Chapter 145 The Bitter Taste
Kira’s POV
I stared at Adrian, chest heaving, tears still hot on my cheeks.
His hands were gentle around my wrists, but I yanked free anyway. The rage was still there…burning low now, but not gone.
“I won’t forgive you,” I said quietly. “Not yet. Maybe not ever.”
His face crumpled again…real pain this time, the kind that made my own chest ache even though I didn’t want it to. I turned away before I could soften.
And that’s when my eyes landed on her.
“Please, let me go,” she cried.
The girl…bound, gagged again, eyes wide and terrified…strapped to the seat like she was about to be executed.
My finger shot out before I could stop myself.
“It’s you!”
Everyone froze.
Adrian’s head snapped toward me. James stiffened. Victoria sucked in a breath like we were in a movie. Even the girl flinched hard against the restraints, shaking her head frantically, muffled whimpers leaking around the fresh tape.
“It’s not me,” she whimpered, shaking her head.
I stepped forward, pointing. “Wasn’t she the one you were about to sleep with?” I asked angrily. The nerve to play an innocent victim all of a sudden. Let her go? After what they almost did?
Adrian’s voice was low, careful. “Kira…what do you mean? Do you know her?”
I opened my mouth…too fast. “Not personally, but she’s worked in—”
The words died on my tongue.
I slapped a hand over my mouth. What was I about to say? That she used to be a maid in my home once? How will I explain that when I'm supposed to be Arabella?!
Adrian’s eyes narrowed. “Worked in…what?”
I swallowed. “Nothing. I just…she looks like someone I knew from way back…from my father’s kingdom.”
James frowned. “That can’t be right, your highness. Your family’s land is in the southern reaches of the realm. This girl’s been in L.A. her whole life… She has never left the city…doesn’t even own a passport.”
I laughed…awkward, high-pitched. “Exactly. That’s why I said it was a mistake. Silly. Forget it.”
But Adrian wasn’t forgetting. He was staring at me…really staring…then flicking his gaze back to the girl.
His brows drew together in that concentrated way that made him look dangerous and thoughtful at the same time. I hated how badly I wanted to know what was running through his head.
While he was lost in thought, I moved.
I made a quick slice across my palm and blood welled instantly, bright red.
I stepped forward smoothly, lifting my hand toward the girl’s face.
She started thrashing again, eyes bugging. Muffled screams behind the tape. When James yanked it off, she gasped, “No…no! I don’t know what you’re doing! You’re trying to initiate me into some cult! I’m not interested…please. Just let me go!”
Adrian’s head whipped around. “Kira…what the hell? Why would you cut yourself?”
I met his eyes…cold. “Why would you think about sharing your dick with her? If you don’t let me do this, it means you secretly want to fuck her, your majesty. Right?”
Victoria winced, and started looking everywhere but at us. James looked like he wanted the floor to swallow him.
Hurt flashed raw in Adrian’s golden eyes. “I would never do that to hurt you. Never.”
The girl was crying now…full sobs. “Please…just let me go. I won’t tell anyone. I swear.”
I looked straight at Adrian.
“What’s it going to be, Adrian?”
He groaned…low, in that helpless manner.
I tilted my hand. “Tick-tock. The blood’s wasting.”
He exhaled like the air had been punched out of him.
“James,” he said quietly. “Open her mouth.”
James didn’t hesitate and moved.
I clenched my fist.
One drop. Two. Three. Four.
Red hit her tongue.
Adrian’s hand shot out. “That’s enough.”
He scooped me up…arms under my thighs and back…like I’d just fought a war for the kingdom. Carried me out of the compartment without another word.
“Take care of the rest,” he told James over his shoulder. I’ll be back soon.”
I stared at the cut on my palm as he strode down the aisle.
It was already closing.
The edges knit together…pink line fading, blood drying to nothing. Super healing. Finally.
I grinned despite everything. “Look at that. First time I got to try it out and you didn’t even want me to have it.”
Adrian kicked open the door to our private cabin, set me down gently on the edge of the bed, then knelt…actually knelt…in front of me.
“Why did you cut yourself?” he asked, voice rough. “I had the situation under control. You didn’t even stop to think about it? What if you were putting yourself in danger?”
I shot back without thinking. “Oh, so you like putting your dick inside danger?”
He groaned…long, pained. “Kira…can you ever forgive me?”
I crossed my arms. “I don’t think so.”
I sulked…hard.
By the time he closed the door behind us, the cut was gone. Just a faint pink scar that was already disappearing, blood flaking off like it had never been there.
I stared at my palm in amazement. “Holy shit. It actually works.”
Leah’s voice in my head…soft warning. ‘Don’t go cutting yourself just to test it, Kira. Only when you have no other choice.’
Adrian was already rushing back with a first-aid kit…gauze, antiseptic, the works.
I shook my head. “You do know I can heal now, right? All that fuss earlier about deciding if to give her my blood when I can heal like everyone else?”
Realization hit him like a brick.
He cursed under his breath…low, vicious, like he didn’t even consider that.
Then he knelt again. Took my hand in both of his. Placed it gently on his lap like it was made of glass.
The image of him…the great Werewolf King…kneeling in front of me over a tiny cut that had already vanished… it squeezed my chest so hard I couldn’t breathe right.
Did this mean he really cared? Was he genuinely sorry? Repenting for every cold, cruel thing he’d done before?
He wiped the leftover blood away with a soft cloth…slow, reverent. When my palm was clean, he lifted it to his lips. Pressed a long, lingering kiss to the fading scar.
“I’m the only one allowed to bleed,” he murmured against my skin. “You are not permitted to bleed. Not even if you can heal. Not even a drop. Do you understand?”
He looked broken. Sincere. Handsome in a way that stole my breath…sharp jaw, golden eyes wet, hair falling into his face.
My heart thudded too fast.
Why did he suddenly look so attractive? Why did his scent…smoke and cedar and something uniquely him…make my pulse race every time it hit me?
Then the dream slammed back.
The man from the Dark Zone. Muscles. Hands. Mouth. The way I’d arched into him, begged without words.
Guilt twisted sharp.
At least Adrian hadn’t slept with the girl.
But I’d done worse in my dream.
Didn’t that make me the cheater?
I looked down at my hands…clean, healed, trembling.
But my insides churned.
What is going on? Why am I suddenly thinking about that other man?