Enslaved

Chapter 32

Ryuu heard Valik struggling in Kajeel's hold behind where he stood facing Kaida. The memory of Kaida screaming when Valik had approached her flashed across his memory and he forced down the snarl that threatened to break free. Kaida's eyelashes were still coated in tears, her eyes slightly pink from her crying. What had been said in the few moments that Ryuu had been kneeling by Vivia?

"Are you okay for me to go talk with Kajeel?" He said quietly, watching as her eyes flicked down then back up to his eyes. "Or would you prefer to come with me?"

Kaida kept looking at his face, not making any moves to move or answer, the rising moon's light glittering in her eyes. Ryuu's hand still held hers tightly, not willing to let it go so soon after she had come back to the present. What had she been seeing to get so freaked out? Ryuu resisted the urge to look over his wing to where Valik stood. He had been the last one to be with Kaida before she fell into another panic attack and stared at them all with eyes that were not quite seeing the same thing they were.

"Why are you going?" Ryuu blinked, refocusing on her. "To talk to Kajeel."

Ryuu gave her hand a gentle squeeze, staring into her mismatched eyes.

"We have to decide whether or not to move camp." He told her, being cautious as to keep his voice low. "And discuss how the Empire keeps finding us."

Kaida's face was still pale, her eyes wider than usual but she took a shaky breath.

"It's nighttime." Her voice was hushed. "You said you would teach me how to fly."

Ryuu blinked in surprise before offering her a small smile. He could tell she was only trying to distract herself but he was more than willing to help with that. He would do whatever was needed of him to help her.

"Yes, I did. How about I talk with Kajeel really quickly and then we can go flying?"

Kaida nodded, her hair falling over her shoulder and her wings ruffling against her back slightly. Ryuu smiled at her wider before dropping his hands and folding his wings back up tightly and turning around, immediately locking gazes with Kajeel. His arms were wrapped around Valik's shoulders and wing joints, holding him with all his strength as Valik strained against him, his mouth set in a snarl directed at Ryuu. Ryuu heard Kaida's soft footsteps on his right falter as she saw Valik and Ryuu turned to her, watching as her eyes widened with fear.

"Let me go!" He bellowed at Kajeel, his voice hoarse and causing Ryuu to turn back and look at him with his eyes narrowed. "Let me go right now or I will make you will regret ever laying a hand on me! LET ME HELP HER!"

"I am sorry, Valik but I am afraid that I cannot allow that." Ryuu kept his voice calm as he stared at the struggling male. "She is alright now but I can't have you triggering another panic attack for her."

Valik snarled at him, his pupils razor-thin and eyes clouded over with anxiety. Ryuu realized with a start that he was having his own version of a panic attack, his brain focused on doing something that he had never been allowed to do before: protect Kaida.

"You don't know anything about what she needs!" Valik growled at Ryuu, his arms straining against Kajeel's. "You're just a no-good pretty boy who thinks he knows what to do. You know nothing! And you'll get what's coming for you."

What did he mean by that? Ryuu heard Kaida's breath hitch and he looked over to Kajeel, nodding grimly to him. Kajeel gave him a close-lipped smile before spreading his wings wide and taking off with Valik, flying straight up before arcing left and flying over toward the lake. Ryuu would have to talk to Kajeel later about what to do with the camp. Ryuu turned to Kaida and gently placed a hand on her shoulder, noticing how she had started shaking again.