Chapter 21 - The Scent of Temptation

Mission Accomplished

Open profile to view reward>

"Flora!" Misha yelled, her and Derb dropped to the floor the moment Flora hit the ground, their faces folding with panic as they rushed over.

Misha scooped Flora up, draping her over a shoulder while Derb shoved a light green bottle into her mouth. When Misha looked at Kelly, gratitude softened her panic-struck expression.

"Thanks for going easy on her," Misha said. "She gets… crazy sometimes."

Crazy? Kelly thought. That was putting it mildly. She swallowed the irritation rising in her chest, curled one corner of her mouth, crossed her arms, and turned away in a pout—full brat mode engaged.

"Now, you lot," Kelly announced in the most spoiled voice she could manage, chest puffed out, "stop bothering Big Brother. He's way stronger than any of you and will wipe you off the floor. How dare you think you can fight him? Shoo—go home."

She made sure to sound as arrogant and insufferable as possible. Somewhere along the line she'd grown to enjoy the role; it felt weirdly satisfying.

Misha sneered and glanced toward Jayden, lounging in the distance. "Humph. Don't try to fool me, Kelly. Your coward of a brother used you as bait—couldn't even face us himself. Must be nice protecting him all the time."

"You—how dare you insult Big Brother!" Kelly flailed theatrically, stomping her feet as Cosmic Dust curled and pulsed around her. Inside, though, her mind was ice-cold.

'Idiot,' she thought. 'One look from him and you will be vaporized.'

Derb grabbed Misha's sleeve and shook his head; Misha ground her teeth and turned away. "Fine. We'll go. But don't get cocky—we're only worried about Flora. When she's healed, we'll be back to finish the match. Don't think your tricks will fool us twice."

Finished speaking, Misha clicked her tongue and headed for the door, Flora secured on her back.

Derb didn't follow immediately. She stayed where she was, those unsettling dark-green eyes fixed on Kelly for a long, silent moment.

"You are strong," she said—flat, emotionless. Then she turned and walked away.

Kelly froze.

Her eyes widened, teeth clenched as a wave of mental pressure crashed through her mind. It wasn't praise. It wasn't even a statement.

It was a command.

The words burrowed into her thoughts, forcing belief into her—compelling her to accept that she was strong. Compelling her to trust that strength.

And that was the danger.

Having confidence wasn't the issue. But charging at something that could kill her in seconds just because she'd been forced to believe she could win? That was suicide—disguised as self-trust.

For someone like her, who had seen monsters that could erase her with a thought, blind confidence was simply the same as asking her to kill herself.

"How troublesome," Kelly muttered as the coercion finally dissolved, leaving her mind throbbing.

Kelly watched the girl go, eyes tracking her until she disappeared. Quiet and unassuming? That had been a lie. Now she felt dangerous—silent and lethal. She'd keep her guard up.

She looked up at Jayden. He was still where he'd been, sprawled back with his eyes closed like the world owed him a nap. The sight of him lounging was fraying her nerves.

She wanted him to scream. To suffer. To beg. At night she dreamed of whipping him until he begged her to stop. She'd never admit it out loud, but after meeting Jayden she'd discovered a nasty little sadist buried in her bones. He'd been a terrible influence.

Kelly clicked her tongue and a platform of Cosmic Dust rose beneath her, lifting her up to where he slept. She landed in front of him, face flat, one eyebrow cocked. She fought the urge to look at the fine line of his chest, the stupidly defined abs—he almost never buttoned a shirt, and it was infuriating.

"What are you doing?" she asked, eyes narrowing. "You—cold, unfeeling psychopath—are the last person who should be playing with those girls like it's a hobby."

She bent over him, voice low and dangerous. "I don't give a damn about your business, but getting dragged into your games makes me sick. The thought of dancing to your tune—no. This is the last time I'll fight those bitches to amuse you. Try to force me, and I'll kill you. Or die trying."

She stepped back, expression resetting into ice.

"Oh, and don't bother with the whole 'I'll kill your family' threat anymore," she said flatly. "Touch them, and I'll kill myself. I'll disappear so fast you'll never get another drop of entertainment out of me. Whatever sick amusement you get from my existence—gone."

Jayden opened his eyes with a lazy yawn, the red in his irises glimmering with quiet amusement. Before she could even process the shift, he was standing right in front of her—close enough to steal the air from her lungs. His finger lifted her chin, the other hand sliding around her waist as if she were something that already belonged to him.

Startled, Kelly slammed her palm against his chest with full force, trying to shove him back. He didn't move. Not even an inch.

That was when the worst part hit her—the heat of his body, the sculpted solidity beneath her palm, the slow electric pulse that ran up her arm at the contact. A shiver betrayed her before she could stop it, shame burning her insides as she glared up at him through gritted teeth.

"Get away from me!"

Jayden said nothing. He only leaned closer.

Kelly's heart dropped. Her breath caught. For a split second she thought he was going to—

But his lips never touched her. Instead, his face brushed past hers, his breath warm against her cheek as he inhaled her hair like he was enjoying a scent he had no right to like.

"Has anyone ever told you what you smell like, Kelly?"

His voice brushed against her ear, his lips dangerously close.

Kelly shivered.

"When you get angry in that cute, stubborn way… or when you try to act fearless even though you're terrified," he murmured, tone deepening, amused. "You release this scent. Sweet. Addictive. Something that makes it very, very hard not to take a bite."

His breath warmed her skin. "You smell like… temptation."

Kelly kept her face blank, but inside her pulse was in chaos. She tried not to breathe too loudly, tried not to give him the satisfaction of seeing her fall apart.

He lowered his head to her neck and inhaled slowly. The air from his nose brushed her skin and sent sparks racing down her spine.

"Sto—stop… please," Kelly stammered, fists tightening and loosening uselessly at her sides.

At the sound of her voice—small, shaken—he froze. The hunger faded from his eyes. His expression reset into calm detachment. He slid his arm away from her waist and stepped back, turning his back to her as if nothing had happened. He dropped lazily back into the recliner, eyes closing, relaxed again—as though he hadn't just taken her apart in silence.

Kelly didn't move. She just stood there, body still trembling, watching the monster pretend to sleep.

"Don't worry, my star performer," he said suddenly, eyes still closed, a smile curving into place. "Since you're unsatisfied with such a small stage, I'll give you a bigger one. Something grand. Something like the chaos you made after I abandoned you."

A soft chuckle. "And don't bother threatening me with suicide again. With me here, you won't die even if you try. I still have too many fascinating things I want to see you do."

Kelly didn't answer. Tiny hot tears blurred her vision as she spun and bolted from the training room. She didn't stop until she slammed her door, locked it, and slid down to sit on the floor, back against the wood, knees pulled to her chest.

What was wrong with her — feeling anything for the one person she'd sworn to kill?

A sick, twisted attraction to a psychopath. Pathetic.

The knot in her chest hardened into something colder and sharper. The only thing that made sense now was violence.

Kill him. Maim him. Break him so nothing left of the smug boy could ever touch her again.

She ground her teeth, drew in a long breath, and forced herself to think straight.

"Show system reward," she said.

The familiar blue interface winked into existence.