought was cut short when something in the entryway caught his attention.

Like a ghost reaching through time was Felicity Eliffire.

Her gaze felt like a cold finger trailing down his spine, cutting off his childish fantasy. Especially when she had the nerve to raise her champagne glass slightly, as if toasting him. Even with the warning that someone from his past would be making an appearance, she was not who he was expecting. As she hadn't crossed his thoughts since the last Kepling, back when she had just turned eighteen and was throwing herself at the bad boy visiting Christopher the first time.

Caterina tensed, causing him to look down to see she was looking in the direction of the ballroom's entrance. Trying to break their contact by pulling away from him, his jealous little human quickly found out that he wasn't as willing to stop touching her.

He did however know what he was supposed to do, because Hunter had already promised that if Kal didn't he would. Then he would present the dead body of his enemy to Caterina like a trophy. Now knowing who it was, there was even less of a chance he was about to let that happen. He didn't want to admit out loud to his woman that she wasn't the first human he strayed with.

Not that he would ever admit it out loud to anyone. Although it seemed Hunter already knew, emphasized when Kal caught the expectant look from the other Sepireer, who was standing off in a far corner, watching to see what he would do.

Leading Caterina from the other couples still moving to the music, he kept his hand on her lower back. Trying to burn the feeling into his mind, just like that morning when he'd sunk into her for the last time. Storing the memories away to fuel his incentive to finish the job and return. Looking down at his woman, whose face was blushing with a growing anger. He didn't want to cause her any more grief than needed but he knew anyway he said it, 'goodbye' was too painful.

Although he wanted to swear to her he would come back, that she was the love of his life and he'd rather die than leave her. He just took a breath to calm himself enough to hiss, "Stay here." Leaning forward to press his lips to that crinkle between her brows, lingering for only a second. Using the opportunity to lean in further and add in a low growl next to her ear, "I fucking mean it, Caterina. Stay here."

Catching Hunter's eye as he jerked his head off to the side, an indication he wanted Kal to get a move on. He knew the crazed man gave his word that he would keep her safe as long as Kal didn't do anything stupid. With her life on the line, there was no fucking chance of that, which meant she was just as safe as the Elders would soon be dead.

Kal didn't give her enough time to open her mouth and argue before she slipped away, weaving through the bodies around him. Some of them tried to socialize or flirt with him, but the look on his face was enough to make them hesitate and go back to their food and drinks. The orchestra slowly came down until they were silent for several moments until they picked up once again. Their strings a haunting serenade as he pushed through the crowd until he was only feet away.

Her appearance hadn't changed much over the years, a sort of cold beauty that seemed unreachable for her fellow mortals. As though she sat behind a pane of impenetrable glass. Her skin glowed and her hair was much darker than the strains he wanted to bury his fingers into, cascading down past her rib cage. Her chin tilted up and her dark blue eyes were fixated above the heads of the crowd, appearing bored and above the glamor and celebratory buzz in the air.