Careless | A Powerless Fanfiction

Chapter 10: Kai

I'm not surprised.

She's absolutely breathtaking.

Paedyn could be standing in the middle of a battlefield, covered in mud and blood, and still manage to turn heads. So, guys trying to hit on her? It shouldn't surprise me. But that doesn't mean it doesn't sting.

My jaw tightens as we weave through the bustling streets of the port city. She's walking a few paces ahead, her shoulders relaxed, completely unfazed by what just happened. Meanwhile, I'm trailing behind like a sulking child, replaying the scene at the clothing stall over and over in my head.

The boy's smile. Paedyn's laugh.

I know she wasn't encouraging him. I know. But still, the way he looked at her... like she was something to be claimed. It made my blood boil.

She stops abruptly, and I nearly run into her. Before I can ask what's going on, she grabs my arm and pulls me into a narrow, dimly lit alley. The shift is so sudden, I don't have time to react before my back hits the cool stone wall.

"Paedyn, what are you—"

She steps closer, and the words die in my throat. The dim light catches on her face, and she's smirking up at me in that way that makes my heart do ridiculous flips.

"Jealous?" she asks, her voice low and teasing.

I swallow hard, my mouth suddenly dry. "What? No. Why would I be jealous?"

Her smirk deepens, and she takes another step closer, her hand bracing against the wall beside my head. "Oh, come on, Kai. I saw the way you looked at that poor boy. If looks could kill..."

I try to keep my composure, but she's too close, her scent—faint but earthy and undeniably her—filling the small space between us. "I was just making sure he wasn't bothering you."

"Hmm," she hums, tilting her head as if considering my words. "I think you were doing a little more than that."

My heart is hammering against my chest. Her face is inches from mine, her lips curving into a playful smile that makes it impossible to think straight.

"I—"

Before I can stumble over whatever excuse I was about to make, she leans in, pressing a soft kiss to my lips. It's brief, barely enough to satisfy the growing ache in my chest, but it leaves me breathless all the same.

"Unfortunately," she murmurs, her voice soft but firm, "there's only one cocky bastard in Ilya, and he's mine."

She pulls back just enough to look up at me, her eyes alight with mischief and something warmer—something that makes my knees weak.

Her hair is a tangled mess, her clothes are torn and dirt-streaked, and we haven't bathed in days. But none of that matters. Not when she's standing here, looking at me like I'm the only person in the world.

I can't stop myself.

Slowly, I lower my head, giving her every chance to pull away. But she doesn't. Her gaze stays locked on mine, her breath warm against my lips.

When I kiss her, it's deeper this time, more certain. My hands find her waist, pulling her closer as I pour every unspoken word into the connection. She responds in kind, her fingers curling into my hair, anchoring me to her like I'm the only solid thing in a world that's constantly shifting.

The world outside the alley fades away. The noise of the market, the salty tang of the air, the tension of our journey—all of it melts into nothing.

It's just her. Just us.

When we finally break apart, her forehead rests against mine, her breath coming in short, quiet bursts. I don't know how long we stand there, holding on to each other like lifelines, but I don't care.

Plagues, what has she done to me?