Chapter 35

"She's drained again," Ferran complained as he sat beside her in bed. "After she just recovered... I knew it was too much, but I brought her here anyway." His shoulders slouched as he reached out for her hand.

"She might've been fine if she didn't have to heal that one," Wolfe gestured toward Kael, sitting on the other side of her bed.

"I saved her! Unlike you," Kael huffed. "Shouldn't taking a poison arrow for her count for something?"

"Tch."

"That's right; I'm the one who saved her. It must kill you, Wolfie dear."

"We knew demons might come out to try to stop her, but how'd it end up being so many?" Wolfe complained. "Unless a certain someone let it slip to his home country that we were headed here."

"As if I would. Or as if I'd need to. I'm not the only one with spies around here."

"Would you two please be quiet? She needs to rest," Ferran said, his eyes never leaving her. "Maybe I should do what Dryden did and transfer some of my powers."

"Wasn't it already chancing things? I don't think His Highness will be happy if we stay here too long," Wolfe said.

"Transfer energy?" Kael hummed as he thought.

"Don't even think about it, Kael," Wolfe growled. "She may have healed your wound, but—"

"And got rid of the poison."

"Yes, and that, but that doesn't mean you've fully recovered."

"Aw, thanks for caring so much." Kael winked at him and held his hand over his heart. "It means so much to me."

"Tch. Why do I bother?" Wolfe shook his head and paced around the room. "We were supposed to head back by tomorrow at latest, but I don't know how long it'll take her to recover."

The door to the bedroom opened. Astrid walked in. "We have prepared a celebration meal for the three of you. Please come along and leave our saint to rest in peace." She ushered them out of the room, down the hall to their dining room with several elongated tables and stained glass lining the outer wall.

"Thank you." Ferran bowed to her before sitting at the dining table beside Wolfe.

"What are the chances a night of rest will be enough for her, and we can head home tomorrow?" Wolfe asked.

"From what I can tell, unlikely. It'll take a few days at least."

"Hey, where'd Kael go?" Wolfe asked, finally noticing his absence.

"We hope you like the feast," Ingrid said as she and Sigrid brought in the dishes and drinks.

"You know, I half expected you to leave me there, injured." Kael smirked, sitting down beside Rika again. "And it'd be hard to blame you." He pulled the scarf off her and touched the mark he had left on her. "I had planned to win you over naturally, but with men surrounding you and my eagerness to get home, I pushed just a bit more than I would've otherwise. Oh well, let's hope this all works out."

Kael sighed and brushed hair out of her face. "I guess that took a lot out of you. I wonder what the quest you failed was... or was this really all from the ritual and healing me?" He trailed a finger down her cheek. "But I passed my quest... I suppose I should help you. It's no fun when you're not responding to me, even if it's just to swat me away like an annoying fly. I know you're having fun with it too, though." Kael chuckled.

He moved from the chair to beside her on the bed. "A little tight, but I prefer it here." He lay down beside her. "I wonder how it works." He took hold of her hand. "I didn't see how they did it last time."

With his eyes closed, he focused on his magic flowing into her. "It was probably something boring and inefficient like this, but there must be a more direct way."

He stared down at her, leaning on his arm beside her, and his eyes landed on her lips. "I wonder... if the sleeping beauty will accept my kiss if it's full of magic?" He smirked, leaned in close, and kissed her on the lips, focusing on his energy flowing into her.

"Mmm, definitely a more enjoyable way of doing this." He snickered and continued. "Hmm, still not enough? Good thing I'm like a magical battery." Kael touched the mark as he kissed her and felt a surge through him. "Whoa, what was that? Electrifying!" He laughed and leaned in again.

"Hmm?" Rika cringed and slowly opened her eyes. "What? Humph!"

Kael sealed her lips with his again.

What the hell?! With a sudden burst of energy, Rika shoved Kael off of her.

"Wow!" Kael wobbled and fell off the bed with a thud. "Ow..."

