Kai's eyes widened in astonishment, yet almost at once he forced the reaction back down, refusing to let it slip across his face.
"Why… why did you not run away?" He asked, voice strained.
She gave no reply. Perhaps lingering too long beside a fool like him had dulled her mind, making her follow along the same reckless path.
The pack's leader stepped forward, bending low so that his breath rolled against her skin, his gaze sweeping over her body from head to toe as if weighing merchandise.
"Well, isn't that better? Obedient little thing." He flicked his hand, signaling the others to back away from Kai.
"At least rank A, I'd say. Fetch a decent price." His laughter was sharp and delighted, echoing like broken glass.
Serein's eyes slipped to his wrist as he raised it to pull the cigarette from his lips. A tattoo coiled there: a snake crawling through a skull. The mark of Maledictus.
"I've already called for backup. They'll be here any minute."
