? Khole ?

It was several hours later that he returned with the softest knock ever, I almost thought I'd imagine it but thankfully he was standing there with some more food.

"C-Cade..." I mumble, noticing that he had a bruise above his eye and his lip was split. My heart hurt for the man, knowing he was hurt because of me when I opened the door more for him. "Come in-n." He seemed troubled at the thought of coming inside but came in still.

I closed the door quickly, locking it behind me when watching him place the two plates on the desk once again. He looked awkward standing there and I felt myself grow flustered.

This was weird...

I hurried to grab his knife before handing it back to with a small smile, hoping I'd get one in return.

"H-Here's your kn-knife." I stutter, holding it out to him as he stared at for a moment before giving me a strained smile. He shook his head, making my fingers curl around the blade. The touch nearly made me sigh in pleasure but I remained silent and bite at my lower lip.

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He wants me to keep the knife, but why?

Does he think more mean people will return?

I watched as he opened his mouth like he was going to say something and I prayed he would. I've been thinking about how lovely his voice would be and if he would try to speak with me, but he closed his mouth looking aggravated.

"What is it-t?" I ask curiously, hoping to hear the silky voice I'd dreamt of.

He glanced around the room, reaching for the notepad and wincing when moving too fast making me realize he was more hurt than I thought. I stopped him for a moment being bold and steering him into the chair I've sat in at many times.

"St-stay. I will t-tend to your bruises." I placed my hands on both of his shoulders, suddenly wishing that his long sleeves shirt was off.

When I knew he'd remain sitting down, I hurried to the bathroom and grabbed a rag and a bowl. I filled the bowl with warm water from the sink before rummaging through the cabinets for some kind of bandaid or gauze.

Though I wasn't sure if he'd want some princess band-aids, that was all I had so he'd have to put up with it.

I walked back into the room, moving the plates of food and placing the heavy bowl beside him along with the box of princess band-aids. He was slumped against the chair, holding onto his stomach as if it hurt the most making me gnaw on my bottom lip.

Should I... Should I tell him to remove his shirt so I can see what is hurting him?

"C-Cade," I mumble, making him open his dark eyes and stare at me with a tired look. "I-Is it okay if-f I dress your injuries?" I ask him, not wanting to touch him with his permission which is strange because not even days ago I was frightened of all men and touches.

Not that I wasn't, but I wasn't afraid of his touches or him.

He protected me.

Cade pointed to the notepad as I scrambled to grab it and hand it back to him. I was curious about what he was writing since I asked a yes or no question.

He handed me back the notepad when I read his worries and smiled at him. He didn't want me feeling compelled to help him because of what happened earlier.

He's so sincere...

"I-I want to help," I assure him, taking the soft rag and dipping it in the warm water and leaning forward to clean his face from dirt and spots of blood that I knew belonged to the man from earlier.

He closed his eyes, looking to enjoying this as I grew more confident and brushed his hair out of his face. I could tell that he liked it shorter but given everything happening, he probably hasn't been able to find the time to get a hair cut.

His hair was soft underneath my fingertips and I pushed it away from his face so I could brush the rag over the bruise he got. He flinched from the touch, his eyes clenching shut as I mumble an apology and rinsed the rag in the bowl.

I stared at him for a moment, the image of him hovering over the man implanted in my head but it doesn't mean that he scared me. I was more shocked that he defended me so vigorously.

No one has in my life.

I returned to dabbing the rag on his face, not wanting him to catch me staring at him. He remained still for me as I cleaned up to dirt and grime, hoping I was hurting my protector.

"C-Cade? Would you like m-me to clean the injury on your s-stomach?" I ask him, not stuttering nearly as much since I was growing a little more confident around him. Happy he was enjoying this as much as I was.

He opened his eyes, the darkness that was in them before gone and leaving the soft black color. I never thought that the color black would have another meaning other than darkness, but it so does.

The soft look he was giving me made my belly flutter while he grabbed the notepad and wrote down his thoughts. He handed me the notepad once I slipped the rag back into the bowl of dirty water.

So he didn't actually get hurt, just kicked in the stomach?

