Page 22 of The Primal of Blood and Bone (Blood and Ash #6)

CASTEEL

I launched myself at Kieran.

And he didn’t do a damn thing as I came at him. I was fast, but with his wolven senses and the newly developed Primal ones, he saw me. He could’ve lifted his hands. Could’ve stepped out of the way. He could’ve done anything.

But he didn’t.

Icy-hot eather pulsed in my veins as I slammed my fist into his jaw, driving him back several feet and down to one knee.

“Fuck,” he gasped, leaning onto his hand as he spat out a mouthful of blood.

My brain had clicked off. I was nothing but violent reaction as I stalked forward and grabbed him by the tunic collar before he could find his footing. Lifting him off the floor, I slammed him into the closed door, cracking the wood. He grunted, his head snapping back. His eyes locked onto mine.

“How?” I ground out, all other voices fading into the background. My chest felt like it had been ripped open. “How could you?” I shouted, lifting him away from the door and slamming him back. “Answer me!”

The eather in Kieran’s eyes brightened in a flash of silvery-gold as he grasped my forearm. “Do you think I wanted to make that promise? I didn’t, but I—”

“Had to?” I shot back, and his eyes widened slightly, either at the sound of my voice or the laugh that crawled its way out of me.

He likely didn’t recognize the darkness in it.

The aching coldness and the shadowy undertones.

Neither did I. I didn’t give a fuck, though.

“Don’t give me that bullshit. You don’t have to do shit you don’t want to do. ”

“Really?” Letting go of my arm, Kieran slammed both hands into my chest. I didn’t budge an inch. “ Really ? I don’t have to do shit I don’t want to do? Better than anyone else, you know that isn’t true. So, you want to rethink that statement?”

“Fuck you,” I spat, the rage inside me taking hold as I stepped back and yanked Kieran from the door. Twisting sharply at the waist, I threw him across the chamber.

“What the—?” Reaver moved out of the way as six feet and some inches came barreling at him.

Kieran twisted in midair and landed in a crouch. His flesh thinned as he rose, a shadow of fawn-colored fur sprouting on his hands and arms.

“I trusted you.” The words tore their way out of me as I prowled toward him. The corners of my vision turned a shadowy crimson, but I was too far gone for that to give me pause. “I trusted you!” The words were like a crack of thunder. “I trusted you, above all others, with her!”

“And she trusted me!” Kieran thundered.

That was the absolute last thing he should’ve said.

The temperature of the chamber dropped as I lunged at him.

A heavy weight crashed into me before I could reach Kieran. I hit the floor on my stomach, hard, the impact knocking the air from my lungs.

“You idiotic fucks,” Reaver snarled. “Do either of you think this is the time for your little bitch fight? And you?” He drove his knee into my back. “You need to control yourself.”

My nostrils flared as I slid my hands under me.

“Get the fuck off him,” Kieran snarled.

“Are you serious right now?” Reaver shifted back, digging his bony-ass knee into my kidney. “Do you want me to let him rip you apart?”

“I want you to mind your own damn business,” Kieran snapped.

“Well, then. I’ll just—”

Pushing up, I tossed Reaver off my back, sending him rolling into Kieran.

Their curses were lost in the pounding of blood in my head and the hum of eather in my veins as I shot to my feet.

I’d heard Reaver’s words, and the sane part of me knew he was right.

This wasn’t the time for this. I needed to get a hold of myself.

But as my head snapped toward Kieran, that part was only somewhat sane, and the pain of betrayal cut deep, unleashing pure, unbridled rage that shredded what little sanity remained.

Kieran shoved Reaver to the side as I started toward him.

We heard the sound of fast steps at the same time. His gaze darted behind me as I spun, and Kieran cursed as Poppy reached the door. My heart plummeted.

“Poppy!” I shouted, leaping toward her as she grasped the handle. “Don’t!”

She whirled and thrust her arm toward me.

The force of the eather that slammed into me shorted out my senses as I flew backward and hit the wall. I fell onto my side, muscles spasming uncontrollably. It felt like the link between my brain and body had been severed as the draken rushed across the chamber.

He went flying into the bathing chamber, and my vision blinked in and out as I caught brief glimpses of Poppy throwing the door open.

Fuck. A wave of pure panic seized me as she rushed through the doorway.

I had no idea what she would do if she escaped.

What was she capable of in this state? She would never forgive herself if she hurt someone.

