The Assassin | KITTYZ

Chapter 13: A Dangerous Connection

HAERIN'S POV

Why did I do it?

The question burned in my mind as my lips pressed against Hanni's. It wasn't supposed to happen like this. Kissing her was meant to be a distraction—a way to get the man off her back, to protect her from danger. But the moment our lips touched, everything blurred. My usual control, my rigid sense of purpose, faltered.

For a split second, I forgot about the mission, about my orders, about everything. All I could feel was the warmth of Hanni's lips, soft and delicate against mine, sending a shiver through my entire body. I tried to remind myself that this was just an act. I told myself it was nothing more than a cover. But the lie echoed hollowly in my head.

When I pulled back, my heart was racing, breath in heavy gasps, and that terrified me more than anything else. I couldn't let this happen. I couldn't let her get to me.

"Satisfied?" I said coldly to the man, stepping back to try to reclaim the distance I had built between us. The man had backed off, satisfied, but I knew we weren't out of danger. If anyone from the palace found out Hanni was here, or worse—if they figured out who I was—it would be over.

I started walking, refusing to look back, but I felt her presence behind me, close. Too close.

"Wait!" Hanni's voice sliced through the air, filled with a mix of confusion and determination. "You can't just walk away after that."

I froze. Of course she wouldn't let it go. She never did. I squeezed my eyes shut for a moment, trying to steady my thoughts. You can't let her in. When I finally turned, I made sure my face was unreadable. "There's nothing to talk about."

"Nothing to talk about?" Her voice rose with frustration, and I felt her anger crackle between us. "You kissed me! You keep saving me! Why, Haerin? Why do you keep acting like you care when you won't even give me answers?"

I wanted to tell her. I wanted to spill everything—about the orders, about the mess I'd gotten myself into, about why I couldn't keep her out of my mind. But I couldn't. The cost would be too high, for both of us.

"Because I have to." My voice came out colder than I intended, but I couldn't afford to show weakness now. Not to her.

"You have to?" She stepped closer, her confusion mirrored in her wide eyes. "What does that even mean?"

I could feel my walls crumbling, bit by bit. I turned away, trying to hide the conflict raging inside me. "It means I don't have a choice," I muttered. "It means I'm stuck between following orders and protecting you."

I shouldn't have said that. I could feel her gaze on my back, could sense her putting the pieces together, but I couldn't look at her. If I did, I wasn't sure what I'd do.

"Orders?" she asked, her voice softer now but still demanding answers. "What orders?"

I clenched my jaw, trying to push down the wave of guilt rising in me. "You don't need to know," I said firmly. The words came out like a command, but they felt like a plea. "Just... trust me when I say you're safer staying away from me."

There. That was the truth. She didn't belong in my world, and I didn't belong in hers. No matter what was happening between us—whatever this pull was—I had to cut it off. It was the only way to protect her.

But she didn't back down. She never did. Her stubborn self never did.

"I don't want to stay away," Hanni said, her voice defiant, and my heart skipped a beat.

I finally turned to face her, and the determination in her eyes almost made me stumble. She seemed to have taken a few steps forward. "You don't understand what you're saying."

"I understand enough." She took another step toward me, closing the gap between us. "I know you're dangerous. I know you've hurt people. But I also know you saved me—twice. And I know there's more to this than you're telling me."

Her words hit me like a punch to the gut. She was too smart, too perceptive. She was breaking through every wall I'd carefully built. And I was letting her.

For the first time, I didn't know what to say. I opened my mouth, but no words came out. The silence stretched between us, thick and suffocating. I could feel her searching my face, waiting for answers I couldn't give. Not without putting her in more danger.

And yet... a part of me wanted to let her in. To let her see the truth. But if I did that, there would be no turning back.

"I don't have time for this," I finally muttered, more to myself than to her. I turned away again, desperate to put distance between us, but Hanni grabbed my wrist, stopping me in my tracks.

"You keep running away," she said, her voice trembling slightly, but her grip was firm. "Why? What are you so afraid of?"

Afraid. The word echoed in my mind, and for a moment, I felt a sharp pang of fear twist in my chest. Fear of what I might do. Fear of losing control. Fear of her seeing the truth behind the mask I wore.

I yanked my wrist free, my gaze hardening. "I'm not afraid."

But I was. More than I'd ever admit.

Before I could take another step, a rustling sound came from the nearby bushes. I froze, instantly alert, my hand moving to my weapon. Hanni noticed my change in posture, her eyes wide. "What is it?"

I held up a hand, signaling for her to stay quiet. My senses sharpened, and I strained to listen.

Then, the sound of footsteps. Multiple footsteps.

I cursed under my breath. We were being followed.

"Run," I whispered, grabbing Hanni's hand and pulling her away from the border. We took off into the trees, the sound of pursuers growing louder behind us.

"Who's after us?" Hanni asked breathlessly as we ran, but I couldn't answer her. Not now.

We weaved through the dense forest, but the footsteps were closing in. I couldn't let them catch her. Not here. Not like this.

Suddenly, I spotted a small clearing up ahead. I yanked Hanni into the brush, pulling her down to hide beneath the cover of the tall grass. She laid on the damp grass as I was on all fours, towering over her with my left hand on her mouth, and the other on my dagger. My stupid heart is beating like its gonna pop out of my chest. Stupid heart.

"Stay still," I whispered, my breath ragged. "Don't make a sound."

We waited, hearts pounding, as the footsteps came closer. The voices were muffled, but I could make out enough to know they weren't random strangers. They were soldiers. Palace guards. And they were hunting us.

Hanni's eyes met mine, fear swirling in them, and I knew she was starting to realize the gravity of the situation. If we got caught, there'd be no more running. This was life or death now. For both of us.

I gripped my weapon tightly, ready to fight if it came to that. But deep down, I knew something had already shifted. I wasn't just protecting her out of duty anymore.

I was protecting her because, for the first time in a long while, I cared. And that terrified me more than any soldier ever could.

☆

A/N
I'm backkkkk! did you miss me?
Exams cooked me today :<
my bday's in a week!
hope u enjoyed this since i kinda rushed it..
happy reading!