Ruthless 🗡️/ Fourth Wing

Chapter~30

The music flowed around us, but in the bubble that had formed between Kai and me, everything else seemed to fade away. His presence was overpowering, his hands light but precise as they traced the curve of my waist, sending a ripple of electricity through my body. His voice, when he spoke, was low and teasing. "You know, Nora, I never said thank you."

I stiffened slightly but said nothing, knowing that if I responded, I was inviting more of his games. Instead, I met his gaze and let the tension linger between us. "And what would that be for, Kai?" My breath danced across his skin, and I could feel his pulse quicken just slightly under the pressure of my words.

"Why don't you take a guess?" he murmured, his voice hushed and filled with that same magnetism that made it impossible to ignore him. His breath caught ever so slightly, and I noticed how his chest rose and fell with anticipation.

A playful, almost mocking smile tugged at my lips as I leaned in just a little closer, my lips brushing lightly against his earlobe as I whispered, "For not killing you?" The words left my mouth like a challenge, teasing yet carrying the weight of everything unspoken between us.

Kai chuckled—a low, rumbling sound that seemed to vibrate through the air. "Oh, yes, I was wondering what this was," he said with an amused smirk. But before I could prepare myself for what came next, his hand slid down my thigh, skimming just past my hip, his fingers grazing the edge of my dagger's hilt.

I felt the cold steel against my skin as his grip tightened around it, and something flickered in his eyes. "I carry it everywhere I go," I whispered, holding his gaze unwaveringly. The heat of his touch was like fire, but I couldn't afford to let my guard down. Not now. Not with him.

His eyes gleamed, shifting to the dagger as though contemplating something darker. "Now, is this the same dagger that was used to kill my brother?" The question sliced through the air with such precision that I almost lost my breath. My pulse hammered in my throat as I held my composure.

I didn't flinch. "No. You'll need to go fondle up Xaden for that one," I replied, my tone flat but tinged with an underlying threat. "Word of warning, he's a biter. Pretty assertive too."

Kai's lips curled into a slow, almost imperceptible smile. "Nora, I am aware of many things," he said, his voice dropping, becoming sharp and unforgiving. "That's what happens when the crown is about to be passed down to you. But you would know that too, wouldn't you?"

My stomach churned at his words, a sharp burst of anger rising in my chest. "I am not royal, let alone have a crown," I shot back, my voice steady but full of defiance. I would not let him push me into this tangled web of his manipulations.

His grin widened, but it was cold now, dangerous. "Sir skorkydoso odd navarre tradition iksis pār," he said, the words flowing from his mouth in a smooth, unsettling cadence.--now how odd Navarre Tradition is then

The chill in my spine spread as I stared at him, utterly confused. The words were too familiar. "Excuse me?" I asked, my voice faltering just slightly.

He leaned in closer, his breath warm against my ear, and I fought to remain composed as his grip tightened ever so slightly. "Very young man here learned the dialect in grade school so when the day hits and she comes again we may honor her in her native tongue, " he said, his words almost mocking now.

My mind raced. "What a funny language that is... what did you say?" I couldn't hide the unease in my voice now.

He smiled, a dangerous glint in his eyes. "You look beautiful, love," he said simply, the warmth in his tone now a stark contrast to the icy tension that lingered between us.

Kai then guided me off the ballroom floor, his hand still resting against my back, urging me forward. My heart thudded in my chest, both uneasy and a little unsettled by how easily he seemed to take control. We moved away from the crowd, and I was painfully aware of how the eyes of others still lingered on us, some curious, others undoubtedly aware of the tension between Kai and Xaden.

As we reached the far corner, Kai leaned in close again, his breath warm and heavy against my ear. "I'm fully aware of Xaden's claim on you, but frankly, Nora, I don't care." The words were like a slow poison, slithering beneath my skin, igniting something dangerous within me.

His words were so calm, so sure, and yet they shook me to my core. The audacity to speak so freely, to make such claims in front of the world—he clearly saw me as little more than a piece to be moved in his game. I wanted to rip away from him, but something in his gaze kept me rooted in place, the pressure of his presence making it impossible to escape.

I exhaled sharply as Kai melted into the crowd, his figure slipping from view just as quickly as he had appeared. I couldn't help but roll my eyes in frustration. It seemed the universe had decided I would never catch a break tonight.

I weaved through the throng of guests, the weight of what had just transpired hanging heavily on my shoulders. When I finally spotted Xaden, I didn't hesitate. "Xaden," I called out, weaving through the clusters of people until I reached his side. The women around him glanced at me, their eyes curious, but I paid them no mind. My focus was entirely on the task at hand. "I need to speak with you."

Xaden's gaze shifted toward me, his eyes briefly narrowing as he sensed something was wrong. There was a flicker of concern in his expression before he nodded in silent understanding. With a murmured apology to the women, he followed me as I led him through the crowd and toward the relative privacy of the restroom.

Once we were safely inside, I locked the door behind us with a quiet click. The sound of it made my heart beat faster, a signal that we were no longer part of the party, no longer under the watchful gaze of others. It was just the two of us, and this moment, this conversation, was going to be the most important one yet.

I turned to face him, the urgency of the situation clear in my eyes. My voice came out low, filled with both a sense of dread and determination. "We need to talk."

Xaden's expression shifted, the concern deepening. He stepped closer, his tone softer now. "What's going on? What happened out there?"

I took a deep breath, gathering the courage to say the words that had been swirling in my mind. "Kai... he knows too much, Xaden. He knows......."

"He knows about what Nora"

Fucking christ I cant tell him "Hes just giving me a weird vibe"

My heart hammered in my chest, a jagged pulse of panic threatening to spill over as Xaden's words hung in the air, too close, too sharp. I couldn't let him see that I knew more than I was letting on. I couldn't let him know that the words Kai had spoken were far more dangerous than a "weird vibe." My mind raced, every part of me screaming to just say something, anything, but the words stuck in my throat, like thick honey refusing to let me speak.

Xaden stepped closer, his eyes scanning my face, searching for something I wasn't sure I could hide. He didn't buy the "weird vibe" excuse. Of course he didn't.

"You're more spooked than just a weird vibe," Xaden pressed, his voice low, barely more than a growl. His hand came up to my shoulder, fingers brushing lightly, but there was nothing gentle about the way he looked at me. There was a fire in his eyes now, a fierceness that made my stomach twist.

I swallowed hard, trying to steady myself. He wasn't going to like what I had to say, and I couldn't let him know the full truth—not yet. But something in his gaze told me he was already onto me.

I had to lie. And I had to make it believable.

I shook my head quickly, trying to shake off the cold feeling that had crept into my bones. "It's just... it's Kai. He's playing games. Trying to get into my head," I said, my voice betraying me, hitching in all the wrong places. I cursed myself under my breath. "He's just... trying to unsettle me. That's all."