Kai did his best to collect his thoughts, but it was impossible not to look at Eyre as prey, ready to be devoured. He heaved with a desire to hold her and before even thinking further ahead, he scooped one hand under her back and pulled her in close. He buried his face in the crevice of her neck, avoiding her gaze at all costs. 

Kai felt Eyre squirming in his grip, but instead of pulling back, he tightened his grip even further to keep her in place. Her whispering pleas felt like muttering noises. There was no consideration for her discomfort. 

He did his best to concentrate on restraining the impulsive desire that tried to force him over the edge. However, amid despair, a sharp pain pulled him back to reality. 

Eyre had gotten a fierce pinching grip on a naked piece of his skin right next to the bullet wound. 

"Argh!" He screamed with bared fangs in a violent retreat. “What was that for!?” he hissed and was more confused than physically hurt.

Eyre's surprise attack had gotten through to Kai and although relieved, she was still nervous. “That’s what I want to know!” she snapped back. She was just as confused as he was, but also really embarrassed. Her cheeks burned red as if tainted by rose petals.

Kai stared at her with a dumbfounded expression. With all the turmoil still tossing his thoughts around, he was oblivious to his mistakes. He had done everything to keep himself on a tight leash for her safety. 

The promise Kai had made, the goal he was striving to achieve all revolved around her survival and he knew for a fact that he would shred her into a million pieces if he let his impulses run wild. When he noticed her flustered glare, he was rendered speechless. There was no excuse for these actions, and he was not even going to try and defend it. The silence only made things worse until her soft voice shattered the void. 

“I’m sorry,” she said. 

Kai sighed and lowered his gaze while pinching the bridge of his nose. He was at a loss with himself and could not blame her for anything, but that did not seem to make it any easier on her part. 

Eyre was still confused and bit her lip before she spoke again. “What happened?” she asked.

What happened? would she understand even if he tried to explain? He highly doubted it. He did not want her to panic over his lack of control. She might as well believe that it had been intentional from the beginning.  “Why? Scared of what I might do to you?” He sent her a smug face pretending to have it all under control, like a dancing farce to keep her on her guard. Though he already knew it would not last forever.

Eyre bit her lip again and remained silent. 

Kai scratched the tip of his nose before he also looked away. “Rest up. We’ll leave before the sun comes up.” his words seemed more like a command. 

Eyre found his demand extremely confusing. How was she supposed to rest up in a house with a dead body?

Kai got out of bed and turned to look at her when he heard fabric ruffling behind him. She had turned over on the side, giving him the cold shoulder. His expression softened from the relief of avoiding confrontation. He stuck to his promise by sitting right next to her throughout the entire night. However, something still kept nagging him. He finally understood part of what she had had to deal with, long before they even met. His encounter with Nathaniel was no trivial matter and although he knew nothing about manners and customs, it was not hard to imagine the complications that would follow the events of tonight.

Kai was not fond of her quick attachment to him, still, there was something about it that filled up an unknown void within him. He wanted to dismiss the voice that kept nudging him, but he was too entertained to ignore it. He leaned up against the bed frame pillar at the foot end of the bed. His gaze lingered in watch over her, simply waiting for time to pass. He pulled his legs into a crossed meditating pose and crossed his arms likewise. 

Just how was he supposed to deal with the corpse? He let out a troubled sigh. If they were to leave Nathaniel’s body inside the house it would at least hide the sight and smell long enough for them to escape. He was not the type to leave any trails behind, but he also did not want to drag her through the experience of disposing of a corpse.

***

When dawn approached, Kai walked up right next to her and placed a hand on her shoulder. “Eyre?” he called out to her in a stern manner. It took him a while before she came to. “It’s time to leave,” he grumbled and backed off to give her room to get out.

“Already?” she yawned and looked at him with a displeased grimace. 

Kai sighed impatiently. He wanted them out of the town as fast as possible. 

Eyre stretched and got out of bed.

“Pack lightly, we are travelling on foot,” Kai said and remained standing with crossed arms, leaning up against the bed frame pillar. 

Eyre turned around to look at him. “Where are we going?” 

“I’m taking you to the next town.” he dismissed and ushered her to get her things.

Eyre stepped over to the dresser and grabbed a bag. When she finally looked back at him, she saw how his shirt had been completely tarnished on the side during the fight.

She walked up to him and placed a gentle hand on his forearm. “Come with me,” she said and took him by the hand, pulling him down the corridor to her father’s bedroom before she let go.

Kai stood at the door almost paralyzed and glanced at the palm of his hand not knowing what to make of her gesture. 

“Here!” She pulled out one of her father’s white shirts, a vest and a long coat. “You can use these until we get your shirt fixed up,” she added with a warm smile.

Kai was speechless as he ran a hand over the torn fabric on his shirt and realised her intentions. He cleared his throat and stepped closer to the bed. 

“I’ll go pack the rest while you get changed,” she said and turned towards the door.

Only a split second later she felt her hand in his grasp. 

“Stay where I can see you,” he demanded.

Eyre froze up on the spot at his request until he let go of her again. 

“Turn around” he whispered and without a word she turned around pulling her hands together in a nervous fidgety motion.

It was an odd situation for her and by logic, it was not even necessary for her to stay behind like this. She felt the heat rise to her cheeks at the mere thought of him changing clothes right behind her back. The sound of fabric ruffled with every movement and it was impossible not to think of the visuals.