Chapter 302: Chapter 302 - Justification For Assisting
Swallowing down the stakes, the expectations, and aligning myself again with a productive mindset takes a few seconds. A few strokes across her lower torso and the shallow rising diaphragm underneath.
Brown eyes stared at me for those long few seconds with her hand curled much too close to mine. Fingertips scratching at the covers at her side. I’m pretty sure she wants to grab onto me.
And I would let her right now... and I think she knows it. Vrika seems to expect that she will. If I just stay here like this.
> No, she won’t. Because she knows she is taking advantage. And unlike me, she has less malleable morals. <
She doesn’t want the intimacy at her worst... and she’s been clear she is willing to wait until I choose it. Too patient for her own power. Too sweet for her own level of danger.
"No one else really needs to find out about this. Because you are probably right that the others would challenge you while you are weakened. In fact... I think that makes the most sense out of all of this."
"You’re thinking like this is... a coup attempt. That a member of my pack wants to take control."
I met her brown gaze steadily. At least by the time I came back in here from the kitchen, my eyes had lost that annoying blue glow. So they are not reflecting back. Just the room’s light in them.
"In my world, we didn’t survive the intrigue of the palace by assuming the best of people’s intentions. No matter who they are, were, or could be."
Which is why no matter how much I’m tricking myself into trusting her, I still refuse to let myself fully do so. It’s the reason there is still a secret I keep.
The reason... even if she lets me help her with everything? There will always be things I never let her help me with.
She was quiet for several dozen of my heartbeats. I know because I started counting them for something to do instead of think more about myself and my choices or more about her and what hers could really be.
When she finally spoke, her voice was different. Harder. Like I’ve heard her speaking in her *real* role on the phone or against rogues rather than... how she talks to me.
"If you’re right, and someone wanted to move against me while they think I’m down... then I need to recover quickly."
"Very well. Then we make sure you can do that where they can’t possibly find you. And we figure out who’s responsible before they try again."
"...We?"
I pulled out my phone, ignoring that wistful question which lost all her firm momentum in favor of action. Though the fingernails scratching the back of my hand still on her stomach the next second after I look away made my eyes swim and my feet come close to pushing up to a stand...
> Taking it back, she needs to be *more* patient. I’ll seriously run away! <
"I’m going to contact someone. But first, I need you to understand something clearly."
Already composing the corrective message to Claire that I needed to send with one thumb, I knew this was going to require very careful handling to keep things from escalating. On any front.
Kyrie’s eyes focused on mine, with what looked like considerable effort. Not just because looking dazed from her silver problem, but because she clearly didn’t want to look away from her own fingertips.
Like she couldn’t believe what they’d just done. But also couldn’t wholeheartedly scold them for acting ’on their own’.
> Yes, it’s cute when she can’t control herself. Yes, the tension in my back just lessened. Yes, shut up! <
"You follow my lead in this situation. I’m helping only because I know a bit about how to handle threats against people in power... and because I know you. What you are capable of."
All I’ve learned and experienced tell me she should remain as the leader she is. Such firmness overlaying hope and kindness is patently rare, where I come from. Not that I know it to be common here... but that’s the point.
"I don’t know this other person beyond that they are capable of malice. Which is a danger to me. Understood?"
"Yes, Princess. I understand."
A fleeting smile crossed her face at my excuse to act. For a moment I even think it looks a little... rebellious.
But the thought goes out from between my ears quickly when I hear the shallow breath she takes after answering. She’s fighting the poisoning, fighting just to talk with it in her lungs.
Not making plans to... I don’t know. Practice bending her morals? Push and push at me until something dangerous happens like I do to her?
> I really am her ruin. She does not need to learn from me. <
"Good. Now try to rest for a while. I might make some calls so you may hear me speaking since the door is kind of... done for. We’re going to get you somewhere safer than this."
"Is here not safe? I promise my pack doesn’t know about this place..."
I’m willing to overlook her statement because she is sick. Because while her ’pack’ in the sense of every spirit bearing werewolf and wolfless Omega that calls themselves a Rimecoat may not know...
"...Because if anyone tries to trick your Beta into thinking you are just playing hooky to smoke you out, the first place he is going to look is here, isn’t it?"
With one hand, she grabbed the edge of the blanket again and pulled it over her face. I hear a sound that is either a laugh or cough, but more likely both. Why is what I said that funny?!
"I forgot... sorry... there’s also your assigned security, too. And Claire... she’s going to realize the lie so quickly, if she hasn’t already. I didn’t think just... hiding alone in an emergency would be so hard..."
"...Nothing worth doing should ever be considered easy. And you didn’t hide alone, remember? You burgled my residence knowing I would be coming back."
"I apologized..."
A phrase with such childish grievance that I can’t help myself but to lean over so that our faces are close.