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Chapter Twenty Six

Today was the day I was allowed to leave, so they decided to throw a small party at the hospital before we left. The term "they" included Cayne, Calyx, Lex, Raelynn, and even Alex the chef who had provided the food for the party.

Kendall still hadn't visited. He was definitely aware of the party as Alex had to ask for his permission to come here. Kendall had obviously said yes and was informed of our party, yet he was nowhere to be found. The others had gone from reassuring me that he would come to threatening anyone who mentioned him around me. Truthfully, I was more pissed than anything.

When you saved someone's life, they thanked you, maybe even offered their undying gratitude and the chance to be your slave for however long needed. They may even hug or cry at your feet. What I was sure they didn't do, though, is not visit or acknowledge their savior who was in pain for no one other than that person.

It was my own fault, really, for caring so much. I hadn't believed anyone when they told me werewolves had the tendency to become emotionally attached to someone faster than the average human. Had I believed that, I may have spent less time waiting for Kendall and more time realizing I was doing nothing more than my job in Kendall's eyes. I had learned from the mistake and now knew not to be so careless around him. It was as simple as that.

Right now, everyone was throwing away their plastic dishes, preparing to leave. Cayne and Lex were debating on which one of them would be taking me back to the palace, Alex was sharing recipes with Raelynn who listened closely, and Calyx was on the bed with me as we finished up yet another game of cards.

I'd been surprised by my tolerance for Calyx, but then again, he was taking time out of his own day to visit me, even if more than half of his comments were too suggestive. In my book, Calyx was above his own brother in every way.

"Damn it!" Calyx whined, slamming his cards on the bed. I only smirked, laughing at the look he gave me in return.

"You're cheating, I swear. There's no way you win five times in a row," Calyx accused, putting all of the cards back in their box.

"Sweetie, you have a tell, one that I picked up at the beginning of our first game. After that, it felt like stealing," I purred, Calyx's eyes narrowing at me.

I was able to use my voice now, but it hurt like hell to talk. It felt like a rusty knife was scratching itself down my throat, burning each word as it forced its way out. The doctors said the more I used my voice, the faster I would get used to the feeling until my throat healed, but it didn't feel like that.

"Is it not more convenient for me to take her since I reside at the palace for the time being?" Cayne pointed out, his eyebrows raised in question.

"Rae and I were already making a stop there, so it's no trouble," Lex replied, causing me to frown.

"Why does it matter who takes me?" I asked, both heads turning in my direction.

"They both want the first chance at chewing Kendall out," Raelynn answered, rolling her eyes as Alex laughed.

"I'll be accompanying Cayne, miss lady, so I'm in his favor," Alex voiced, winking at me. I gave him a smile in return before listening to Cayne and Lex again.

"He is my brother, therefore it is only sensible that I talk to him," Cayne said, but even I knew that wouldn't work on Lex.

"His brother? It wasn't you who stood by his side all these years; it was me. I'll be taking her home," Lex snorted, walking away from Cayne who opened his mouth to reply but was interrupted.

"Neither one of you is taking her home. I am."

Six pairs of eyes turned in the direction of the voice, which had come from the entryway of my room. There stood a man who didn't look the least bit ashamed and didn't even have the decency to look at me.

"I would rather ride alone with Calyx," I replied, my voice level with his. But the tension that was swirling and thickening in the room screamed loud enough for the both of us.

I knew everyone in the room could feel the tension building at their feet, but none of them made any move to leave. They were either remaining nosy or feared that only one of us would walk out of here alone. I knew just which one of us that would be.

"Now is not the time for childish remarks-" Kendall started, but he was cut off by a growl so deep that I was sure it did just the opposite of helping the healing process of my throat.

"I'm being anything but childish," I said, a warning in my throat. I could feel everyone in the room tensing at it, even though it was only directed towards one person.

Kendall ran a hand through his hair before he said, "Give us a moment. I am taking her home whether it pleases her or not."

They hesitated, but Raelynn was the first one out, pulling a reluctant Lex with her. Then, Calyx left with a wink, Cayne following behind him. Alex stood there nervously, meeting Kendall's eyes.

"Am I to ride with you and miss lady, my Prince?" Alex asked, but I could see what he was doing. He was attempting to stall my conversation with Kendall, which I was grateful for.

"No, Alex, Snowflake and I will be riding alone. You will ride back with Cayne and Calyx," Kendall replied, not paying close attention to Alex.

However when Alex didn't leave right away, Kendall looked at him, frost building in his eyes. "You are dismissed," Kendall pressed, causing Alex to finally make his way out. But not before giving me a sympathetic smile.

I watched Kendall with wary eyes as he slowly made his way to a chair that had been placed in the corner of the room. When Kendall walked slowly, he usually did so because he had no reason to rush, and he knew all attention was centered on him. However, it seemed like Kendall was doing so now because he was tired.

There were grayish bags under his faded blue eyes, but I hadn't realized them when I first saw him. He'd either forgotten to or simply didn't care for it anymore, but he also hadn't shaved. Stubble covered the lower half of his face, and I was sad to admit it, but it didn't take away from his physical attractiveness. His hair wasn't kept together as it usually was, and it just looked as if a brush had vaguely passed through it. I was also quite sure he'd worn that black suit for several days based on his smell.

