Chapter Nine
Tori's POV
It had been a week since Nicole treated my wounds, and just when I thought I had a moment to breathe, Kael sent for me.
I stood in front of his door longer than necessary, my fingers curling slightly at my sides as I tried to steady myself. I didn't know why he wanted to see me, and that alone was enough to make my thoughts spiral.
A maid pushed the door open, pulling me out of my head, and I stepped in. The first thing I noticed was that he wasn't alone.
My steps slowed slightly as my eyes landed on the three of them, Kael Nicole and Riven. The three brothers.
The fact that they were in the same place at the same time was just…
It felt suffocating in a way I couldn't explain, like the air had suddenly gotten heavier, harder to breathe in. I tried taking in a deep sigh.
They all looked at me, their presence filling the room in a way that made it impossible to ignore them.
They all looked good and dangerous. If they were in the world I came from, I bet they'd be some A-list celebrity just because of how good they looked.
They'd have women gushing over them. Nicole and Kael has similar features unlike Riven who looked completely different.
I swallowed, forcing myself to lift my chin, refusing to let them see even a hint of nervousness.
"I called you here so I could introduce you to my brother," Kael said, his tone calm, almost casual. "I don't think you've properly met."
My gaze shifted slightly toward Riven. Lord!
How could someone look like that and still be such a menace? It didn't make sense, and yet there he was, leaning back like he owned the room, a smirk already playing on his lips as his eyes settled on me.
"Greetings, Alpha Riven," I said, lowering my head slightly in respect.
"Hold on," Kael's voice cut in, pulling my attention back to him. "Something is off."
My brows furrowed slightly in confusion. Off? What did he mean by that?
Before I could even ask, he stood up and walked toward me, his steps slow but deliberate. He was like he wanted to sniff me.
"What do you mean?" I asked carefully.
He stopped right in front of me, his eyes scanning my face like he was trying to figure something out. Then his hands came up, resting on my shoulders, firm enough to keep me in place.
"You didn't get treatment," he said slowly, his eyes narrowing. "So how are you almost healed?"
My heart skipped. Was it that obvious? How could he get to notice that?
I glanced at Nicole instinctively, but his expression gave nothing away, and that only made things worse.
"I… I don't understand," I started, but I didn't get to finish.
"Who helped you?" Kael's voice rose sharply, his grip tightening slightly. "Was it someone else? You don't want to talk about it?"
"I did."
Nicole's voice cut through the tension before it could build further.
I exhaled softly, relief slipping through me before I could stop it. Thank goodness he stepped in because I didn't know what else to say.
"She was in pain," he added, his tone steady. "I helped her."
I had been ready to lie for him.
"The kind of help that almost led to a kiss?" Riven added casually, nudging Nicole's arm like he had just said something harmless. A smile crept onto his face while he mistakenly maintained eye contact.
Oh! He was a dick too.
My breath caught. What the hell?.The room went quiet instantly.
I didn't dare look at Kael immediately, but I could feel it. He seemed like he was angry, but there was only one way to figure that out.
I think I should at least say something in order to make peace, right?
And before I could react, I felt his grip around my wrist and it was pretty much tight.
I barely had time to process it before he pulled me out of the room, his grip unrelenting as I struggled to keep up with his pace. My steps stumbled slightly, but he didn't slow down, didn't say a word until we reached my room.
The door shut behind us, and it was just the two of us.
He let go of my wrist, but his eyes stayed on me, intense in a way that made my chest tighten.
"What?" I asked, trying to keep my voice steady despite everything. "Are you angry?"
He didn't respond. That only annoyed me more.
"Weren't you the one who said I should be able to satisfy all of you?" I continued, my brows furrowing as I stepped closer. "So what changed now? Are you starting to get jealous?"
He took in a deep breath, refusing to say anything. Obviously, I don't think he will be able to talk.
I let out a frustrated breath, running a hand through my hair as a dull ache began to settle in my head. Another competition was happening tomorrow and now wasn't the right time to worry about it.
Everything was piling up at once, and I hated how it made me feel.
"What if I sleep with you?" The words slipped out before I could stop them. The room went silent immediately, and I bet he wasn't expecting such a question from me.
I felt it the moment it left my mouth, the way the air shifted, the way his expression changed ever so slightly, something darker flickering in his eyes. I was very sure he loved the question which I had just asked.
Shit.
Why did I say that?
His gaze didn't leave mine as he took a step closer. Then another. The atmosphere felt weird immediately or maybe I shouldn't have asked.
My breath caught somewhere in my chest as his hands found my waist, slow and deliberate, like he was giving me enough time to pull away.
"I wasn't serious," I muttered quickly, my voice quieter now. "I was just asking—"
I didn't get to finish.
Because his hand moved from my waist to my jaw, tilting my face up slightly before his lips crashed against mine.
For a second, my mind went completely blank.
Like he had been holding something back and finally let it slip.
My fingers curled instinctively against hischest, my body reacting before my thoughts could catch up.
His grip tightened slightly at my waist, pulling me closer as the kiss deepened, slower this time, but no less consuming.
I shouldn't be doing this with me. Oh my God! What the hell came over me?
My brows furrowed slightly as I tried to steady myself, my breath uneven, my heart racing in a way that didn't make sense.
This wasn't supposed to happen. I was supposed to push him away or just do something.
His lips moved against mine with a control that made it impossible to ignore the tension between us, the unspoken things neither of us had addressed.
My fingers tightened slightly, gripping him as if that would ground me somehow.
He pulled back slowly, his eyes still locked in with mine, like he was reluctant to break it.
My chest rose and fell as I tried to catch my breath. His expression had changed.
I kissed him. He got what he wanted.