Chapter 31 Disagreement
KANE
My grip tightened as I pulled Catherine against me, and the world narrowed to just us.
Her scent overwhelmed my senses, stirring something wild and insatiable within. My hands traced over her shoulders, down her back, and I caught the fabric of her dress, tearing it away, inch by inch, in my eagerness.
She gasped, leaning into me, her eyes meeting mine with shock and trust.
And then, in one misstep, she stumbled.
“Catherine,” I murmured, reaching out as her hand shot out to steady herself. Her fingers gripped the edge of the table beside us, but a thin, dark line of red streaked across her palm, immediately drawing my eyes.
My pulse thundered and the beast within me started shifting at the sight of blood. I felt it clawing at the edges of my control, struggling to break free.
Fuck!
I forced myself to swallow, to breathe and to stay calm, but the scent was sharp, fresh and consuming. My hands clenched, and I could feel the rough growl building in my chest.
“Kane?” she asked with uncertainty, her eyes wide as she looked up at me.
I tried to answer, but my throat felt thick, my control slipping. I took a step back, my gaze locked on the blood.
“Catherine… I—” I stammered, but the beast inside me was too close, too near the surface.
“Kane, what’s wrong?” she pressed, reaching toward me with her uninjured hand. Her touch sent a jolt through me, but I recoiled, stepping further away. The beast roared inside my mind, demanding release, pushing against the walls I’d built.
“Stay… stay back,” I managed, my voice a hoarse rasp.
“But...”
“I can’t—” I cut her off as the feral part of me surged forward.
The last shred of control I had left was slipping through my fingers, and if I stayed, if I lost myself, I’d hurt her. There was no time, no other choice.
Before she could speak again, I turned and sprinted to the ship’s edge. I could hear her call my name, but I didn’t stop.
With one final leap, I threw myself off the deck and into the cold, dark depths of the ocean below.
The icy water hit like a shock, enveloping me, pulling me down, and for a brief moment, the beast within shrieked, recoiling from the plunge.
I let the water submerge me and the blood scent faded, washed away, and I forced my mind to focus on the deep, the cold, letting it calm the inferno within.
Above, Catherine’s was calling my name, clearly worried. And though every part of me wanted to go to her, to hold her again but I knew it wasn’t safe yet.
CATHERINE
The moment I heard the water splash, my heart sank, and I froze, every nerve in my body on edge. For a split second, I thought I’d imagined it, but when I turned and saw the empty space where Kane had been standing, everything came to me clearly.
“Kane!” I screamed, rushing to the edge of the ship.
The dark, churning water stretched endlessly below, but there was no sign of him and no indication of where he’d gone.
I could barely breathe as I bolted across the deck, spotting the captain, an older man with a stern expression, deep in conversation with his crew.
I didn’t even pause to think. Thank heavens Kane had introduced me to him earlier.
“Captain!” I shouted, trembling as I ran toward him. “Please! Kane jumped overboard!”
The captain raised a brow, his eyes sweeping over me.
“Ma’am, please calm yourself. I’m sure...”
“No, you don’t understand!” I interrupted, sounding desperate. “He could be drowning! You need to help him!”
He took a deep breath, as if I were a hysterical child, and gestured for his men to stand back.
“Ma’am, I understand that you’re worried, but I need you to take a moment and calm down. It’s likely he’s just fine.”
“Fine?!” I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. My voice came out louder. “He jumped into the ocean, Captain! This isn’t some light swim, it’s the open sea at night! You have to do something!”
The captain’s expression softened slightly, but he didn’t budge.
“Listen, ma’am, King Kane’s not exactly the type who needs saving. He’s well equipped to handle himself.”
His words made no sense, and they only heightened my frustration.
“That’s absurd! He’s as human as anyone. He could be hurt, or worse!” I took a step closer, fists clenched. “I’m not just going to stand here while you make excuses. Please, I’m begging you, call a rescue team, throw out a lifebuoy, something!”
“Ma’am…” He looked down at me , looking impatient. “If I thought there was truly a risk, I’d act. But trust me, The king can—”
“Forget this!” I cut him off, whirling around, looking for anything that could help. A lifebuoy, a rope, something I could use myself if I had to. My head swam with worry and my mind spun through every horrible possibility.
Then I heard footsteps behind me, and the captain’s voice softened again, trying to placate me.
“Please, ma’am, I suggest you take a breath, get some rest. I’m certain Mr. Kane will return unharmed soon.”
“You don’t understand,” I said, feeling the words choke in my throat. “He’s different tonight. Something’s wrong. Please, just… please, help him.” My voice cracked, falling to barely a whisper.
The captain’s eyes searched my face, and I could see his resolve waver, if only a little.
“Look, we’ll keep watch for him, all right? I’ll post men along the deck, and we’ll notify the coast guard if he hasn’t returned in a few minutes.”
It was a small concession, but it was more than I’d been given.
I nodded, though I couldn’t shake the fear settling into my bones. Kane was strong, yes, but something about the way he’d looked at me just before he jumped in. I knew he wasn’t himself.
I turned back to the railing, staring out into the dark water, whispering his name under my breath.
The captain stayed by my side, watching, waiting. He was just about to order the crew to the deck when I heard heavy, dripping footsteps behind me.
My breath hitched as we turned around, and there he was, Kane. He was soaked to the bone and his dark hair plastered to his forehead.
“Kane!” I nearly shouted, feeling relieved as I hurried over. My heart hammered in my chest, and without thinking, I reached out, touching his arm.
“Are you okay? What happened?”
He looked down at me coldly. I searched his eyes, but they held no warmth, only a simmering frustration that felt like a wall between us. He didn’t answer me, didn’t even acknowledge my questions.
Instead, he turned sharply to the captain.
“Captain, see to it that her injuries are taken care of immediately.”
The captain nodded, but I was too stunned to care. I tightened my grip on Kane’s arm, trying to get his attention.
“Kane… I’m talking to you. Are you just going to ignore me?”
He shrugged out of my touch with a dismissive look on his face.
“The captain will see to your needs, Catherine. It’s best if you don’t concern yourself with anything else right now.”
I felt my face heat up with anger, his indifference cutting deeper than I’d expected.
“That’s it?” I snapped, stepping back. “You disappear into the ocean, come back without a word of explanation, and then brush me off like I’m just some inconvenience?”
Kane’s gaze finally flicked back to me, but it was anything but soft.
“You’re injured,” he said flatly. “It’s my responsibility to make sure you’re taken care of. Don’t make this into something it isn’t.”
My jaw dropped.
“Something it isn’t?” I echoed, incredulous. “I was worried about you, Kane! I thought...” I stopped myself, not knowing exactly what to say anymore. It didn’t seem like he cared, not in the slightest.
He crossed his arms, water dripping from his clothes onto the deck.
“Your wound is what’s important right now, Catherine. Don’t let emotions cloud your judgment.”
Emotions? Clouding my judgment? I could feel my patience unraveling.
“Maybe if you showed an ounce of understanding, you’d realize that I’m not the only one here who’s...” I bit my tongue, my chest heaving, unable to keep my frustration in check any longer. “You know what, Kane? You’re absolutely insufferable.”
He raised an eyebrow, as if barely affected by my words.
“Are you finished?”
Something snapped inside me, hurt mingling with anger.
“You’re impossible. Truly, utterly impossible.” I turned to the captain. “I want to leave. Now.”
The captain glanced nervously between us, clearly unsure of how to respond, but I didn’t care. I didn’t want to see that cold, unfeeling face of Kane’s any longer.