Chapter 9:The choice
680 Words
I didn't sleep that night.
Dorian slept,healing, growing stronger but I sat by the cave entrance, watching the darkness, waiting for Kael to return.
The bond pulsed softly between us. Steady now. Stronger than before.
But not strong enough.
Not yet.
Dawn came slow.
Gray light crept into the cave. Dorian stirred behind me. I turned to look at him.
His eyes were open. Clear. Watching me.
"You didn't sleep," he said. Voice still rough, but stronger.
"Neither did you."
"I don't need as much as humans." He sat up slowly. Winced. "Or hybrids."
I almost smiled. "Show off."
He almost smiled back.
Then his face hardened. "Kael. He was here."
"Yesterday. He gave us one day." I looked out at the forest. "Today, he comes back."
Dorian was quiet for a moment. Then: "What does he want?"
"Me." I met his eyes. "He wants me to join his pack. Use my power to end the war his way."
"And if you refuse?"
I didn't answer.
Dorian's jaw tightened. "He'll kill me."
"He said that, yes."
Silence.
Then Dorian stood. Slow. Painful. But standing.
"Then I'll fight."
"Dorian"
"I won't let you choose because of me." His eyes burned. "I've done terrible things, Raya. Served a monster. Killed innocent people. If I die here, maybe that's what I deserve."
I stood too. Moved closer. "You stayed for us. You saved Jax. That counts for something."
"Does it?"
"Yes."
We stood there, staring at each other. The bond hummed between us,warm, steady, alive.
Then a voice came from the cave entrance.
"Touching."
We both turned.
Kael stood there. Massive. Cold. Wolf eyes glowing.
"One day is up, hybrid." He stepped inside. Looked at Dorian. "And your vampire is standing. Impressive. He won't be standing for long."
I moved in front of Dorian. "Touch him and I'll…"
"You'll what?" Kael's voice was flat. "Fight me? You'd lose. Run? I'd find you. Bargain?" He tilted his head. "That's the only option worth discussing."
I gripped my dagger. "I'm not joining you."
"No?" Kael smiled. Cold. Cruel. "Then watch."
He moved.
Fast. Too fast.
One moment he was at the entrance. The next, he had Dorian by the throat, pinned against the cave wall.
Dorian gasped. Tried to fight. Too weak. Too slow.
"Stop!" I screamed.
Kael looked at me. Calm. Waiting.
"Join me, hybrid. Or he dies. Now."
I stared at Dorian. At his face,pale, struggling, but his eyes... his eyes were on me. And through the bond, I felt it.
Don't.
He was telling me to let him go.
To let him die.
"No." The word left my mouth before I could stop it.
Kael raised an eyebrow. "No, you won't join me? Or no, you won't watch him die?"
I didn't answer.
Couldn't.
Because I didn't know.
Kael laughed. Low. Dark. "Interesting. You really don't know, do you?" He tightened his grip. Dorian choked. "Choose, hybrid. Him or your freedom."
The bond screamed.
Dorian's life. My freedom.
Choose.
I opened my mouth,
A blur of movement.
Dorian moved. Fast. Faster than should be possible. He grabbed Kael's arm, twisted, broke free. Dropped to the ground. Gasping.
Kael stared. Surprise on his face.
Then amusement.
"Interesting," he said again. "He's stronger than he looks." He looked at me. "But not strong enough."
He stepped toward Dorian again.
I moved.
Between them.
Dagger raised.
"Enough."
Kael stopped. Looked at me. Really looked.
"You'd die for him."
It wasn't a question.
I didn't answer.
Kael studied me for a long moment. Then he smiled. Slow. Cold.
"Good."
I blinked. "Good?"
"Now I know what you'll fight for." He stepped back. Toward the entrance. "A weapon that fights for something is more useful than one that doesn't."
I stared at him. "I'm not a weapon."
"Keep telling yourself that, hybrid." He reached the entrance. Looked back. "I'll be watching. When your vampire falls and he will fall,I'll be there. Waiting."
He disappeared into the trees.
I stood there, shaking. Dorian behind me, gasping. The bond humming between us.
Alive. Both alive.
But for how long?
- Writer
