Page 69 of A Cruel Kindness

The only thing that knocked at the corners of my mind was the fact that his cut seemed to be healed more than I’d expect. The wound had already been covered by tough, protective scars. The blood must have been from the first few minutes after his fall.

Food, the Bond softly beckoned.

Right. That was important. He needed to eat. We were gone for several hours.

Soren’s laugh as I forcefully pushed him towards the main house almost broke through my haze. Someone had set up tables outside, appreciating the sun and pleasant warmth of the day.

Freya flagged us over with a smile, gesturing to open seats near her.

My hands pushed down on Soren’s disturbingly strong shoulders, making him sit. I didn’t move an inch until he made himself a plate.

That started several seconds of a silent back and forth where Soren resisted just to be an ass and I stood my ground. Finally, he leaned forward and piled food onto a plate. The second he took a bite, my whole body relaxed, as if that was the proof I needed that he was alive and well.

I didn’t have an appetite, not after seeing Soren’s skin split and bloody, but I knew I’d be facing a similar treatment from him if I didn’t at least attempt to eat something.

Freya was chatting happily about the “treasures” she’d taken back from the camp, but I couldn’t hear much over the buzzing in my ears, generated from the warm press of Soren’s leg against mine.

I was really losing my shit.

The only moment of relief I got was when Peter spotted Soren and motioned with his chin for him to come over.

Soren’s hand swept passively down my back as he rose, causing the entirety of my Mark, from the tree trunk on my spine to the leaves wrapping around my shoulders to erupt in a mass of tingling sensation.

I was pretty sure the metal fork bent in my hand.

Freya’s voice trickled in, excitedly talking about this rifle that was actually just a stun gun so it didn’t cause permanent harm.

“Freya,” I said softly, just so she didn’t think I was cutting her off. I enjoyed hearing people talk about their passions, but I had something to say while it was just the two of us. “I know.”

To her credit, she didn’t so much as blink. “Well, good. I don’t like keeping secrets from friends.”

I laughed, saying, “Now that that’s settled, please keep telling me about your treasure hunt.”

Freya’s eyes brightened as she settled into another round of documenting what she’d picked up. I tried my very hardest to give her my full attention, but my gaze kept slipping over her shoulder to where Soren was standing with Peter.

That didn’t steal my attention besides a momentary shift of my eyes.

It wasn’t until Peter left and someone else approached that I started to lose my hearing.

I forced my attention back to Freya, nodding along to her description of her new toys.

The problem was, I only understood about three seconds of what she was saying before blood rushed to my ears, cutting off my hearing. I couldn’t even read her lips, because there was no way I could peel my eyes off of the scene unfolding behind her shoulder.

Rage bubbled up so fast I couldn’t chase it down, and the second it burned through my chest, something in me snapped.

Call it my sanity, my composure, whatever you wished.

But it was gone.

No, the Bond screamed. Mine.

I agreed.

Freya was still talking, but her words never landed on my ears. I could still see her mouth moving, but angry, hot blood was rushing into my head so quickly I couldn’t hear a word she said. I cocked my head, trying to read her lips and distract myself.

No such luck.

Alright, this was happening.