Sacred Flame: His Enemy, His Mate (BL) Chapter 8: You get to keep him

Kain Locke

A ga it was.

However,

I was aware that, wary or not, this monster-like man has no qualms about taking what he likes with force.

And If it weren't for the state of ergency, perhaps I would be out of this city by now, and I wouldn't have to face the sa set of dark-eyed n gazing down at right now.

"So what if I agreed to go with you?" My gaze hardened on him, and I swallowed the bitter lump in my throat. "Will you take to your father so he can kill for betraying him? Or is he going to butcher my body into hundreds of pieces and throw it into the ocean like he did to the rest?"

"What if I say I have no interest in any of what you just stated?" He curled his lips with a little smirk. "I have no business in whatever might be there between you and my father, but the mont you get yourself entangled in my world, it's normal I intervene. Like you know, this world is a world filled with power struggles, seemingly a place where the strongest dominates the weak. I'm sure you know that much. After all, you've been in this ga too long."

That's true, a biased system that was normalized in a way it has been like that since no one could rember. I an, if life was fair, why would he be in a place I live right at this mont as though he's the king of the world?

"Why are you suddenly here then?" I demanded.

He studied for a brief mont. "Why am I here?" he repeated, as if the question itself amused him. "What if I say there's going to be a huge internal battle in the imdiate future and I need soone in the middle of that battle, soone I can trust to survive?" He added, clasping his hands together.

"It's funny the way you talk about trust and survival." I said, and he chuckled slightly.

"Maybe it is, but you have no problem surviving all these years. And even if it wasn't for the fact that I ran into you on the train, I doubt I'm ever going to locate you."

Of course he eventually will, I was not unaware of that, given that my luck is pretty unimpressive. It's really worse to an extent that I'll easily pick out the only empty box among millions filled with presents. It has always been like that.

I swallowed hard, staring at his calm face. "So you think I'll follow you simply because you found and I sohow survived all this while?"

"I gave you a choice, Kain. Now it's up to you to decide." He answered lightly.

He called that a choice?

That was more like a gun to my head and a knife to my throat—both are deadly and only take one single move.

What he gave wasn't a CHOICE. It never was. "So what if I say yes?" I forced out, my voice low but steady despite the storm raging inside . "Even if I agreed, how do you plan to get us out of the city when it's been locked? It's not like there's an advanced technology that could teleport," at least none that I have heard of.

His lips curved into a slow smile, not one of kindness, but confidence. "You think a lockdown stops ?" He leaned forward, his eyes feverishly steely, keeping his gaze on as if he could read what I had in mind. "For most people, sure. But even as I speak, our ride is already above this house, waiting. So you only need to say the word, and we leave."

Sighing exasperatedly, I turned towards the direction Brian walked away with Felix. "I know you're not here because your father asked you to bring ," I said, pausing for a while. "And I'm sure it wasn't because you're concerned about my son. You can live all these years without him, so you can't just co in here and start using him as an excuse."

It was pretty obvious in the way he speaks that the one who matters to him wasn't Brian, but . And whatever he was planning, it was also clear that he wouldn't share it with . So there's no point trying to beat about the bush. "I don't know what you're planning or why you decided to get into the plans, but I left this life once. And if getting back into it is going to protect people I love, I have to know how long I'm going to get myself involved in this shit and if it eventually won't cost the very people I'm doing this for."

He furrowed his eyebrows, listening to everything I had to say. The mont I added the last of my concerns, the frown on his face eased into a sowhat soft smile as he tilted his head forward, resting his chin on his palms, his elbows resting on his lap. "Six months," he said in a low voice. "After that, you're free to do whatever you want. No strings attached."

"And my son?" I asked, fully aware that now is the ti to lay out my terms, or I won't get the chance again.

"He'll be provided accommodation within the six months, a hired caretaker to look after him whenever you're not around. And you can only see him once or twice a week. Either you take that, or we can go with my second option."

Killing Felix? No. Seeing Brian once or twice a week, I can still endure a little for the whole six months. But can I really survive it?

I've grown used to the boy in a way that staying away from him is like ripping away a vital part of myself, but is it really worth Felix's death?

No is also the answer. Therefore, "Agreed. And one more thing, to be clear, I get to keep Brian once the six months are over."

"He's yours to keep. Once it's over, you get to keep him," he answered with a smile and stood up at once, flashing a very smile, one that I would've thought was genuine if the person flashing it wasn't Kael.

"I will be outside. You have thirty minutes to get your things." He said, glancing around. "That's if you have any, and I expect all those weak farewells to be done within the thirty minutes. Anything more than that, you wouldn't like knocking on this door once I'm out." He smiled and walked towards the door.

