It Follows

Part 5

Alina wanted to die. She wanted the world to swallow her up so she'd never have to face anyone else ever again. Even dying at the hands of a Volcra would have been preferable to this horrifying moment. Mortified, she scrambled to pick up her dress under Baghra's disapproving scowl. Kirigan, on the other hand, seemed completely unconcerned. Instead of hurrying like she was he took his time, casually standing up, retrieving his clothes from the ground before languidly dressing himself. She was desperate to put an end to this whereas he seemed to want to prolong it, taking out a handkerchief from his pocket and dabbing his mouth with it ever-so-slowly. When done, he folded it back and slid it inside his pocket. If she could have struck him with lightning at that moment, Alina would have.

"Do you know how foolish this is?" Baghra demanded, her voice harsh.

Kirigan cocked his eyebrow. "Do you dare to question my actions?"

Baghra's lips twitched, she appeared disturbed for a moment before her features settled into a forced docile expression. "The girl will suffer if others were to find out."

"And how would they find out?" His voice may have been calm and collected, but Alina sensed the threat laced in his words.

"People noticed the light in the sky from when you guys were fuc-" Baghra stopped mid-sentence, taking in Kirigan's sinister glance. "There's a crowd of people gathered in the garden."

"Excellent. You can tell them we were training," he replied, finally turning to look at her.

Instantly Alina felt self-conscious as his eyes trailed down from her head to her toe, examining her appearance. Her cheeks reddened, remembering the position they were in only a few minutes earlier, what his mouth was doing to the very intimate parts of her body.

When he reached out to tuck in a loose strand of hair behind her ear, she retreated instinctively. He smirked, amused by her reaction. "You didn't seem to mind a few minutes ago."

He was trying to embarrass her on purpose, and she was not going to put up with it. "Don't be an arse."

His eyes dwelled on her lips, eyes darkening, face wearing the same mask of intensity as when he was watching her pleasure herself. Heat spread through her cheeks when she remembered how enthralled he'd been by her boldness. Then he looked away, disinterested once again, linking his arms behind his back as he sauntered past her. "I'll greet the crowd."

How was he so blasé about all this? Did he not feel any shame being caught in such a compromising position? Or was this something he was used to? The last thought made her unexpectedly furious.

"Collect yourself," Baghra chided in an acerbic tone. "You look like a mess."

Alina brushed the dirt from her hair, smoothing the wrinkles from her dress as she caught up to Baghra. The older Grisha scowled at her, disgust stamped across her features.

"Do you think fucking him is going to give you some kind of advantage?" Baghra hissed.

It didn't escape Alina's notice that Baghra's voice was deliberately low so as not to reach Kirigan's ears. As much as she wanted to snap back at the woman, she held her tongue. As soon as they turned the corner, she noticed the small crowd gathered and cringed. To think all those people were standing only a few feet away.

"Alina, would you like to show everyone here what we were practising earlier?"

It took every inch of will power she had not to throw something at Kirigan.

The group buzzed with excitement around her.

"You summoned the light!"

"Please do it again!"