Page 13 of Seared Fates

“When it concerns you, I’ll always bother.” I might not want to be with him, but we’re connected now, so I can at the very least ensure he is safe.

He waits, then lets out a long exhale. “It’s pretty rude to invite yourself over.” And strides towards the exit.

“I didn’t become a chieftain, then the head of a vampire family, because I was polite,” I say, following.

Inside the stairwell stinks of bleach, yet the sour scent of piss still manages to seep through.

“How long were you waiting around in the shadows for me?” Kai asks as he begins to climb up the stairs.

“As I said, I only got here. Golden—” I choke on my next word. And here I thought his face was pretty.

The curve of his ass, hugged by soft sweats, is something else entirely.

Two globes of rounded plump perfection stirs a need I’ve only ever felt for women. Even that pales compared to this burningdesire that could drag me to my knees and have me crawl to him, hungry for a taste.

But no, these feelings are not me and will never be me. I’m well over a thousand years old, I know who and what I’m attracted to, and I’ve already hurt Kai enough. These urges will soon fade, and I will not wound him further by treating him like some curiosity just because he happens to have a nice ass.

Realising I’ve been silent a beat too long, I clear my throat.

“Golden told me not to bother you at work, but gave me your address for us to speak.”

Kai doesn’t reply, but I wish he would.Anythingto distract me from the view before me. Yet as he climbs, there isn’t a second where my eyes leave his backside, and I have to dig my nails into my fisted palms, or I’d do something that is…tempting—sodamntempting—but I’d regret.

However, when we reach his floor and I can finally look away, all I feel is disappointment as we head towards number 58. And Kai’s soft panting after climbing the three flights of stairs isn’t helping. Those little sounds do…odd things to me.

“It ain’t a mansion, so don’t get excited…” he mumbles, digging in his pocket for his keys. Pulling on the fabric of his sweats slightly, enough to make out more definition of his ass.

It’s when I notice he’s still fussing with his braids that I push these confusing feelings aside.

“Kai.” Unable to stop myself, I stand close to him, “Stop doing that.”

“Doing what?” he snaps, forgetting about his keys to burn me with a glower.

“Hiding from me.”

I was never a gentle man, and even less so as a vampire. But for him I can learn to be, and fighting against the pull of our bond is exhausting, so surely giving into this one touch is fine. Carefully, I clasp his fidgeting palm, pulling it away, and in thissimple touch, I realise I was a fool to think I could have this indulgence once and never crave it again. I curse Fate for what she has done to both of us.

“Stop it,” Kai bites out, pulling away from me.

“I need to clear something up with you, Kai,” I say, and have to physically hold myself back from touching him again.

“Listen, you really don’t have to do this. We never really spoken, so you don’t owe me anything, and it’s not like you’re so amazing I can’t get over you—”

“When I first saw you, I thought you were a dream. But even in my wildest dreams, I could’ve never conjured you.”

Selfishly, I give up the fight and collect his palm, cradling each of his twitching fingers, and with my other hand, sweep his braids away. He flinches but allows it as I reveal his scars that begin at his temple, arch around his eye and end at his chin.

“If this were a thousand years ago, I would’ve worshipped you as a God, thinking you a child ofFreyja. Surely only the Goddess of beauty could’ve given birth to you.”

Kai shakes his head, but the corners of his lips tug upwards. Encouraged, I step closer so barely an inch keeps me from him. I might not be soft, but I’m no longer cruel.

“I see your scars, Kai. Not past them. Not in spite of them. My anger came from…” I breathe out. “I’ve only ever wanted women, and that hasn’t changed.”

Kai sucks in sharply, then drops his gaze. But I’m a conqueror at heart, so when emotions flicker across his half-hidden face, I tenderly cup his cheek and angle him back. The soulmate bond—because it can’t be anything else—demands I claim everything as my own.

“You should’ve just said that, idiot…” he grumbles.

“I am…” I say, staring deeply into the purest jade to have ever been created, “very stupid. I haven’t spoken to many people for a while, and it seems I need to relearn that skill.”