The Alpha's Curse The Enemy Within

His lips moved gently on mine, kissing me softly while my body burned with a feeling | never thought Id feel, ever again. It was him.

It was Killian.

Reluctantly, he pulled his lips away from mine and my blue eyes met his deep amber ones, sparkling with tears.

“Oh, Killian," I gasped in disbelief as tears wandered free. My body was vibrating intensely as my trembling fingers moved up to his face.

“Killian,”

“Yes, it's my love. It's me,” his large hands covered mine, bringing it to his lips. “I'm alive,” “Just how? | saw you dead, Killian. I held you in my arms" | started in tears, but he pressed his soft lips to mine, silencing me.

“You did, Sheila. You saved me," he held me tightly into his hands, burying his face in my hair as confusion broke within me.

“I don't understand. How are you here?” | had so many questions, but Killian's large thumb silenced me once again.

“One question at a time, love,” he chuckled, drawing a breath. “It's a long story. Really long story. I have been unconscious all this time, | only regained consciousness two days ago,” he caressed my cheek, wanting to say more but he shook his head. "There's so much | want to say, but right now, | don't have much time,” he rushed on, and my body stiffened instantly as | remembered exactly where we were.

“Oh goddess, Killian, you have to leave,” | couldn't help but panic.

“You can't be here. Vladimir mustn't see you here—" “Why?” he cut me off sharply, his hands cupped my face and his deep amber eyes pierced mine. All | could see in his depth was a sickening pain that was quick to pierce my heart. Killian lowered his gaze to the crook of my neck where Vladimir's mark was.

He stared at it briefly before shutting his eyes, and the tears flowed through. A bitter pain settled in my chest, stabbing me to the point | felt my legs weaken. I held tightly unto Killian unable to stop the tears that kept flowing, blurring my vision.

“You are mated to him. | don't understand, Sheila, how could that be possible?” Killian's eyes found mine again. "Please, tell me he is forcing you to remain by his side, please tell, | beg you,” “I had no other choice, Killian. | died when | thought | had lost you

forever,” | muttered, sobbing.

*Sheila—" he began but | stopped him.

“Killian, you can't be here. You have to leave now,” I gripped his arm, pulling him to the door. Vladimir mustn't see Killian, let alone find out Killian was still alive. | couldn't even imagine what would happen if he did.

“Leave? Like fuck | will, Sheila. I'm not leaving you here,” Killian was adamant. He held me back in his arms. “Kaiser is here as well," “What?” Killian's words left me motionless. “My brother is here as wellz” “Yes. Kaiser and | came through the portal, right after Nikolai took you, and he's been trying to get to you,” What Killian was telling me was shocking and unbelievable. | didn't know. | could never have imagined Kai was here all these weeks. This

simply means that Kai had been the one that sent me that crafted object.

“Where is he? Is he here in the Fortress?” | asked quickly, and Killian shook his head.

“No. He couldn't come. Zena's magic could only help get one person through,” he said.

My brows were crippled, confounded. Who's Zena? | wanted to ask, but this wasn't the right time for this. Vladimir could walk in any second.

“Killian, please, you have to go. Vladimir could come in any minute and everything will end badly,” | pleaded with him, hoping he saw reason.

“Alright, fine. You are right. That bastard mustn't find out about Kai and 1. Ill leave, but promise you'll come to find me tonight. We have

to talk Sheila, and Kaiser is dying to see you," Killian held me.

Fuck, | wasn't supposed to leave the Fortress. | couldn't give Vladimir any more reason to doubt my intentions. | thought briefly, meeting Killian's unyielding gaze. "I will come,” “I will wait for you outside the Fortress—" “No, Killian. That's dangerous. | will find you, | promise,” I uttered quickly, and before he could ask how, | snaked my hands around his neck, kissing him.

1 used the opportunity to race through his memories, and | found exactly where they were staying. A small cabin in the woods.

Killian's arms pinned me to his body, as he deepened our kiss. I felt myself getting lost in the feeling, but I couldn't.

"No, Killian, you have to leave now,” | pulled away, hurrying to the door.

He released a deep sigh, following behind. He covered his face, sparing one last glance at me, before leaving my chamber. | hurried to the door, watching him as he scampered out of the hallways.

| exhaled the air, imprisoned in my lungs, resting my head on the door the second I shut it close. | blinked back the tears welling in my eyes, | couldn't believe it, it all seemed to be a dream. Killian was alive.

He survived Nikolai's attack. And was here in the Oasis, with my brother. Everything felt like a dream. Oh, goddess, | had questions.

| couldn't stay still. Adie has been restless, prancing within the corner of my mind without taking a rest. She wanted to go to him but | knew better than that, if | didn't thread carefully, | would only endanger my brother and Killian.

I had to fight the urge and was forced to watch the day go by slowly and finally, darkness covered the land.

I waited for more hours until it was dead in the night. Then | hurried to the clothing rack and grabbed one of my cloaks, wearing it over my dress. | left my chamber, and using my magic, it was easy for me to sneak out of the Fortress unnoticed.

I had to leave my horse behind and go on foot, the last thing | needed was drawing attention to me. With the hood of my cloak over my head, | took the shortest path to the village and sauntered deep into the woods. | kept walking for what seemed like hours, covering my tracks. It took me long before | reached the cabin | saw in Killian's memory. As | approached, | spotted Killian waiting for me outside the cabin.

“Sheila,” | raced to Killian, flinging my body in his arms.

Lovingly, he scooped me into his arms and hugged me as if his life

depended on it. His muscular arms engulfed my small frame and | buried my face into his chest, inhaling his scent which Adie and | had greatly missed.

1 felt him resting his lips and nose on the top of my head and we stayed like that for a few minutes, until Killian pulled away, reluctantly.

His large hands cupped my face and moaned at the sweet tingles that erupted as Killian swept back the locks of my hair before he crashed his lips on mine.

The feeling of having Killian in my arms after all these weeks was surreal. | could feel Adie’s light purrs deep in my mind as Killian's lips kept assaulting me.

Before Killian and | could take things further, forgetting where we were, the wooden door of the cabin creaked open, and someone cleared their throats.

1 pulled away from Killian, knowing exactly who that could be. My blue crystals fell on my brother, Kaiser.

| couldn't possibly begin to describe the emotions that swirled in my chest. Without sparing a second, | hasten to the door, sprawling my arms around him.

“Kaiser,” It was still hard to believe both Killian and Kaiser had been in Oasis all this time, and now, they were right before me.

Kaiser's large arms covered me, and | held onto him for a few more minutes. | just had to be certain none of these were a dream.

After a while, we pulled apart, and my eyes held Kai's hazel pair.

“I'm so fucking happy to see you, sister,” he said to me, wiping off the tears that streamed down my cheeks.

“Me too, Kai," | replied, never letting go of his hand. “I don't

understand. How did you get here?" | asked, needing answers, and right then, a young woman moved to the door, leaning against the doorframe with a warm smile that reached her brown eyes. | couldn't help but smile back.

She was not familiar, and the symbol on her wrist made it clear she was a prisoner in Oasis. Hopefully a friend.

I felt Killian's presence behind me, as Kaiser's gaze traveled from me to the woman behind.

“We should go inside. We have a lot to talk about,” Kaiser suggested, and | couldn't agree any less. Things had started to heat up in Oasis, and right now, | would appreciate every help I could get.