Maybe it was because I hadn't seen him in a while or because I was simply tired of being angry at him, but noticing all of that softened my anger. I could also feel exhaustion weighing me down as it always seemed to do after my anger for Kendall retired.

"What do you want, Kendall?" I asked quietly, but it seemed loud enough in the silent room.

Kendall finally met my eyes, surprised I wasn't spitting venom at him. In that moment, I saw more emotions than just surprise. Weariness rimmed his eyes while anger created a storm in his pupils, and fear hid in their depths. But it was guilt that clouded his eyes and every other emotion. I saw each emotion briefly until Kendall looked away.

"I was in need of a Protector after I received an anonymous letter. Summarized, it read that I should watch my back as they would strike at the most unexpected moment. However, I did not have the luxury of wasting time to watch my every step. The guards could not assist me everywhere nor did I want them to. So what better way than to find a Protector?" Kendall started, laughing humorlessly at the last part. I wasn't quite sure I liked this side of Kendall.

"In my search, I found you. You were equivalent to the Protector I'd envisioned. I thought that perhaps if I crafted you into the Protector I desired emotionally, I would have no need to worry about the threat. Unfortunately, you were much more unpredictable than I anticipated. I soon became aware that taming you was no longer an option.

I thought about finding another Protector, but you fascinated me too much. I convinced myself multiple times that I was only likely to die in your hands. Yet subconsciously, I would find reasons to keep you. My subconscious won over reasoning each time.

Something I did not take into account was you as a person." By this point, Kendall was no longer speaking to me but to himself as his eyes gained a faraway look, and he stared at the tiled floor.

"I expected you to treat me in the way my servants do: with respect and formality, nothing more. The second I told you to call me by my given name, I destroyed any hopes of that. You were much more complex than expected, much more beautiful. When I first saw you, I thought your beauty would work in my favor; however, it only worked against me.

Over time, I grew feelings that should not be acquired towards one's Protector. I should feel gratitude towards you at the most, nothing more. But I grew fond of you. I felt adoration and so much more towards you as both a person and as a Protector.

That night, when I ran after you into the forest, I realized-" But Kendall cut himself off as he suddenly became very aware that I was still in the room.

By this point, my heart was beating five times faster than it should, and my mind whirled with too many emotions to comprehend. Kendall wasn't ready to share the rest and I was more than fine with that. I didn't want to hear the rest, not yet.

Kendall studied me, his blue eyes looking for some sort of reaction. But I looked away, refusing to give him access. His time was over, and I didn't plan for it to start again.

He suddenly stood up, straightening his suit. "I believe it is time to leave," he said, but I didn't reply.

"Nowhere in there did I hear an apology in any form," I said, my arms crossed. Kendall sighed, but I didn't budge. I had waited for him to visit, so the bastard could afford to wait.

My anger towards Kendall had slowly subsided, but Kendall was Kendall. In other words, he always managed to ruin it with his unknowing attitude.

"I am sorry, love, that you suffered at my expense-" Kendall started, his voice sincere. But my anger flared back quickly as I got out of the bed and interrupted him.

"Are you kidding me?" I snapped at him, watching as he frowned.

"What have I done wrong? I was doing as you wanted," Kendall claimed, and my hands clenched by my sides as I attempted not to reach out and strangle him.

"I didn't want you to apologize for my saving your sorry ass! It's my job whether I like it or not. What I wanted-" But I bit my tongue. I was in Kendall's realm, which revolved around him.

"Forget it; I'm just your Protector," I said lowly. All of this was my own fault. From now on, I would act as any Protector would towards his Master.

"We should go," I added, starting to walk out of the door. Right then, more than anything, I wanted Kendall to pull me back and realize his mistake. I wanted him to apologize for the right thing, not the wrong one.

And then, he did.

I felt Kendall's arm go around my waist before I felt myself being pulled towards him. He gently turned me around, his familiar blue eyes staring at me. I wasn't sure what to do, but apparently Kendall was.

"I am sorry-" Kendall paused as his lips trailed down my neck, teasing my bare skin. "-that you are trapped by the side of an arrogant, self-centered man."

My eyes were closing against their will as Kendall's lips pressed themselves to my shoulder. I leaned into him, my anger evaporating and completely forgotten about along with everything else.

"I am sorry-" His lips traveled from my shoulder to my neck, skimming the skin in between and landing there. "-that I cannot change how I am."

I felt a smile tug its way onto my face as his lips left my neck and fluttered to my ear, nipping it to show he remembered what I had told him. They then left my ear and met my jaw, cool against my face.

"I am truly sorry-" he paused again, his lips landing finally on my temple. I nuzzled closer to his head, resting my own on the crook of his neck. "-that I could not overcome my own grief to visit you."

He then pulled away just slightly, his arm remaining around me. I opened my eyes lazily as the other hand ran through my hair, stopping to cup my neck.

Kendall's lips abruptly pulled up into a Calyx-like smile before he said, "They do say the third time is the charm, do they not?"

His smile was then lost, and his lips were unexpectedly on mine.

*fun fact: I believe that this chapter is still the most voted and commented on chapter of the whole story!