Chapter 40: Love or Pity
Kieran’s axe flew across the arena, barely missing Medea by a hair's breadth. He got off of Augustus, still catching his breath.
His ruby eyes darted at me, painted with an all too familiar emotion.
Blood trickled from the corner of my lip. While I could perfectly control my Link with Kieran, the two of them sharing my magic still felt as if it was draining me to the core.
Violet light coursed through our wrists as I helped Augustus up while still maintaining a distance from him. The crowd held their breath as an unconscious Augustus lifted through the air, sharing a Divine Link with the wrong Queen.
The moments passed in a blur. All I could remember was the Temple healers rushing into the arena, carrying a stretcher.
I saw them pull down Augustus and make him lie on the stretcher before everything went dark.
The smell of antiseptic was the first thing that greeted me. The ceiling was white, and…
“Augustus!” I called out, jolting up from the bed. Kieran, who was asleep by the edge of my bed, immediately opened his eyes.
“Hestia?” he called, his voice still heavy with sleep. He pulled me close before gently forcing me to lie back down on the bed. “You need to rest more…”
“What… what happened? How long was I out? The competition…”
Kieran didn’t answer. Instead, he grabbed a small aluminum bowl filled with water and a towel. He quietly dampened the towel as I tried to rack my mind about what had happened.
“What happened to Au—”
“He’s fine,” he quietly replied. “His Eminence had already taken care of the poison in his system. The second part of the trial was deemed invalid, though…”
I tried to search for Kieran’s eyes as he gently wiped my arms and forehead with the damp cloth.
But no matter how hard I tried to make him look at me, he kept on averting his gaze.
“Kieran, I…”
“You need to rest,” he coldly cut me off. “The competition’s taken a toll on your body.”
My hands trembled as they reached for him, but Kieran turned away. “Kieran… are you mad at me?”
He didn’t answer for a while. I hopped down the bed, my feet treading carefully.
I could feel his wolf seething. His jaw tightened, and his arms clamped hard on the aluminum bowl, almost breaking it.
“Kieran—”
He pinned me against the cold wall, his mouth crashing against mine. Kieran’s lips punished me by biting me until I could taste metal.
“Do you even know how worried I was after you fell unconscious, Hestia? All for that bastard…” His teeth gnashed as his grip on my wrists tightened.
Kieran roughly raised my wrists on top of my head, his knee resting in between my legs, locking me in place.
The flimsy hospital gown I wore almost fell apart at his touch. Kieran’s callous hands roamed free, claiming every inch of my body.
“You really love to sacrifice yourself over unworthy people,” he whispered as he left marks on my neck.
“Kieran…” I whimpered. “He’s my mate too… I can’t just let him die…”
“Am I not your mate too? Didn’t it cross your mind that I’d be worried sick, knowing you’re at death’s doorstep once again?”
His voice shattered. Kieran’s grip loosened. He buried his face deep on my shoulder, his tears dampening the thin cloth of my hospital gown.
“I don’t want to lose someone important again, Hestia… I don’t know how I would even be able to take it if you ever leave me…”
“Hey…” I gently called, cupping his cheek. Kieran’s rubied gaze stared back at me, now cloudy with tears. “I’ll never leave. I promise.”
Our lips met once again, this time filled with tenderness. The Link connecting our wrists glowed bright as he carried me, my legs instinctively wrapping around his hips.
He looked up at me, a playful smile painting his lips. “I clearly remember the Temple Healer saying that you shouldn’t mate for now…”
I chuckled, pinching his nose. “Hey, I’m not the one who started it, Chief.”
Kieran’s lips twitched, as if he was hesitating to kiss me again. But I had made up my mind, and I know…
I ache for him; it’s as plain and simple as that.
“You promise me that if you plan on doing something as reckless as that next time, you would let me know first,” Kieran whispered as he planted soft kisses on my neck.
My replies were trapped in moans, my fingers clawing on his back. Kieran took the liberty of punishing me more with his lips.
“Answer me, Hestia.”
“Yes… yes, I will…” I whimpered. “Kieran, stop torturing me…”
His fingers traveled into my core, burying three of them deep inside me. I clutched on his neck as if I was clinging on it for dear life, my moans trapped in his ears.
Beads of sweat formed on my forehead as Kieran’s member slowly entered me. I grabbed a fistful of his silvery-white hair, as I choked on my suppressed moans.
“Fuck, Kieran…”
I watched as his throat bobbed, and sweat trickled down his well-sculpted face. Kieran’s thrust grew harder but slower, pounding me almost to the point that I was sinking into the wall.
“Hestia, I’m almost…”
“Do it inside,” I pleaded, embracing him tighter. “Do it inside me, Kieran…”
My eyes rolled back in ecstasy as his seed filled my womb. One of my mates… and the man I’ve grown to trust with my life.
One would be foolish enough not to want Kieran White. I should be the one fearing that he might leave me…
“Promise me you’re not going to throw your life so carelessly like that for Augustus, Hestia,” Kieran demanded. “He might be your mate too, but you should think about yourself first and foremost. No man should ever be worthy sacrificing yourself for.”
I let out a deep sigh, leaning against his chest. “Don’t worry, I just… pity him. You know that even though we were still connected through our mate bond, I would never dare go back to him. Ever.”
My eyes darted at the slightly open door of my hospital room as soon as I saw something shining dropped on the floor, followed by hurried footsteps.
Kieran put me down, and as I inspected what it was, I saw Augustus turn around the corner, disappearing from my line of sight.
And on the floor lay a familiar protection charm. The one I got after I climbed a thousand steps at the High Temple while on my knees.
The protection charm I gave Augustus…
How long has he been at the door?
And how much did he hear?
A bitter taste formed in my mouth. Even if I publicly declare that I don’t feel anything for Augustus Hunt anymore, deep in my heart, I know…
My thoughts were interrupted by a call. Kieran pulled his phone out of his haphazardly-worn pants, hastily answering it as soon as he saw the Caller ID.
“Hello, Uncle Reuben?” His grip on the phone tightened. “What? What do you mean some of our settlers are missing?!”