We stayed like that for a moment, buried in each other’s warmth, until Killian flipped me around onto his lap, putting my back against his chest.
“Eat, Little Crane,” he said, holding up the cereal spoon to my lips.
“Uh, no thank you. I’m not hungry… Killian, right? Actually, I just ate,” I lied, despite being very,very,hungry. There was no way anyone was going to feed me, though. “Wait, did you just call me Crane? Like the bird? What does that mean?”
Killian let out a deep, gravely laugh, dropped the cereal spoon, and grabbed a paper napkin from the table. He started folding the napkin delicately and precisely. His fingers were surprisingly nimble, despite being the size of baby tree trunks. At first it looked like nothing, but after a few folds, a small paper crane materialized in his palm.
He gave it to me explaining, “Little Omega, so pale and delicate. Like a little paper crane.”
Maybe he was a gentle giant after-all.
“Eat now. It’s not a request,” he growled, dashing my hopes.
I wanted to argue about being hand-fed, because that's where I definitely drew the line with feeling like their pet, but Iwasworking on escaping by lulling them into a false sense of security. Not to mention, I had no clue when the last time I had eaten was, so I decided just once, I would let it go.
Not realizing how hungry I had been until the first bite of fruity, processed junk food hit my tongue, I moaned. When I was a kid, I used to love this cereal. Closing my eyes, I relished the sugary taste that reminded me of my childhood. He scooped another spoonful, feeding me more. After a few more bites, he lowered his head to the crook of my shoulder and began sucking, nipping, and running the flat of his tongue up the column of neck, to my ear.
“Uh, Killian… um, what are you doing?” I mumbled, mouth still full of cereal.
“Marking you,” he stated simply, as if it were completely normal to lick people you had just met, without their permission.
I tried to squirm out of his hold and regain some personal space when he bit down hard on the crook of my shoulder. It was incredibly painful, and I screamed loudly trying to push myself away from him. What the hell?! He had definitely broken skin!
Tears welled in my eyes when I noticed a trickle of blood running down my chest. My initial fear was that he would snapme in half, but maybe I should have been more concerned about him eating me alive.
Now I wasreallyfrightened.
“Mine,” Killian snarled.
The giant held me firmly in place. I thought he was going to bite me again, so I flinched instinctively and fought harder to get out of his grip. The sharp stinging pain from his bite was getting worse and worse, consuming my thoughts entirely. Instead of biting me again, Killian started licking the wound and the surrounding blood that was now flowing steadily.
As he worked to clean up the mess he had made, he also purred, trying to calm me. The pain in my shoulder lessened, and my body relaxed like gelatin, unable to resist his purr and the ensuing comfort and calm that washed over me.
Killian resumed eating his cereal, tucking me against him, occasionally offering me a spoonful, which I refused to eat. Terrified that he was going to bite me again, I kept quiet on his lap. Just as I was hoping he might forget about me and loosen his hold so I could slip away, the front door swung open.
Cade and Ryker walked in, engaged in a conversation, but as soon as my scent hit their noses and they surveyed their surroundings, all hell broke loose. They were clearly not happy that I was straddling Killian's lap, covered in half-dried blood, crying.
“I’m sorry, Cade, I didn’t know what to do; he just picked me up and bit me, it really hurt, and now he won’t put me down -”
Cade and Ryker’s flurry of movement interrupted my explanation. Killian released me, and I scrambled to get out of the way, just as Cade collided with him at full force. Theircollision was like two mountains crashing into one another. Ryker grabbed my arm and pulled me behind him.
Cade and Killian clashed, two massive predators vying for dominance over each other. The entire room shook as their fists connected. Killian, while bigger, was slower than Cade. Killian was also injured, to what extent I wasn’t sure, but I could tell he was favoring his right side. He finally caught hold of Cade and had him shoved up against a wall, but just as he was about to land a blow, Cade ducked, grabbing Killian around the legs and bringing the giant to the floor. The wooden coffee table did not survive Killian’s weight as he came crashing down onto it, splintering into a million pieces. Ryker didn’t intervene, instead watching carefully, standing with his back to me.
Highly aware that the unlocked door was mere feet away from me, I considered slipping out unnoticed. I would get at least a minute head start before they stopped fighting and realized my absence, but I wouldn’t get far enough. Wearing nothing but a T-shirt and underwear, covered in blood, amid an Arca military base, meant I would attract a lot of attention. My return to the dorm, kicking and screaming, was certain. The failed escape attempt would also destroy any hope of gaining their trust to actually escape.
I was deep in thought when I noticed Ryker studying me.
“Don’t even think about it, Kitten. I see you plotting over there,” he warned me.
I scoffed, feigning insult.
“Plotting what?” I asked, crossing my arms, despite knowing full well what he was talking about.
Escape! Leave! Run!My body shouted at me, but my mind knew to wait for a better opportunity.
Ryker didn’t seem concerned about Cade and Killian, who were still wrestling on the living room floor. They were bloody, black and blue. During the scuffle, they had also broken a lamp and chair, besides the splintered coffee table.
“Don’t worry about the brothers; they like to quarrel. You know sibling rivalry and all.”