Chapter Nine.

Jhelani’s POV

Warmth. That was the first thing I noticed.

It wrapped around me like a cocoon, so different from the endless cold that had sunk into my bones. My lashes fluttered, and for the first time in forever, I didn’t feel like I was drowning. Drowning in an iceberg.

Then I realized why.

An arm was draped across me, heavy and steady. A chest rose and fell against my back, its rhythm oddly soothing. And beneath my ear, there was the thud of a heartbeat...not mine.

My stomach dropped.

My eyelids flew wide open. "What the hell?"

I stiffened, trying to move, but the arm tightened, pulling me closer.

My pulse raced, panic clawing its way up my throat.

"Who the fuck... Kian?!" I nearly screamed, my eyes wide opening further when I saw who had me in his arms.

Then the door suddenly swung open.

"Kian, get her out of here. Now." Damon commanded in very strict voice.

Kian sat up on the bed immediately, "huh? What's wrong, man?"

"They know. They're coming, so get her the fuck out before they get here," he added then left.

I was confused.

"How did I get here? Who brought me here? Where's this place?" I demanded. "And why were you—"

Kian got off the bed without saying a word.

"Our safehouse. Good thing you're awake, Fox Eyes."

I turned my head in the direction where the voice came from and saw Jace leaning at the side, a feet pressed against the wall behind him. He had this sheepish grin on his face.

I blinked at him, heat creeping up my neck despite the chaos in my chest. That grin of his was infuriating.

“You sleep cute, Fox Eyes. Didn’t peg you for the type to curl into someone like that,” Jace said, his tone dripping with mockery.

My jaw dropped. “Excuse me?!”

Kian shot him a glare sharp enough to cut him out, “Jace, shut the hell up.”

“What? I’m just saying if you weren’t snuggled against him, you would’ve been against me. No shame in that. I honestly don't mind sharing.” He pushed off the wall with lazy ease, stepping closer, and I swore I want to kill him.

Share who? Me?

I felt my face burn hotter. “You—both of you are insane. I don’t even know why I’m here, let alone how—”

The door slammed open again, Damon storming back in with a gun strapped across his chest, his voice like ice. “Enough. We’re out of time. They’re already at the perimeter.”

The grin slipped off Jace’s face.

Kian moved fast, grabbing my wrist. “Let’s go.”

I stumbled after him, heart thundering.

None of them were explaining anything which left me confused as hell.

"Where are you taking me to?!" I demanded once we were outside, taking a smaller route where no one ever passed through.

"Where else, pretty head? Your house of course. Or would you prefer to be on my bed all night long?" He smirked.

"NEVER."

"Well, I expected that," he chuckled then we soon burst out to a completely different street. Mine.

I could see my house not too far away. I wondered how he knew about this route. I've been living here almost all my life, but I don't think I've ever gone so far as to explore the route we just took.

I was never curious enough to do that.

"I believe you can go home from here. The sweater would keep you warm in the meantime. I need to run," he said in a hurry, about turning his back on me.

I scoffed, "I didn't need your help anyway. You can fuck off for all I care—" before I could complete the words, I had my back pressing hard against the wall next to me with my hands pinned above my head so tight I could hardly move.

Dang it!

His eyes narrowed on me.

I was a bit frightened, but I had to square my shoulders, raising my chin up before a snicker appeared on the side of my lips.

"I hurt your ego, no?" I asked, but he had this look in his eyes that said I shouldn't have said that. His breathing growing hoarse with every breathe he took and it scared the fuck out of me.

"You didn't need my help?" He asked and I nodded immediately, sure as hell. "Well then maybe if I had left you in that alley, walking off like I didn't just have you passing out in my arms—" he says quietly, leaning to me, his finger tucking my hair behind my ear, then he began tracing his long tan fingers around my face.

I turned my face away.

He paused, chuckling. I parted my lips to say something to get him off but then he gripped my chin, forcing me to look up at him.

"Then maybe by the time you wake up, and find blood stains between your legs with your clothes all torn and wrinkled up, you wouldn't have the nerves to have your eyes up to mine because then you would be crying your eyeballs out in your room with no hope of getting justice in court for what happened to you" he whispered into my ear and I could feel my teeth clenching damn hard as he said this things.

I didn't know when I lost it and my hand flew to his face, hitting him hard across the cheek and his head whip to the side.

I saw the muscles in his jaw working up as he glared at me, eyes blazing but I didn't give two fucks.

I raised my finger, pointing at his nose, "Say something disgusting as that to me like that again, Kian, and I wouldn't stop anything holding me back from having your balls crushed," I said then left.

"You will regret this, Jhelani. Not now, but pretty soon. I swear to the moon goddess," I heard him growl behind me in a terrifying tone that was low, but I didn't listen to his bullshit. I didn't know what he said, but he sounded furious