Sacred Flame: His Enemy, His Mate (BL) Chapter 98: It hurts

Kain Locke

I stepped out of the truck, my legs shaking as I did so, the cold breeze hitting my skin like tiny needles. The place we were in looked completely deserted, barren, dry, and quiet. No buildings. No signs. Just dirt, rocks, and a couple of rusted-out trailers half-buried in weeds.

I glanced around, hoping, praying, to find sothing. A road. A weapon... Anything that serves as protection. But there was nothing useful. No escape plan in sight.

I adjusted Brian in my arms and dragged myself a few ters forward, stopping near one of the old trailers. There was a log of wood just beside it. I lowered myself onto it slowly, careful not to jostle him. He was still sleeping, his tiny fingers curled into my shirt.

Behind , I heard Audrey climb into the truck. A mont later, he ca out carrying a gas can.

They weren’t kidding about burning it.

Audrey drove the vehicle forward a short distance. Then he got out, uncapped the gas, and began pouring it over the truck with zero hesitation.

Alec raised his arm and aid his gun at it.

The shot was precise. One bullet, and the truck was engulfed in flas.

The fire roared to life, crackling and spitting, eating the tal in seconds. I turned away and shielded Brian’s face with my hand. He didn’t need to see that.

Alec walked past us without a word and disappeared into the trailer behind . When he ca back, he was holding two cans of food.

"You and the boy must be hungry," he said, holding one out to . "I checked the expiry date. Still edible. You can have this one. I’ll share the other with Audrey."

I didn’t move. Didn’t speak. My eyes stayed on the dirt at my feet.

I didn’t trust them. Not even myself at this instance.

A mont passed before Audrey’s voice cut in, sharp and annoyed.

"If he’s not taking it, then give it here," he said, walking over. "I’m not about to share canned beans with you while the other can’s being willingly rejected."

He reached for the tin like he ant it.

"Audrey!" Alec snapped,

Audrey rolled his eyes but backed off with a dramatic sigh.

Alec ran a hand through his purple hair, his expression tired as he looked at . Not angry. Just... drained. He crouched down a little, leveling his gaze with mine.

"We’re not your enemy," he said, his tone softer now. "Believe , if you knew the kind of ss we’re in just having you here, you’d understand this wasn’t done lightly."

He held out the can of food again, not forcing it, just offering.

"Look... why would I risk my neck to rescue you only to hurt you afterward? Doesn’t that sound ridiculous to you? No matter how you twist it," he continued, "you still need to eat. Even if you don’t want to, at least give the boy sothing. He’s just a kid. He doesn’t deserve to suffer for whatever happened."

Brian stirred a little in my arms, maybe sensing the tension in my body, maybe just hungry.

Alec’s eyes dropped to him for a second, then back to .

"Also..." He hesitated, then spoke more firmly, "We need answers. Real ones. You can’t keep shutting down like this. I know you don’t trust us, but we just burned a goddamn truck for you. You think that’s sothing we can undo? Like Audrey said... this is already a suicide. At least let us know if it’s worth it."

He stood up slowly, letting the can rest on the log beside .

"Take your ti. But not too long. We’re sitting ducks out here."

Then he walked off, back toward the trailer, leaving with the food... and a head full of questions.

****

"So... you an this kid is really yours?" Audrey blinked at , the curiosity evident in his voice, at least he wasn’t looking at like he’d chop into pieces anymore.

I gave a silent nod.

We were inside one of the old containers now, the sa one Alec had brought the canned food from earlier. Honestly, it wasn’t bad. Cramped, sure, but it had this oddly cozy feel to it. It turned out they ca to deliver so things to Caspian and happened to stumble on our situation.

There was a small bed, a few cupboards, a sink, even a beat-up mini cooler in the corner that probably ran out of gas ages ago. Still, better than a cell and than that mansion.

"Give it a rest, Audrey," Alec called lazily from where he lay flat on his back, arms tucked behind his head, that posture of his reminding of him. I don’t even want to think of him. "You already heard that back at the mansion." Alec mumbled

"I know... but it’s hard to believe he... I an look at his face.. doesn’t he look too innocent and complacent to soone who’ll actually take a dick, no less carry soone’s child?"

Alec shakes his head, And I wasn’t interested in giving an answer to that so I turned toward him, my voice barely a whisper. "Why... Did you guys help ?" Most importantly Alec, considering he’d told the base is all he had left, doesn’t this an throwing away who he is? For ?

Alec didn’t move, but his eyes opened. He looked at the ceiling for a beat, then said, "I might be a lot of things... an asshole reckless, maybe a douchebag sotis, but I don’t sit back and let my friend die."

"Friend?" I repeated under my breath.

Audrey rolled his eyes with a dramatic sigh. "As if," he muttered, dragging his hand down his face. Then his gaze shifted to Brian, who was curled up under a blanket in the corner, sleeping soundly for once.

Audrey blinked again, slower this ti. "He’s cute..." Then, in a quieter voice, "And holy mother of... he really looks like..." He cut himself off fast, pressing his lips together.

There was a pause, even as he ran a hand through his pink hair and looked away. And when he eventually looks at , "Honestly, I don’t want to be here. And to be sincere If this had been up to ? You’d probably still be rotting in that underground cell. Maybe worse."

He chuckled dryly, then sighed. "But hey, I like breathing okay? And if Alec didn’t know this place like the back of his hand, our blood would probably be soaking so concrete floor right now."

I didn’t say anything. Just pulled the blanket higher over Brian’s body and stared at the rusted wall.

I still didn’t know if I was safe, but I still played along at least.

"So let get this straight," Audrey said, frowning. "You’re in so kind of serious trouble with Caspian? And now he wants your kid for– what, sothing you don’t even know? And that sadistic bitch is working with him?"

His words were sharp, but for once, not mocking. Just... trying to piece it all together.

I squeezed my eyes shut for a mont, the pressure building behind them almost too much to bear. Then I gave a short nod. "Yes."

"That’s enough questions for tonight." Alec’s voice ca from the side he laid.

Audrey muttered sothing under his breath but didn’t argue.

Alec sighed. "We should get so rest. We’re heading out tomorrow, and I don’t need to tell any of you, life as a deserter isn’t going to be a damn picnic."

No one argued with that.

I pulled the folded blanket over myself and curled up beside Brian, who was still sound asleep, unaware of the storm swirling around him.

I shut my eyes, hoping for peace, but it didn’t co.

Because even now, in the quiet, my mind kept circling back to him.

I hate him.

I hate him so fucking much.

...Right?

Then why does it hurt this bad?

I turned away from the others, biting my lip hard to keep it all in as the tears squeezed out of my eyes.

It hurts.

It still hurts.

It hurts in my chest.