Such a disappointment... I won't be able to see his-

"I-I'd still like t-to make sure it's okay," I tell him, wanting nothing more than to see his chest and of course the bruise as well. He nodded, unsure but standing up and grabbing the hem of his shirt.

Glorious skin.

He had dark tan skin that revealed his six-pack and large broad shoulders. I would have drooled at the sight of him, but the sight of the deep purple bruise on the side of his stomach had me frowning.

"Sit-t please," I mumble as he sat down and watched me curiously. I wasn't sure what I was doing but I wanted to make it better for him somehow. "W-What can I do t-to help make it-t feel better?" I ask him, staring down at him. Our eyes connected while a blush ran up on my cheeks and made me look away quickly.

He's so darn attractive...

There was a knock on the door making both of us groan in irritation. We both looked at each other, chuckling at our similar thoughts before he stood up and walked over to the door.

He was always quick to beat me to the door.

I hurried behind him as he opened to door.

That was before a loud snarl sounded and the door flying open with Nava tackling him down on the ground.

???

"Sorry, Cade. I didn't know what you guys were doing." Nava apologized once again as I softly pressed a clean rag to his forearm. He was glaring daggers at her but didn't move, not wanting me to stop cleaning his scratch marks.

"I-I was addressing h-his wond-ds." I stutter, keeping my eyes focused on his arm while he continued glaring at her with everything he has. Nava's mate, Levi, was beside her with a wide grin that only seemed to anger Cade more.

I didn't like him in here and Cade knew this the moment he entered, hence why Cade had a protective hand on my waist. It was uncomfortable to have Levi in here, but if it encourages Cade to hold onto me in such a way he was welcomed at any time.

"Don't be a baby. Nava didn't do nearly as much damage as Faye and High Priestess Dawn did earlier." Levi chuckles when I looked at Cade confused.

"F-Faye and High P-Priestess Dawn-n hurt him?" I ask, not even knowing since I had assumed that the two people from earlier caused damage to him.

"Levi. It's not-"

"Yes. They punished him for harming fellow witches. Though he got away with just a few bumps and bruises as it looks like." Levi answers me as Nava and Cade frowned at him deeply. I stared down at Cade, now remembering that I didn't see these injuries on his face from the people earlier.

Faye isn't a good person...?

"I guess we should leave. I just wanted to drop off some clothes for you." Nava says, shoving her mate out of the bedroom and giving me a strained smile.

The door closed behind them when I stared down at Cade who was clearly avoiding my gaze. I felt horrible for his bruises, it seems like he keeps getting hurt because of me...

He tightened his hold on my waist when I looked back at him and saw he was looking at me now. Our eyes held contact and I had a feeling he was trying to say something without writing anything down or speaking a word.

"Am I h-hurting you by being close w-with you?" I ask him, hoping that I wasn't placing him in harm's way because of people who do not like me. He stared at me, his brow bending as he shook his head and smiled for the first time since our breakfast earlier.

His smile made me feel slightly better about the situation, but I still worried about the bruises he's gotten.

Though I felt the urge to kiss the hell out of him with everything I was feeling for him.

I flicked my gaze to his lips then back to his eyes, he remained staring at me though and I felt myself placing both my hands on his shoulders. Boldly, I leaned down and pressed my lips on his bruised ones.

He didn't move as I flinched away, clearly embarrassed and ashamed that I kissed him while covering my mouth with both of my hands. I backed away from him, pushing his hand off my waist.

"I-I'm so sorry!" I yell, avoiding eye contact with him while tucking my hair behind my ear. "I-I thought-t th-that it-t was o-okay! I-"

Cade grabbed both of my hands, wrapping them around his neck when running his hand in my hair. He stared down at me with a small smirk that told me he thought my nervousness was funny.

"Cade..." I mumble as he held my head, forcing me to watch him as he leaned down and pressed his lips against mine this time. His lips were soft on mine while I ran my hand in his hair and held him there.

Even though this was my first kiss, it was the most magical one I could have ever wished for.

It was a soft kiss and he didn't use much more force like I would have liked. He pulled away after the kiss, staring down at me with the largest and goofiest grin I've ever seen him have. I smiled back at him, contagious of his smile when pulling him back down and giving my fears a kick in the ass.