Charm Of Sensuality

Chapter 13

The ground shook and the clear blue sky was now a mix of dark greys and ominous purples. Eden was on the verge of tears, her grip on Kane was iron clad. She was terrified.

He, on the other hand, was calm as could be. He rubbed her back in circular motions, shushing her cries.

"Now is not the time for that. Trust me, you don't want to show weakness in front of them." He said with a gentleness that did not match the seriousness on his face.

She looked up at him, her brows furrowed in confusion. Them?

Thunder sounded off once more before stopping, leaving nothing but dark skies and absolute silence in its wake. Eden was paralyzed with fear when a cloud of golden smoke appeared in front of the store entrance. Suddenly there were a whole group of people before her, each dressed in beautifully elaborate dresses and suits, black cloaks tied around their necks. They all stared in her direction, many of them frowning, other's grinning, some looking her up and down.

One of them, a female, wearing a tight fitting black dress that hugged her in all the right places stepped forward. Her skin was dark, her eyes a bright almost florescent brown, her hair a curly mass of black that looked like it had been caressed once too many.

She placed a hand on her hip, her eyes narrowing. "We gave you a week, but we will wait no more. Your time on the human realm has passed."

Kane's grip on her tightened. "We still have a few days before her birthday."

The woman raised a brow at Kane's remark. "We?"

Kane said nothing in response. The woman suddenly howled with laughter, though there was disbelief in her tone.

"Who would have thunk it?" She said with amusement, turning to grin widely at the group of silent black clothed on-lookers.

Many of them chuckled, others rolled their eyes.

"Give her to us, now." The woman demanded, her eyes flashing.

Kane stood his ground, his face twisted into a scowl. "My contract is binding. I'm not handing her over until the day of her birth."

The woman tsked. "Stop being stubborn, damn it! We don't have time for this! We need to get her mated, so that we can begin the ceremony. I have no more patience for this ridiculous waiting game, Kane."

"I'm not handing her over to you, Vidal." Kane snapped at last, the anger on his face growing.

"What did you just say?" She woman said on a calm, even note.

"Get behind me, Eden." Kane told her, pushing her behind him.

"You want her? Fine, I'll escort her but I'm not giving her to you. It's not happening."

Vidal was first in command on common ground, she was the messenger for the upper league, the mages who made all the decisions. And she was a tyrant at best. With the little power she had, she was known to easily lose her temper and cast curse's.

Vidal's face darkened with rage and she lifted her hand, pointing a finger in Kane's direction. "How dare you, you insolent-," she suddenly cut off by another burst of light. Abril stepped through and frowned, quickly moving in front of Kane, his eyes on Vidal.

"That's not what you came here for, Vidal. Put your curse's away." Abril commanded.

Vidal made a low growling sound in her throat before turning away and walking back through the portal in which she came.

"All of you now, leave." Abril snapped pointedly.

The group of people did as told, though many of them whispered amongst themselves as they went.

Once the portal was gone, the sky returned to its clear blue shine, the sun reappearing as if it had always been there.

Abril turned to look at Kane, running a hand down his face. "You... are killing me here, Kane."

Kane pulled Eden from behind him and settled her in his arms. She stayed in his embrace, the thought of leaving it not even remotely on her mind.

Abril noticed. "This can't happen," he pointed at them, "You know she's not yours to keep."

"Enough, Abril."

"No, Kane, damn it! I've been trying to save your ass for weeks now! The league is pissed, they wanted her last week and you with your stubbornness decided to completely ignore that order!"

"I had no reason to bring her back early! You know that!"

"The league doesn't give a shit about your sense of duty! Her grandfather was the contract holder! He's dead, Kane! Without him around to make sure the rules are followed, she virtually belongs to the league! You can't change that!"

Kane opened his mouth to speak but Eden cut him off, her eyes watering. "Stop! Stop it, please!"

She pushed away from Kane and ran for the door, bursting out of them. Kane took a step in the direction she went but Abril stopped him.

"Let her go. This is the only alone time she will get for a very long time." Abril admonished softly.

Kane frowned. "I need to protect her."

"I have people on her, she's fine." Abril said.

The two men stared at each other in silence for a moment before Abril shook his head, his eyes growing soft in their expression, "Why did you have to choose now to fall in love, Kane?"

Kane scowled, turning on his heels to pace. "I'm not in love with her, Abril."

"Come on. Are you really in denial?" Abril asked with amusement, "We trained together, we became mage knights together, you're the closest thing to a brother I've ever had. I know you. And I also know you're in love with her. You've never looked at anyone the way you look at her. You've never compromised an assignment over anyone or anything and yet this woman suddenly has you going against the grain? Admit it."

Kane stopped pacing, his mind racing and building, only to come back to one frame of thought: Eden. He ran a hand down his face, he didn't need this.

"She isn't mine to want." Kane mumbled sourly, a bitterness in his voice that surprised even him.

Abril huffed, running a hand through his dirty blonde hair. "Please remember that. Keep that truth locked in your head."

Kane tsked, "I know you're not here to reprimand me for potentially falling in love with my target. What do you want, Abril?"

Abril waved his hands, "Prope." He mumbled. A bright yellow burst of light formed a circle shaped portal. He moved toward it, stopping for a moment to say, "Her ceremony will be happening tonight. Either you deliver her or someone else will."