Grabbing the doorknob, he gave a final look at the spot where I remained frozen. Then he shook his head. "And you have a very bad way of accepting your visitors. An offer of coffee or tea would've gone a long way."

He didn't wait for a response as he stepped outside right after shutting the door behind him, it was only then that my shoulders dropped and I slumped on the sofa, my limbs softening like a deflated balloon, as though all strength had been sucked away from them.

Soon after, a set of footsteps approached the sofa where I tightly shut my eyes and sprawled over like a lazy starfish.

It's Felix for sure. There's no way Kael would be able to co inside once he was outside because as long as the door was clicked shut, no one can open it from outside, unless it was done from inside or you had the pass key card—each one provided for every resident of a certain apartnt or studio.

"He's gone?" sure enough, it was Felix.

I pried my eyes open as I t his gaze. He was standing in front of ,

"Where is Brian?" I asked firstly noticing he isn't with him. "And yes, he's out of here." I answered, nodding towards the door.

"Um... Brian is playing in my room," he pursed his lips, as if he was hesitant to speak. "Are you certain that man is really a friend? I an, while he was here, the atmosphere was kind of intense... I was considering calling the cops, but I don't want to overstep boundaries..."

A friend? I chuckled. "You can say that." I answered him. "We used to know each other." I took a short pause to process how I'm going to put it down. "Umm... Felix, it's been two months, yeah?" I raised my eyebrows, shifting uncomfortably on the sofa.

"Yeah?" He nodded slowly.

"It was just like yesterday when you took in without any idea of who I am, what I am, or how I ended up in this city. You must've had your guesses, but you keep it to yourself, choosing to respect my privacy over intruding. And I admire you for it. To you, I might just be a helpless Oga in need, which is partly true. But before anything of this, before Brian, I got myself into so deep shit..."

"Is that why he was here? Did you offend him in any kind of way? We can get the cops, Kain... I'm sure he won't be able to do any harm behind bars..." He interrupted before I could finish my explanation.

"It doesn't work like that, Felix. If it did, I would've done exactly that several years ago. You see, Felix, you're a really nice person. And it's just two months I know, but it was the best and most peaceful I've had since I can't recall."

"What are you trying to say..." His lips trembled as he rushed over to my side, his hand grabbing my shoulder as he shook slightly, as though that's going to change what was about to co out of my mouth.

I gently brushed his hand from my shoulders. "I have to go," I said simply and stood up to leave, but he grabbed my hand.

"No... no... no, Kain... you can't go. We can still do soth..." he fumbled with his words.

I shook my head... we are in a lawful galaxy where those with power escape the sa laws easily. Not like it wasn't supposed to be applicable to them, but power and influence simply placed them above the law.

Would Felix still want to involve the cops if he knew the very person who'd just stepped out of this room was the one and only son of Caspian Dreaven, the most feared, dangerous, notorious, and powerful Alpha who has not only influence and power everywhere around the Galaxy but was also dreaded by the cops themselves?

I peeled his hand off mine and sniffled back my sobs. "I have to go. Please don't stop ," I repeated as I hurriedly walked away before he could stop .

Grabbing my already packed box ca easy as I went to take Brian, who was busy playing in Felix room.

"Mama... you promised we're going to stay here... I don't want to leave the kindergarten... Mia or Felix, please mama." He pleaded as we walked past Felix, who stood at the door with a grim face.

It breaks my heart hearing his pleas, knowing I couldn't do anything about it.

But all this was only for six months.

Six months, I repeated in my mind as I opened the door. Felix didn't attempt to stop as I thought he would, which was a great relief.

As the door shut behind , I knew all I could call peaceful was being left behind, and I was plunging myself into the world of chaos once more.

But just as I stepped outside, I saw an automatic flying car hovering right in front of the house like a chopper.

And he stood there, tall and commanding, with dark, tousled hair that frad a face too perfect to be real. His eyes glinting with a mix of both danger and allure, and the faint smirk on his lips promised trouble, the kind of trouble you couldn't resist.

He glanced at his wristwatch and mouthed, "Five minutes more, and you will have to have the door reinstalled." He said with a smile, and I gritted my teeth.

Damned bastard.

"Oh, and one more thing," he said, his smirk widening. "Before we leave, I need you to know that your decision right now isn't the only thing that determines whether Brian lives."

My blood ran cold as his words settled in, and the world seed to tilt. "What do you an by that?" I questioned with my heart pounding loudly in my chest.

He didn't answer, only opened the car door with an infuriatingly casual gesture. "Get in, Kain," was all he said.