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Chapter 62: Into The Storm
Zayn’s mind went blank.
Her lips were soft, warmer than he had expected, yet demanding.
There was no hesitation in the way she kissed him, no second-guessing — just confidence, just Kara taking exactly what she wanted.
Her scent, that rich, earthy aroma, surrounded him, drawing him in deeper.
He didn’t resist.
His hands instinctively found her waist, fingers pressing against the toned muscles of her sides.
She felt real, solid — nothing like the delicate, fleeting dreams he sometimes had when he thought about things like this.
He could feel her heartbeat through their closeness, the steady rhythm matching his own racing pulse.
Kara tilted her head slightly, deepening the kiss.
Zayn responded in kind, his grip tightening around her waist as he pulled her closer.
The taste of her lingered on his tongue — something faintly sweet yet undeniably her.
The sound of the knife clattering onto the cutting board jolted them apart.
Kara pulled back first, her eyes half-lidded, her breath slightly uneven.
A smirk slowly spread across her lips as she wiped the corner of her mouth with her thumb.
"Well," she said, amusement laced in her voice, "I was right. You do like me."
Zayn exhaled, running a hand through his hair as he tried to steady himself. "Damn, Kara... a little warning next time?"
"Where’s the fun in that?"
He shook his head, still trying to process what had just happened.
Kara, out of all people, had kissed him. It wasn’t expected.
He turned back to her, She just stood there, acting as if nothing had happened, rolling her shoulders like she hadn’t just kissed the dryness of his lips.
Zayn cleared his throat, picking up the knife from where it had fallen. "So, uh... should we finish cooking?"
Kara chuckled. "Oh, now you wanna focus on cooking? After I just did that?"
He sighed, rubbing his face. "I’m trying not to think too hard about it."
Her laughter was light, almost melodic. "Good. Thinking too hard ruins the moment."
She walked back to the counter, resuming her previous position, but there was a different energy in the air now.
They finished cooking in relative silence, the occasional brush of their hands or exchange of glances reminding Zayn that, yes, that had just happened.
As they set the plates onto the table, Kara leaned in slightly, her voice dropping to a whisper.
"Hope you don’t expect that to be a one-time thing."
Zayn swallowed hard. "Noted."
Kara grinned, satisfied, before grabbing her fork.
Zayn leaned back in his chair, sighing in satisfaction as he finished the last bite of his meal.
He had to admit — staying inside all day felt like a waste of time.
He wasn’t the kind of guy who could just sit around idly, waiting for something to happen.
The town was out there, full of movement, full of life, and here he was, holed up in a private inn while the rain drummed steadily against the windows.
Across from him, Kara was finishing up as well.
She wasn’t in any hurry, eating with the slow, deliberate motions of someone who had nothing pressing to do.
When she was done, she grabbed his empty plate along with hers and stacked them neatly.
"You’re awfully domestic for someone who punches things for a living," Zayn mused, watching her.
Kara shot him a look as she carried the plates to the kitchen. "And you’re awfully mouthy for someone who just got kissed."
Zayn smirked but said nothing.
Instead, he shifted the conversation. "Where are Bran and Tobias?"
Kara rinsed her hands and leaned against the counter, drying them off with a cloth. "Tobias is in his room. Probably buried in some book or knocked out cold — either way, he’s useless right now."
She stretched her arms above her head, her toned muscles flexing slightly. "Bran, on the other hand, grabbed his coat and left for some shop a couple of hours ago. No idea where exactly."
Zayn frowned. "In this weather?"
"He seemed pretty determined."
Zayn let out a small sigh and pushed his chair back, standing up.
If Bran had gone out, then maybe he should too.
There was no point in wasting an entire day indoors, even with the rain.
He made his way to Bran’s room, pushing the door open without hesitation.
The place was neat, as expected — Bran was the type to keep his things orderly.
Zayn walked over to the closet and grabbed one of Bran’s cloaks, draping it over his shoulders.
It was heavier than he expected, but it would do.
As he turned to leave, he called out, "I’m heading out for a bit."
Kara didn’t bother stopping him, just waved a hand lazily from the kitchen. "Try not to get struck by lightning."
With that, he pulled the hood over his head and stepped outside, shutting the door behind him.
The rain was heavier than it had been earlier. The sky was a dark, angry gray, and the streets were slick with water.
Some townsfolk had taken shelter under the eaves of buildings, while others trudged through the storm with their heads down.
The rhythmic pounding of raindrops against stone and wood filled the air, creating a steady, almost hypnotic sound.
But the rain didn’t touch Zayn.
A thin layer of soul energy expanded outward from his body, shielding him from the downpour.
The droplets curved around him, sliding off as if repelled by an invisible force.
It wasn’t something he had actively trained to do — it just felt natural, like breathing.
He walked at a steady pace, his boots splashing against the wet cobblestone.
He was to find Bran first, he was probably doing something more interesting than being holed up inside.
As he walked through the market district, he kept an eye out for Bran.
If the guy was still here, he would probably be inside one of the shops, taking his time with whatever errand had pulled him out into the storm.
He passed by a blacksmith’s forge, the sound of metal striking metal ringing through the rain.
The place was open despite the weather, its interior glowing with the heat of the forge.
Zayn glanced inside but didn’t see Bran.
Further down, he spotted a small alchemist’s shop, its windows fogged up from the warmth inside.
A couple of figures were huddled near the entrance, probably waiting out the rain.
No sign of Bran there either.
Zayn sighed. Maybe he should have asked Kara for more details. Well it wasn’t like she had any more details though.
He was about to turn and head down another street when a familiar voice caught his attention.
"Damn it, why is everything so expensive?"
Zayn smirked.
’There you are.’
He followed the voice and found Bran standing in front of a general goods store, arms crossed as he stared at a merchant’s stall.
The older man behind the counter was shaking his head, clearly unimpressed by whatever offer Bran had just made.