My muscles were still twitching and not responding to any of my commands, so it took every ounce of willpower I had to force a single, strained word past my lips. “Kieran,” I gasped.

“On it.” He was already halfway across the chamber. In a heartbeat, he was gone.

My head dropped against the floor as I breathed through the burn of fading eather in my body. Fuck. It stung. But it could’ve been worse. Poppy could’ve unleashed her full power on me, but she hadn’t.

The rippling shocks were slowing, allowing me to regain control of my body. Groaning, I managed to roll onto my back. One arm flopped over my chest.

“Where…? Damn it,” Reaver swore, stumbling out of the bathing chamber. “Happy now?”

Closing my eyes, I focused on getting up. If Kieran didn’t catch up to her? Or if she went at him? Hurt him? My chest squeezed. “Go,” I forced out. “Get them.”

He stopped a few feet from me. “Them?”

“Yes.” I drew one knee up. “Them.”

The draken didn’t answer, but I heard him leave. Yeah, a part of me couldn’t believe I’d said them . That I’d fucking sent Kieran after Poppy. Fucking Kieran. Out of habit, his name came out of my mouth. At least, that’s what made sense to me in the moment.

Control of my arms finally came. I lifted one and dragged it over my face as I heard Kieran’s words.

And she trusted me .

I shut that line of thought down. I needed to do what I should’ve done before: get control of myself. Losing my head even more wouldn’t help Poppy.

Feeling like I’d been struck by lightning, I gritted my teeth against the burning pain and shoved to my feet.

It took at least five minutes to do that.

A harsh breath pushed out of me as I turned to the door.

I put one foot in front of the other, my heart thumping erratically.

I’d just reached the foot of the bed when I heard footsteps in the hall.

Two sets.

I reached out and gripped the bedpost to steady myself.

Kieran entered first, but all I saw was Poppy. My chest clenched. She was unconscious in his arms, her head resting on his shoulder. Tangled hair the color of mulled wine shielded her face.

“What happened?” I demanded, my grip tightening on the bedpost as I felt a sharp prickle across my fingertips.

“It wasn’t him.” Reaver strolled in behind them, closing the door. “It was me.”

My sharpened nails dug into the wood of the post.

“And if you want to beat the shit out of me,”—Reaver edged around Kieran—“can you at least wait until we have her secured?” He dropped into the armchair. “Because if she runs again, I’m not sure I can stop her. She nearly blew a hole straight through my chest.”

My gaze flicked to him. The golden skin a few inches above his heart was torn, the edges charred, and the center of the circular wound was bright pink.

There was also a nice blossom of red along his jaw.

Forcing the wave of anger down, I shifted my gaze back to Poppy.

She looked small, limp, and powerless in Kieran’s arms. I wanted to snatch her away, but I doubted I could carry even a small babe at the moment.

“I don’t know how long she’ll be out, but she’ll be okay.” Kieran’s gruff voice drew my gaze up to his as he walked forward—well, limped.

I inhaled sharply as I got a good look at his face. His lip was split, the skin under his right eye was swelling, and so was his jaw.

Kieran gently laid Poppy on the bed with a wince. Straightening, he grabbed the blanket, pulled it over her legs, and stepped back. My chest rose and fell rapidly as we locked stares.

“Please,” Reaver grunted. “Don’t start fighting again.”

We both ignored him.

“Your face.” I could feel the wood splintering as my claws dug in. “Me? Her?”

“Both,” Kieran answered, his gaze moving back to Poppy. “She’s going to be…”

He didn’t need to finish.

Once Poppy woke, was herself again, and learned what she had done, she would be torn up.

And that hurt more than… The promise.

I couldn’t let myself think about that right now. I’d lose my shit again if I did, and that wouldn’t help Poppy.

“Fuck,” breathed Kieran, running a hand over his shoulder and clasping the back of his neck. “What do we do? She needs to feed, and I…” He pressed his lips together. “We can’t leave her like this.”

I let go of the bedpost. The bones of my back cracked as I straightened my spine and turned to where Poppy lay. If not for the smears of blood on her neck, she’d look almost peaceful. But crimson streaks glistened over the dried smudges.

“Nektas will eventually return for his daughter,” Reaver said. “He may know something.”

“And when will that be?” Kieran asked.

“I don’t know.”

“How is that an answer?” Kieran’s frustration turned sharp with a bitter edge of panic. “She needs him.”

“Yes, but so do Sera and Ash,” Reaver shot back.

“Ash?” I frowned.