Page 12 of Seared Fates

I catch the scent of lavender on the wind, and like a beckoning finger, I follow without thought to find myself beneath the flats, in a wide garage with cars packed neatly and…

Kai.

I’m taken aback by the sheer need that tugs me towards him. I underestimated how intense a soulmate bond was, and I might need to speak with him to clear up my mistake, but I keep my feet firmly planted to prove I can fight against these new urges.

He’s a lone figure, and I nearly laugh at the absurdity that anyone could find him ugly. The things I would do to him if he were a woman…

I crack my neck from side to side to rid myself of that line of impossible thinking.

I’m relieved to find him bundled up in a leather jacket, but his soft cotton sweats aren’t enough. He’s too lean, and should have more layers to keep warm, his oval jade eyes framed by black lashes and soft lips and slender nose are too….

I swallow.

It’s clear he needs protecting. From this angle he doesn’t spot me, and all over again I’m struck with the feeling of knowing him. Kai turns, not toward me, his brow furrowed in confusion. But it’s the tension in his shoulders that has me using my vampiric speed to get to his side within a second.

“What’s wrong?” I demand.

“Holy shit!” Kai shouts. The hollow walls catch the sound and bounce it from one wall to another, as he swings his bag at me.

I grunt when my stomach is hit, but remain in place. “I didn’t mean to scare you.”

“Well, obviously you did, you fucking dickhead!” Kai shouts, his breath clouding in the cold air. “Are you insane? Who sneaks up on someone in a dark, empty garage?”

“Something was scaring you.” My focus finds every dark corner. “Tell me what happened.” So I can rip whoever dares scare Kai limb from limb.

After a pause, he grunts and swings the strap of his messenger bag over his shoulder, a pretty glare aimed at me. “Not that it’s literally any of your business, but I wasn’t scared. There was just…I dunno, felt like someone was watching me.” If it were possible, his stare sharpens. “Was it you?”

“No.” Breathing deeply, I scent the air. Exhaust fumes, the frozen city andhim. “I can’t scent anyone else close by.”

“Must’ve been my imagination…”

I stare at him while he scowls at the dirty ground. His sandy braids hiding his face from my view. I want to pull each of those twisted locks away and tilt his jaw up, demanding he look at me. Always and only at me.

Inwardly, I curse at myself for giving in so quickly to this damn bond. Then curse harder at Fate for creating it.

“I wanted to speak with you about what I said last night,” I tell Kai gently, or as gently as I’m capable of, but Kai flinches as if I’ve struck him, and mentally I’m kicking myself.

Still, I expect Kai to shyly nod and accept what I want without question. Bigger and stronger men have. Instead, he raises a defiant chin, and while he doesn’t hide his hurt, he doesn't allow it to drag him down either.

“How about neither of us wastes our time. I get it, you don’t want me. I’m over it.” He shrugs, trying for nonchalance, all thewhile nervously patting the braids covering the left side of his face. I don’t believe him. Or maybe I don’t want to believe him. He smiled at me yesterday. How can I get that smile back?Whydo I want his smile back?

This is infuriating.

“Even so, we should still speak.”

He continues to glare and continues to mess with his hair.

I hate it.

Hate that he’s trying to hide from me.

Without thinking, I reach out to stop him—but he recoils so sharply I’m surprised he doesn’t trip.

Clenching my fist, I pull back. Frustration cutting deeper than any blade.

When Kai shivers, I’m almost grateful for it. Finally, a problem I can solve. “You’re cold and probably hungry, let’s go inside.”

“Why bother?”