"W-what were you doing?" Rika sat up and held onto her head. I passed out again... Stupid system failed me at the last moment with... Wait, I was busy healing Kael, wasn't I? She touched her lips, the feel of his still lingering on her, and the mark on her neck warming up. "Is this your weird kink? Kissing people in their sleep? Was that your real plan every time you broke into my room?"

"Aren't you just full of energy all of a sudden?" Kael smirked as he got to his feet and dusted off his behind.

Rika's eyes trailed down him. "You're okay now?"

"Oh? Are you worried about me?" Kael placed his hands on her bed as he leaned towards her.

"You... saved me during the ritual; of course, I'm worried about you, but that doesn't mean I excuse you kissing me in my sleep!" She leaned away from him, worried he'd make another move. Who the hell does that, anyway?!

"You really don't remember what happened to you?"

"I passed out; what of it? What does that have to do with kissing me in my sleep?" She resisted the urge to smother him with a pillow.

"So you remember that part? How are you feeling now?" He leaned in closer, his red eyes boring into hers.

"K-keep your distance, please." She held up her hand. Wait, now that I think of it, shouldn't I be dead tired right now?

He grabbed her wrist and closed his eyes as he kissed the palm of her hand.

"What are you doing now? Let go." Geez, maybe he's just out to kiss me wherever he can!

"Still haven't connected the dots?" Kael asked and yanked her towards him.

"Ack!" Her heart rate spiked as she stared at him from an inch away.

"You were a lot nicer to the boytoy when he shared his power with you. I'm hurt."

"You gave me magic?"

"Yes, of course I did. Why wouldn't I?" He touched the mark on her neck and felt her twitch under his touch. "What else did you think I was doing?"

"Dryden didn't kiss me to share his magic!"

"Yes, for a playboy, he went too chaste. My way is both more efficient and more fun." Kael licked his lips. "If you're in need, I could share some more."

"No, thank you." Rika swallowed hard. "I'm okay now, but... why aren't you bedridden now?" I wonder if Dryden's recovered yet.

"Because I'm stronger than him. Considering I feel perfectly fine, I wonder if I'm stronger than the shy one. I have more magic than you can conceive."

Good to know, I guess, but also terrifying. "Well... thank you for saving me."

"You're welcome, little bunny." Kael smiled, his eyes softening.

"But this still doesn't mean you can kiss me whenever you want! Or touch me whenever you want to!" Rika twisted his hand off of her neck, and attempted to bring him to his knees.

Kael broke free from her grasp, and in a moment, pinned her to the bed.

"Oh... crap..." Rika thought back to her training with Wolfe again and shimmied herself up.

"Not sure what you're planning this time, but I learn fast, so you might want to hold back, since I'm not planning on doing anything to you right now."

"Right now?"

"Well, seeing as I like you, I imagine I'll want to in the future."

A shiver ran down her spine.

"But that can wait for now, since we have company." Kael backed off of her before the door opened.

"I knew it," Wolfe grumbled, finally allowed to leave after stuffing himself with food as fast as he could. "I knew you'd be here, Kael... Rika? You're awake?"

"Yup..." Rika sat up and sighed. "Kael shared his magic with me."

"I see." Wolfe took a deep breath to calm himself and bowed. "Thank you for helping Rika."

Kael's eyebrow cocked up. "Sure thing. Anything for my bunny."

Wolfe's cheek twitched. "She's not yours."

"Isn't she?" He pointed at the mark. "The proof is right there."

"Tch. She didn't give you permission to do that!" Wolfe growled.

"So? The fact that it works speaks wonders."

"Wait, what?" Rika looked between them. "What does it mean?"

"It can only be put on if there are romantic feelings in the first place." Kael smirked.

Rika froze, her jaw agape. Wait, what?! No way! That's not possible. Absolutely not! The system must be broken or something... right? Or maybe he's lying. There's no way it's true! She clenched her fists. Absolutely no way...

Rumble.

"Forget about that. Let's get some food in you, and we can set off in the morning." Wolfe held his hand out to her.

"Okay..." Rika nodded and took his hand.