Alchemised

by SenLinYu

She glanced up, glimpsing for a moment the intent way that he watched her when she wasn’t looking.

His left hand was wrapped around her throat, but she had a knife across his, and her other palm was pressed flat against his chest, her resonance humming through him.

“Just like that,” he said, panting. “Just push in. It’s right there.”

She wanted him to know. It was real. For her, it had always been real.

He was hers. The realisation broke her heart.

Even whores were not so low as to find pleasure in their work the way she nearly had.

Obsessive and possessive.

he dropped his head onto her shoulder. She pulled him into her arms; he gripped her close and sobbed.

“I can’t—I can’t do this again—” he finally gasped out. “I can’t care for someone again. I can’t take it.”

“I’ve spent a year working on the logistics of replacing you…I must admit, you are the most exceptional asset the Eternal Flame possesses. And I am sorry for that.”

It was fine, though. He was alive. Every week she got to see him and know he was alive. However, that was not something he seemed to care about. There was a raw despair visible in his eyes. Even his rage was smothered, as though he were existing out of sheer obligation.

There was a trick to sobbing like that; it was something a person had to learn to do.

“I’m sure there’s something poetic in it all, but right now all I feel is a new set of manacles.” He let go and stepped away from her, heading for the door. “So forgive me if I dislike looking at you. I’m still adjusting to the ways these new ones chafe.”

Soren was staring at her. “Two souls is still a bargain.”

“Anything,” she said, pressing a hand against his neck. “Whatever the price.” She pushed the energy out of her body and brought him back.

“Did you know, my favourite things are wounds,” he said, the words breathless. “Wetter, hotter, and tighter than anything else.”

It was Kaine. She’d never seen him fight. He’d never really fought with her. But she knew. There was no mistaking that brutal efficiency. He was as deadly as she’d imagined.

He stalked through the water towards Helena. Not a step wavering, cutting down everything that crossed his path.

It was impossible that he’d ever fought to his full potential before. If anyone had ever fought like that, everyone would have known about it.

The muscle in his jaw set. As he worked, he began telling her each time he was about to touch her, what he was about to do, his voice low, calm, and she realised he was imitating the way she used to narrate her treatment of the array.

“You could be a healer,” she finally said as he removed the block on her nerves. She flexed her hand, opening and closing. It was still sore, and fragile as though hairline-fractured. “You have a natural talent for it.”

He blocked the door, his eyes gone cold. “Remind Crowther that if the Eternal Flame wants my continued assistance, they will keep you alive.”

“She’s dead,” he said. “You are not. My loyalty was to those least responsible for her suffering, but if the Eternal Flame has decided that you are an affordable casualty, I will not be noble or understanding. I can exact dual revenge. I will make them pay if they get you killed.”

He wouldn’t let go. He gripped her tighter. “You are not expendable. You don’t get to push everyone away so that they’ll feel comfortable using you and letting you die.”

“You are not replaceable,” he said, his hands trembling against her shoulders. “You are not required to make your death convenient. You are allowed to be important to people. The reason I’m here—the reason I’m doing any of this—is to keep you alive. To keep you safe. That was the deal.” He searched her face. “They didn’t tell you.” She shook her head, giving a broken sob and—before she let herself think—she kissed him.

He touched her cheek, tilting her face up and kissing her. “Use the ring, call me, if you ever need anything.”

“Then use me,” Kaine said. He was right next to her. He pulled her close and tried to kiss her.

He didn’t let go. “Helena…” She stilled at her name. “I’m alone, too,” he said.

“This—is the way I wanted it to be,” she admitted. “With you. I wanted it to be like this with you.” He went very still. “I’m sorry. I’m sorry it wasn’t,” he finally said, pulling her closer.

He lay, arms wrapped possessively around her as though he were keeping her from being stolen, features relaxed in sleep. She studied him.

Kaine Ferron was a dragon, like his family before him. Possessive to the point of self-annihilation. Isolated and deadly, and now he held her in his arms as if she were his. The temptation to give in, to let him have her, and to love him for it terrified her.

“You’re mine,” he said against her lips, his fingers sliding along her throat, tangling in her hair, holding her fast as he dragged her nearer.

“You’re mine. You swore yourself to me. Now and after the war. I’m going to take care of you. I’m not going to let anyone hurt you. You don’t have to be lonely. Because you’re mine.”

She was locked in the dangerous embrace of Kaine Ferron, and it felt like home.

She reached out, her fingers brushing back his hair. “Don’t worry. I’m always going to come back to you.”

“Don’t go,” he said softly. “You know I have to.” He shook his head. “No, I don’t. They don’t care about you.”

The only reason I am not having you thrown in prison to stand trial for necromancy is because you now exist to keep Ferron in line.”

Sector four criminals were usually political prisoners, sentenced to four generations of imprisonment, lifetime after lifetime of indentured servitude that only their great-great-grandchildren would have a chance of escaping.

The phylacteries. It was exactly what Kaine had described.

This was how Kaine had been made.

“How are all the Undying able to use necromancy?” she asked. Hotten translated the question. “Accident,” Wagner said with a barking laugh. “He never knew why.”

“They’re replacing Lila with Sebastian as paladin primary,” Penny said without looking up. “Lila’s probably going to be stripped of rank for compromising Luc’s safety.”

Kaine took her hand. “You can run. Say the word, and I’ll get you out.”

“According to the information we have, the Undying are a by-product of Morrough’s attempts to harness power without suffering from ill effects.” He was silent a moment. “So if we kill the Undying, that weakens him.”

If it’s possible to bind a soul, surely it can be unbound.” “Helena…”

“I hate your hair like that,” he said, startling her.

He looked unconvinced. “I want to see you more.”

She could see the hunger in his eyes. Possessive. Ravenous. He would drag her from the war and hide her the instant she let him.

Want. Want. Want. She felt it like her heartbeat. If he couldn’t hide her, he would hoard her to himself as much as he was ...

His other hand slid possessively up her throat, fingers tilting her head back, and he kissed her, long and deep,