Page 39 of Broken By The Devil

“But, Kade… what if I killed him. Everyone saw.” She cries.

I cup her face with both hands, not caring who witnesses it, and wipe away her tears.

“I will deal with this. Go with Cara… please.” I nod at Cara and she takes Emilia off towards the woods. The bastard doesn’t get to die now, not yet. He will die when I’m good and ready.

EMILIA

Iwas so blinded by rage; I couldn’t stop myself. He called me his pet, and I completely lost control. It was like I left my body and let the darkness take over. I’ve killed him. It’s over. I feel relief for the first time in thirteen years. I can breathe, my lungs can freely take in air. I smell the flowers in the forest and the damp earth. It’s like all of my senses are flooding back to me.

I can’t celebrate. My future has now been taken from me. Everyone saw me. The panic is slowly building back up in my chest.

“Hey, just breathe, you can do this. We don’t know anything yet.” Cara tries to simmer the panic.

“Cara, I killed him.” I sob. Not through regret, but through sadness at not being able to live my life now. Not being able to live free. I was so stupid thinking this would end well. I should have known going into the pit with him wasn’t a good idea.

“We don’t know that. Look Cass is coming, he’ll know what’s going on.” Cara gestures towards Cass who is running full pelt towards us.

He hunches over and puts his hands on his knees, trying to catch his breath.

“He’s not dead Em. You didn’t kill him.” He pants.

I never thought I would feel relief for not killing the devil that haunts me, but that’s exactly what I feel. He can’t die yet. I couldn’t even claim self-defense if I wanted to. There were too many witnesses to discount that theory.

“Kade wants to see you, right now, he’s going out of his mind.” He continues.

“Does he know about the ring?” I query.

“I don’t think so, but he definitely has suspicions we’re hiding something. He saw you in pain down there, he’s going to have questions,” Cass explains.

“Great,” I huff.

We all walk back in the camp’s direction. Every single person we pass stares at me. I know horror when I see it. They’re scared of me. I let the darkness in, and it took control. Shame. The feeling is overwhelming, I look down at the ground whilst walking towards the main tent when I feel a hand tilt my head up.

“You. Don’t. Bow. To. Anyone,” Kade declares.

I love this man.

I’m being led into the main tent, Cyrus already there, Cass and Cara following behind. Cyrus smiles as he sees me.

“I’m proud of you, Wildcat, although you could have left him all of his teeth.” He chuckles. Shit. I knocked his teeth out.

“Erm… Wildcat?” Kade asks.

“Seems everyone has a nickname for me around here.” I roll my eyes and take a seat in one of the fold away chairs. My body sore and aching. The shocks have to be causing some damage to my body, my chest and arm tingling. I may have destroyed his watch, but it still shocks me. The only other theory that comes to mind is, it triggers when I’m in a heightened state. Usually when I’m with Kade.

Kade kneels in front of me, concern written all over his face. Everyone’s eyes widen at the image of their sergeant kneeling.

“Are you alright?” He asks and I nod slowly with a small empathetic smile. He leans into me so close I feel his breath on my neck, sending chills down every nerve in my body.

“I didn’t think I could want you more, but somehow, you look even hotter with blood all over you.” He whispers.

Doc walks into the tent taking off his blood stained gloves, diverting my attention before my blood pressure has a chance to rise. Kade springs up to stand, and I follow.

“He’s got a broken nose, which I’ve set, a few missing teeth, which he is very upset about by the way, some bruising, and a swollen eye socket. But I think his ego has taken a bigger hit if I’m honest,” Doc announces.

Cass chuckles, “I think he looks better than he did before.” I can always count on him to lighten the mood.

“He wants to see Emilia,” Doc states.