The King's Cursed Bride

Hunted

            

Author's Note: This week's Comment Award goes to Just_leave_me_be. Your comment was so encouraging and really made my day :) If you'd like to check it out, you can find it on my IG profile

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Carissa knew exactly what to do. She hauled in a deep breath before putting the first—and only—part of her plan into action: running to Elon.

He was just rounding a darkened corner as she caught up, her hand slipping into his.

The frigid feeling fled as suddenly as it'd come, and she felt sheepish about racing to Elon. "Sorry," she whispered before beginning to slip her hand away.

Elon's grip tightened. "You felt it?"

Her heart stuttered. So it hadn't been a random drop in temperature. "Akasha?"

He nodded. "Those with the gifting are more sensitive to the presence of a Reaper. Since we're bonded, you are as well."

"But we're not bonded... physically speaking." She hoped the light was dim enough to hide her coloring cheeks.

"The kind of bond that enables me to share my gifting with you only requires consent. It's a bond made with the heart and mind rather than the body."

Carissa glanced over her shoulder, to glance at the doorway, but it was around the corner. "So if we can sense her..."

"She can sense us as well."

"Then she knows we're here."

He released her hand to walk up a second stairway. "She does." He held her hand again as he led her down the hallway before stopping before a dull red door. He allowed her to enter before him before shutting and latching it behind them.

She glanced at the narrow bed, and a wave of dizzying exhaustion overtook her. She pressed a hand to the wall and blinked the blur from her eyes. There was a Reaper a floor below them; the last thing she should be thinking about was sleep.

Elon's warm hand cupped her shoulder. "If you'd like to rest, I'll go below stairs to find food."

Rest? Food? "What about Akasha? She knows we're here. Won't she come and attack us?"

"I'm expecting it."

How ironic; the hunter had become the hunted. "Then why don't we strike first?"

"Because I don't like how the future looks in that direction, and I don't want to needlessly risk your life." His gaze cut to her, his eyes nearly black in the dim light. "You won't try to attack Akasha on your own while I'm gone, will you?"

"No." She frowned. "But why ask me? Don't you know what will happen?"

He lifted his broad shoulders. "The future is determined by your choices, Carissa. It's not a set path but a web of potential paths." He pressed a hand against the small of her back, and she was too weary to resist. "Now, rest."

She turned to him. "Will I be safe while you're gone?"

He paused for a moment, and his eyes grew unfocused, as if seeing past her. "Yes. But lock the door when I leave, and don't open it until I ask you to do so." He blinked. "Understood?"

She nodded and followed him as he strode to the door.

He paused, one foot in the hallway. "Wedging a chair beneath the door handle wouldn't hurt either." And then the door clicked shut.