He sags, relieved. “Thank the Gods.”
“So, I have you to thank?” I whisper. He flashes me a grin. “What happened?”
Kane helps me to my feet, steadying me when I waver. “The Nephilim leeched your soul. But he was clumsy in his greed and left a single shred of it. I managed to bolster it and feed you bits of my own soul. You should be alright now.”
“And the Nephilim?” Kane’s explanation has my mind spinning with questions and I close my eyes to focus.
“I killed him.” Kane’s voice is gravelly and rough, and lacking all remorse.
I open my eyes, brows lifted with surprise. “He’s dead?”
Kane nods, tilting his chin towards the highway. I turn, eyes roving over the area, drawing ever more slowly to the ground. I gag when I see him. The Nephilim’s skin is purple and swollen, as if he’s been stuffed too full of blood. The red liquid is drying on his chin and neck and flakes off with the breeze. His eyes are gone. Or I should say, what’s left of them is nothing more than gore and blood. Nausea wells in my gut, and I heave. Bile fills my mouths and I whirl away from Kane to vomit. Nothing comes except bile and saliva tasting of acid. The veins in my neck pop with the force of my vomiting and I clench my eyes closed until it passes.
I wipe my mouth with the back of my sleeve, shame burning on my face. No one ever prepared me for something like this. My teachers warned me that death wasn’t pretty, that it was uncomfortable. But that wasn’t uncomfortable or ugly. It was brutal and vicious. And caused by Kane. I eye him warily, but he doesn’t seem to care about my discomfort. The cracks in his wall that I saw through only moments earlier have been sealed. He stares at me with indomitable strength, shoulders straight and eyes blazing.
“How?” The question slips from my lips even though I don’t want to know.
“I had heard stories of souls being restored when there’s some left. Almost like a seed and helping it grow,” Kane says. He reaches for me. “Come, let’s go home.”
Home. I look at the highway through the trees, to the path that will take me back to the mortal realm. Silently, I take Kane’s hand, ready to go home. His hand closes around mine, impossibly warm. I follow him through the trees, leaving the Nephilim’s grotesque corpse behind. On the highway, we stay in the light, walking side by side. He doesn’t release my hand and I smile softly to myself. I never imagined Kane to be the affectionate type, but perhaps I was wrong. Perhaps I just don’t know him yet.
Exhaustion pulls at me, dragging me closer and closer to the ground until I'm slouching. "Can we use your magic?" I ask, stifling a yawn.
“I spent it all up restoring your soul,” he says curtly. “We will have to walk.”
I nod, resisting the urge to pout. The incident has left me more tired than I ever have been before. The weight of the fear and panic and then my almost-death has me ready to keel over and nap on the cobblestones. As if he can sense this, Kane sweeps me into his arms without warning. I yelp, stiffening in his arms. He eyes me, cocking a brow. My cheeks heat and I force myself to relax. His hands are on the small of my back and on the back of my thighs. I imagine his thumb strokes the soft, sensitive flesh of my thigh and a shiver slips down my spine and into my core.
“Close your eyes,” Kane murmurs.
I yawn. “No, I’ll stay awake with you.”
“Nonsense.” Kane purses his lips. “Do as I say.”
I hesitate at his sharp tone and then hide a smile. For all his bravado and his sharp tone, he means well. Tentatively, I close my eyes. They flutter open with each step he takes and bounce off my body against him, but Kane seems satisfied by my effort. The rocking of his body puts me to sleep quickly, but it’s not peaceful. I dream of the dark highway, of the yellow eyes peering at me and the red gaze of the Nephilim.
My eyes fly open at the sound of a slamming door and I squirm as arms tighten around me. Kane hushes me, holding me tightly to his chest. The high ceilings of the castle halls make me still. I sigh, wiping at the sweat beading on my brow. The castle is quiet, moonlight streaming through the windows. Kane carries me up the grand staircases and stops in front of my room. Carefully, he manages to open the handle without jostling me. He slips inside, closing it behind us. My nerves tingle as he lays me gently on the bed. I rise to my elbows as soon as my back hits the mattress. His eyes rove over me, looking almost hungry. I wonder suddenly how he would react if I slipped out of my muddied dress. I frown. He wouldn’t react at all, he’s already seen me naked and seemed unimpressed.
“What are you worrying about now?” Kane asks, sighing as he eases down into a nearby chair. He winces, as if in pain.
“Nothing.” I pick at the blanket. “Are you mad at me?”
“For running? I’m furious,” Kane says fiercely. I sag, fear fluttering in my belly like butterflies. “But, I’m more concerned that you’re safe. You did a foolish thing, Briar.”
“I know.” My voice is a whisper.
Kane rises, and I notice a cut in his trousers and his ruined leather shoes. “From now on, I don’t want you leaving the castle without an escort—preferably me. Understand?” He pins me a sharp glare until I nod. Kane opens the door slightly and pauses. “Don’t worry me like that again.”
His tone is harsh but the words are sincere. I feel a bubble of happiness at his concern and I can’t help the
