The Deadliest Wish by Pavla Leitgebova

Author:Pavla Leitgebova [Leitgebova, Pavla]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: anonymous
Published: 2024-05-14T00:00:00+00:00

THE SNOW WASN’T THICK ENOUGH TO HIDE KASIA’S SHAME.

The wind wasn’t intense enough to hide her from Akim’s gaze; the winter wasn’t sharp enough to extinguish the burning humiliation in her chest.

She should have been stronger than this. She had given up everything to be stronger than this. So she’d never be ambushed again, hurt again, ruined again. So she wouldn’t have to live in fear or need to be saved. Not by Akim, not by anyone.

She was a heretic witch for fuck’s sake. Her pain was supposed to make her more powerful, not weaker.

Shuddering, Kasia pushed herself closer to the fire they’d started. She’d wanted to continue their journey, but Akim had insisted they rest first. He claimed to be tired after chasing after her kidnappers, but Kasia grudgingly suspected he was stalling for her benefit.

How was she to understand this side of him? Caring, gentle, and kind? The same hands that had pushed ice into her veins held her like she was something worth saving. The same eyes that had often raged like a storm looked at her tenderly. The image of him in her mind had transformed in such a short time it was making her dizzy.

All while she remained her own selfish, rotten self.

Kasia refused to feel guilty. She concentrated on the fire in the hope it would burn this traitorous feeling from her heart. She watched the flames lick the wood until her eyes stung and tears dried on her cheeks.

She bit her tongue so hard she could taste blood.

"Thank you."

"What?" Akim’s head snapped towards her. They had been sitting in silence for hours, the cracking of warmth filling the cold space between them.

The sun had closed on the horizon, painting the trees a vibrant orange. It was a stark contrast to the bland sky of Swizz winters; it was as though the heavens were aflame.

Kasia swallowed. "They taught us— the army taught us that you should always prioritize orders above your comrades. That completing the mission is more important than the lives of any of us... that once things go south, you’re on your own."

Her mouth was a barbed wire, her lips torn and bleeding into her words.

Pathetic. Why was she telling him all of this? For sympathy? Pity?

No. She wanted him to understand.

"So," Kasia straightened. "Thank you for being there for me."

More embarrassment flushed her cheeks. Akim’s eyes bore into her skin, but she couldn’t meet them. He sat across from her, careful to keep a safe distance from the fire, his body partially obscured by flames. It was like he wasn’t there at all, just a mirage caused by the heat and exhaustion that had built a nest inside her body. Like she could brush her fingers through him and he would disappear.

"It’s my pleasure," he said, and Kasia imagined him smiling.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.