Sacred Flame: His Enemy, His Mate (BL)-Chapter 73: Deep to care

Kael’s Dreaven

Kain was tense in my arms, his body stiff as he kept staring at the chip on the nightstand like it was going to bite him.

"This isn’t funny," he muttered. "How the hell did it get in your pocket? I kept it in my trousers pocket... I swear... or could you have taken it when you were in my room earlier?"

I exhaled. "No."

"But..." He trailed off, frustration clouding his expression. I could tell he was already overthinking, trying to piece together a reason, blaming himself even if he hadn’t said it yet.

"It happened," I said simply, closing my eyes for a moment. "It’s not going to change anything." After all, what had happened had happened, it’s nothing new, I took the whips as usual for taking an action against him while he had that monstrous smile on.

I exhaled and Kain shot me an incredulous look. "Not going to change anything? Someone went through my stuff, you told me to keep it safe, yet I just..." His voice was sharper now, edged with something close to panic. "And just like that it was gone... I mean no one was in my room. No one should’ve—"

"Then don’t worry about it," I cut in, keeping my voice even. "Since you said no one was in your room, then there’s no point working yourself up over it."

His lips parted like he wanted to argue, but then he hesitated, his fingers curling slightly at his sides. That uncertainty flickered in his eyes again.

I could see the guilt creeping in obviously in the way his brows furrowed just a little. He swallowed, voice lower when he finally spoke.

"I was supposed to keep it safe." His tone was almost bitter. "You told me to, and I just... I don’t even know how I lost it. How could I even..."

I sighed, tightening my hold around his waist, pulling him even closer against me. "It’s fine." I muttered.

"It’s not."

I kissed the back of his shoulder, slow and lingering. It was only then that he stiffened.

"You’re overthinking again."

"I’m not—"

I kissed him again, this time a little higher, near the base of his neck.

His breath hitched.

"Kael."

"Hmm?" I smirked against his skin. "Something wrong?"

He squirmed slightly but didn’t pull away. "You’re doing that on purpose."

I chuckled, my grip firm around him. "Maybe."

Kain let out a soft huff, his face turned away from me. The tips of his ears were already red, the warmth of his skin seeping into mine.

"Come on, sleep," I murmured, given that father must’ve had someone sneak into his room to retrieve it. That was just the kind of man he was.

Kain didn’t move for a while.

Then, in a quieter voice, he asked, "is that okay?"

I tilted my head slightly, catching the way his fingers twitched at his sides. "What?"

"Didn’t you say you shared your bed with no one?"

I let out a small laugh remembering I told him that in Irene’s home, "Didn’t we already share it?" I asked, nudging his waist a little, his breath hitched again.

I could feel the heat radiating from him before I even saw his face, his ears burning red, his posture going rigid. He swallowed, eyes darting away like he was searching for an escape.

"Well..." He shifted awkwardly. "That... that was different."

His voice was softer now, flustered, like he wasn’t sure what to say or do with himself.

I smirked. "Sure."

"Don’t ’sure’ me." he said with a scowl.

I ignored him, pulling him even closer. His heartbeat was steady against mine now, his breathing slower.

I pressed another kiss to his shoulder, just because I could. He shivered, but this time, he didn’t say anything to argue or stop it.

"Go to sleep," I murmured again, softer now.

He hesitated for a moment longer, then finally let out a small sigh. His body relaxed, his defenses lowering.

A few minutes passed. His breathing evened out before he finally moved, trying to get out of my hold, but I didn’t allow it as my hand tightened around his waist then I whispered in his ear, "Right here I mean. I’m going to lay you on the bed when you fall asleep."

He didn’t argue like I thought he would. Although he didn’t relax at first, until his resistance gave out and he eventually relaxed in sleep. The warmth of his body against mine.

I should sleep too. But I didn’t.

Instead, I stayed there, my mind tangled in thoughts I didn’t have answers to.

Kain was warm against me, his breath steadying as sleep slowly took over. I watched him for a moment, his face finally free of tension, his guard lowered in a way I rarely saw.

He cared, he really does, but he has a very twisted way of showing it. Even though he wouldn’t admit it, he still went ahead and bandaged me up.

Before I could stop myself, I leaned down and pressed a light kiss to his forehead.

Then I exhaled, carefully untangling him from myself and laid him down on the bed before I got up. I grabbed my communicator from the nightstand and slipped it into my pocket before heading out.

The base was quiet at this hour, only the hum of distant machinery breaking the silence. Outside, the air was sharp and cold, biting through my shirt as I stepped into the open space beyond the compound.

I pulled out my communicator and dialed a number.

The call connected almost immediately.

"Where’s my part of the deal?" The voice on the other end came impatiently.

I didn’t answer right away. Instead, I let out a slow breath before saying, "The chip is useless now. He has it."

A long pause.

Then, a sharp intake of breath.

"What?" His voice cracked. "No, no—what do you mean he has it? We have a deal alright ? And you said, you promised as long as I gave it to you, you’re going to—"

"I said what I said." My fingers tightened around the communicator. "He must’ve been keeping closer tabs than I thought. And now, even though he doesn’t know how I got my hands on it and who gave it to me yet, I’m sure he definitely must’ve started digging."

"You—" The man on the other end let out a string of curses, his breathing ragged. I could hear movement, hurried footsteps, a door creaking open. He was scrambling around , probably grabbing his things so he could flee and lay low for a while.

"This wasn’t supposed to happen," he hissed. "I did everything you asked, Kael. Everything. Now what about my part? You can’t just—"

"Just lay low for now," I said, cutting him off. My voice was cold, final. "That’s the best thing you can do right now."

A sharp inhale. "I know.. but please, just... tell me."

"Not yet," I repeated, then ended the call.

I blocked his number before he could call back.

For a while, I just stood there, staring into the darkness, listening to my own breathing.

Remembering even when I was dragged onto that chopper, even when I was taken to father’s house to meet him, I had been so sure that I had one thing against my father,

Something that could finally shift the balance.

But now... it turned out he had gotten to it first. Wiped it clean. Made sure I had nothing of it left.

And then, just to twist the knife, he tossed the useless shell back to me with that infuriating smile on his face.

I dragged a hand through my hair, jaw clenching.

He had the upper hand.

At least for now.

But not for long.

Not when the most important piece in this game was lying asleep in my bed.

I returned to my room not long after, closing the door behind me with barely a sound.

My eyes immediately found Kain, still curled up beneath the sheets, his breathing was now coming soft and even.

I stepped closer, careful not to disturb him, and eased myself onto the bed beside him. The mattress dipped slightly under my weight, but he didn’t stir.

For a moment, I just watched him.

His face was relaxed in sleep, his usual sharpness dulled by exhaustion. The furrow in his brow had smoothed out, his lips slightly parted, his chest rising and falling in a steady rhythm.

He looked... peaceful.

I let out a slow breath, dragging a hand over my face.

If only things could stay this simple.

If only he could stay this unaware.

It’ll be just for a little longer.

But I just prayed when the time came... he’d be too deep to care.