The next morning, Tee wandered through Primus at dawn, taking turns down quiet halls to make sure Kie wouldn’t find her before breakfast. But even that failed. He showed up anyway, tray in hand, and sat beside her like it was the most natural thing in the world. The reminder of yesterday’s conversation made her lose her appetite.

  Training went as usual. The Commander hinted again at “upcoming changes,” which everyone pretended not to care about. But Tee noticed something new—Kie always seemed to stay close to her. Maybe it had been that way for a while. Maybe she just hadn’t wanted to notice before. Was he really planning on courting her, or was that just some twisted coincidence?

  Afterward, she locked herself in her room like she often did these days. Since Jack’s death, isolation felt safer than company. But then she heard his voice again in her head—the same steady encouragement that used to make her believe she could be more. It pushed her to the training room earlier than usual, when she knew Kie wouldn’t be there.

  She tried again. Not her whole arm that time—just her hand. But it didn’t matter. The pain, the blood, the fading light—it all ended the same.

  When she came to, the sterile smell of the infirmary filled her nose.

  “You really should stop doing that,” said Kie, his voice too calm for her liking. “Bleeding yourself near death—if I didn’t know better, I’d think you were trying to master some blood-bending technique.”

  She tightened her grip on the sheet. “You really should stop showing up when I’m alone.”

  “Since you lock yourself away most days, this is the only time I can see you. And… I’m worried about you.”

  That was all she could take. She swung her legs over the bed, but pain flared in her stomach, turning her vision black. Her knees buckled.

  “Ugh—”

  Something brushed her ankle, and before she could process it, strong arms lifted her clean off the ground.

  “Are you alright?” His voice was right beside her ear, low and too close.

  It took her a second to realize it—he was carrying her. One arm under her knees, the other behind her back.

  Any normal girl might’ve melted, but Tee’s heart only raced faster. Her curse mark burned like it was warning her. The Primus workers always made sure to hide it with concealer, but that didn’t stop the panic from rising in her throat. The ache in her stomach made her clutch her shirt tighter.

  Kie’s tone softened. “I’ll take you to a nurse—”

  “No,” she blurted before she could think. Her head throbbed. “I’m fine. I’m just starving.”

  He raised a brow. “Fine. Then I’ll take you to the kitchen.”

  “No, that’s not nec—” But he was already walking.

  She felt each step, every shift of his muscles. His heartbeat thudded gently against her arm, steady and maddeningly close. Was she really that light? He carried her like she weighed nothing.

  She fixed her gaze on the door ahead, forcing herself not to look up. It had been forever since anyone had carried her. Maybe Tetra once. Maybe her parents—before they’d left her behind.

  She pushed the door open for him when they reached it.

  “You’re such a darling,” Kie said lightly. “I could’ve kicked it open, you know.”

  “That would’ve taken one second longer.” She pointed ahead with a faint smirk. “Now hurry, my minion. Onward to the kitchen.”

  He stopped walking. Tee’s lips twitched, fighting not to laugh. His chest rose against her arm, a slow, heavy sigh. Then she caught the scent of something warm on his breath.

  Bacon.

  He must’ve eaten while waiting for her. He didn’t even think to save her a piece? She gasped quietly, realization sinking in—he’d probably devoured her share of dinner right under her nose.

  Kie kept his head straight, his voice low and drawn out. “I am not your minion.”

  You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.

  Tee looked up at him with a grin. “Can’t you take a joke?”

  Kie made a sound too low to be a growl and kept walking.

  Tee’s heart dropped when he suddenly lowered his arms as if he were about to drop her. She shrieked and grabbed his shirt, her nails piercing through the satin to his skin. Her smile vanished.

  “What are you doing?”

  Kie grinned. “Relax. Can’t you take a joke?”

  He kept walking, his chuckle rumbling through her with every step. The pain in her stomach stopped her from jumping out of his arms, so all she could do was glare at the floor and hope he didn’t try that crap again.

  The kitchen lights flicked on as the motion sensors caught their movement. Tee only let him take three steps in before she ordered, “Put me down.”

  “Are you sure?”

  “Yes, put me down. Now.”

  When her feet touched the floor, her eyes went straight to the fridge—but pain twisted through her stomach, and she collapsed onto a stool by the center table. Clutching her shirt, she leaned forward and pressed her head against the cool surface. The pressure in her head built until it felt ready to burst. What did she do to deserve that?

