Thiswas his power? It made me want to tremble, to wonder how a shade could be this strong, whyLarkwood would choose to keep him alive and here after knowing what he was capable of?
The thought shamed me, especially after what I’d suffered because of others’ fear, but that didn’t change how I felt.
“I’m not going to do anything bad to you,” Kit whispered, his voice losing that command, as if he wanted to ensure I really heard him. “I could force you to believe me, command you to believe and trust me. I could demand that you will do whatever I want, that you will do nothing foolish or dangerous. I could ensure I never lost you. It would be so easy to turn you into my own mindless, safe puppet who would be only mine forever. I won’t do that, however.” He didn’t add on what I was sure he was thinking—I’m not like that.
Before I had to think about it much, his voice took on the other tone, the terrifying one I couldn’t ignore. “You will resist the effects of the medications they give you. Your head will remain clear, but you will feel no pain.”
I nodded even if he didn’t ask me to, even if he didn’t want a response.
He breathed in deeply, the sound odd since he didn’t have a flesh and blood face, didn’t have a mouth or nostrils. He nodded, then pulled back and released me.
When he turned his head away, I collapsed to the floor. It was as if he had held me up by his eyes alone, as if that had been all that kept me on my feet. With the string cut, I couldn’t hold myself up anymore.
He turned his back on me, his body twisting until he returned to his normal size, until his shape reverted to his human form. Why he’d turned his back I didn’tknow—it wasn’t as if I hadn’t just been face-to-face with what he really was.
Still, when he faced me again, I shrank back. I couldn’t help it—I’d assumed his powers wouldn’t work on me. It was an arrogant thought, perhaps, but since I didn’t seem to struggle with Knox’s incubus powers as others did, I’d thought perhaps Kit wouldn’t be able to control me, especially since he used his voice and sound was the seat of my power.
However, he’d proven me wrong. I had been helpless against Kit’s voice. If he’d commanded me to doanythingin that moment, I’d have done it. That fact terrified me, the reality that when it came to Kit, I had no control. I had to trust that he’d never turn on me, that he’d never use it against me, because I had no defense.
When I moved away, he came no closer. I couldn’t read his expression, especially because I worked hard to not look him in the eyes. I didn’t want to be caught again.
He let out a long sigh that at least sounded normal. Not that I would believe it. Kit had just proven he wasanythingbut normal.
“Be careful,” he said, his voice strangely soft. “I did what I could, but make no mistake—Medical is dangerous. You’ll be on your own there.” He crouched so he was in front of me, and I had nowhere to retreat to since I’d backed up to the couch. He caught my chin, and I flinched as if those claws would dig into me. They didn’t—his hands were human. “I expect you to be cautious, Hera. I do not want to find out you got yourself killed. Understood?”
I nodded, probably just to end the conversation, my gaze locked over his shoulder so I didn’t risk meeting his eyes.
He ran his thumb over my chin then released me and left without another word.
I’d woken this morning expecting Medical to be the most terrifying part of my day, and yet Kit had shown up and proven me wrong.
I was pretty sure he was far more dangerous than anything else at Larkwood.
* * * *
“You had a visitor this morning?” Deacon asked as his gaze dropped to my arm.
After our last fight, I hadn’t spoken to him, but it seemed he had still looked out for me.
Which was something I wasn’t ready to deal with. After the exhausting morning and the upcoming Medical trip, I lacked the energy to talk out whatever mess Deacon had tangled up in his head.
I had enough of my own problems.
I nodded.
“Good. It seem to work?”
I shrugged. The pain had gone away, just as he’d said it would, but I had no idea if it would actually work once they injected the drugs into me. It was like testing a parachute. I’d only know for sure after I jumped.
He hit the button for the Medical floor, then stood back, his gaze on the elevator door as if trying not to look at me.
I suddenly missed Wade. Everything was so simple with him. It seemed I was growing extremely frustratedwith men who had so many hang-ups, with the idea that it was my job to fix them all.
“The schedule looks like you’ll stay in Medical overnight. I’ll be back tomorrow morning to pick you up again.”
I didn’t respond, since I wasn’t sure what else to say.
“Hera,” he started, but before he said anything else, he shut his mouth.