  The slam of the fridge door made her lift her head. Kie walked past with three cheese patties on a plate. She snatched one as he passed and bit halfway through it.

  Kie ignored the loud crunching as he warmed the other two on the flat stove. “Your iced-coffee’s long gone, and warming dinner would take too long. Besides, eating something that heavy this late will only give you indigestion.”

  Tee’s mind began to clear as food hit her empty stomach. But by the last bite, she realized she’d just chewed through rock-hard flour without tasting a hint of cheese. The smell of grilled cheese soon filled the room, and her eyes turned to Kie.

  He was carefully flipping the patty on the stove to keep it from burning. She rested her elbows on the table, watching him while her stomach growled. When he finished, he turned and placed the steaming plate in front of her.

  “So, what’s the bill?” she asked. “Do your dish duty for a whole month?”

  “Like I said before—absolutely…” He pushed the plate toward her. “…nothing.”

  Tee stopped the plate with one hand. “You’re such a darling.”

  “See? We’re getting somewhere,” he said, leaning back against the stove and cracking open a soda.

  While his eyes were elsewhere, she took the patty and bit into the warm, crispy crust. The burst of flavor hit her tongue, and she had to pull back as the melted cheese stretched to its limit before slurping it up.

  Any credit she was about to give him vanished. He was just trying to woo her—that’s why he’d bought the iced-coffee too. She wasn’t interested and needed to make that clear. His effort only made her decide to break the news more gently.

  “Look, this isn’t going to work.”

  Kie lowered the can from his lips.

  “I’ve never been in a relationship before,” she continued. “The guy I liked died and took my heart with him. Because of that, I’ll never feel that way about you—or anyone. So stop trying.”

  Kie squinted, then shut his eyes. He ran a hand down his face and left it resting on his chin.

  “Ouch.” He dropped his hand to his side, glanced into the can, and said, “That doesn’t matter.” After finishing the drink, he added, “You can’t rush these things. Trust me, with time you’ll get over that guy and move on.” He met her gaze, his dark red eyes steady. “And I’m not going anywhere.”

  Tee looked away from his gaze and blurted, “That’s never happening.”

  Kie sighed. “I’ve lost people I care about too. It’s normal to grieve, but you should move on. Life’s too hard to go at it alone.” His eyes drifted from her face to the empty plate on the table. “But we’re not like other people. We don’t die easily. That’s why we’re perfect for each other—you and I.”

  “Who did you lose?” Tee asked.

  “Too many people.”

  Tee pushed the empty plate away. There he went again with those vague answers. He wasn’t going to tell her anything, and it was clear the conversation was going nowhere.

  “I’ll tell you a secret…”

  Tee glanced back at him.

  “…I can’t handle death. I don’t get over it as easily as others do.” His eyes dropped to the table, distant. “People I don’t talk to anymore, I still remember their names and faces long after they’re gone. It gives me nightmares. It’s the main reason I don’t like getting close to people. But with you…” He looked up and smiled faintly. “…I have nothing to fear. The number of times you’ve woken up in the infirmary, I don’t need any more proof you won’t die on me.”

  Tee blinked. His words didn’t make sense—until she remembered he had no idea she was a Xeno-victim. Still, he seemed in the mood to talk.

  “Sounds like you know a lot of dead people for that to happen. Is it because of the Mid-Guard?”

  Kie let out a short, failed chuckle. His face hardened. “Especially because of that.”

  “Did your parents know you spent nine years in the Mid-Guard?” Tee already guessed what he’d say—that it didn’t matter. Then she’d just walk right out.

  But instead, he said, “No.”

  She gasped. There wasn’t even a flicker on his face, which meant he was telling the truth. But how was that possible? She wanted to press further, but that wasn’t the time. She’d have to be smart about getting more from him later. A small smile spread across her lips as a plan formed.

  She stood up from her stool. “Anyway, it’s getting late.” She walked over to him.

  Kie blinked several times when she stopped beside him, standing too close.

  “Good night.” She leaned in and kissed him on the cheek.

  Kie stayed frozen long after she left the kitchen. The tingling on his cheek told him it had really happened. Tee had kissed him.