Jason's dark eyes tightened. As Old He and Leon froze in shock, he snatched the hissing mottled snake in one grip and, almost expressionless, snapped its spine cleanly before flinging it to the floor.
He looked down at Kristen, limp on the ground, and his brows drew into a hard line. He bent, carefully lifting her, enclosing her fully in his arms.
His gaze never left her face, but his voice came out cold as the underworld. "Kill these beasts."
Old He, once a soldier, had no trouble handling such things. "Yes, sir."
Holding Kristen, Jason turned and took the stairs, step by steady step. The jostling movement gave her a faint sense of reality—so did the light cedar scent on him.
Silent tears slipped down Kristen's cheeks. She whispered, "Mr. Jin…"
"Mm?" Jason looked down at her, never breaking stride.
"Did you come to save me?" Her eyes were red from crying; her voice was careful, uneasy.
Afraid it was just a dream.
Taking in her haggard state, something tightened soundlessly in Jason's chest. His face stayed composed, and he answered, light as air, "Mm."
Kristen's dust-streaked fingers clutched his lapel, the corner of her mouth lifting, strained.
Jason pressed his forehead to her temple, his voice low and unhurried. "Kristen, you're not dreaming. I'm here. You don't have to be afraid."
Her tear-wet lashes fluttered hard; more tears fell in a rush.
Jason's eyes darkened. Before he could ask, her choked voice reached his ear—
"I had a dream before. In it, someone hurt me, and just before I died, I think I saw you. I don't know if you came to save me. If you did… what a pity…"
A pity you couldn't save me in the dream.
Jason's steps faltered on the threshold of the villa; every muscle went rigid. He looked down at her, surprise rippling through the ink of his eyes.
Kristen's cheek rested against his chest. Her long lashes lowered as she slowly closed her eyes and slipped into unconsciousness.
His arms tightened around her, then tighter still—like he meant to fold her into himself.
Hospital room.
Kristen lay pale as her patient gown, a tangle of life-saving tubes threaded across her. After reviewing the nurse's report, Dr. Yan exhaled. "All twelve bite wounds are treated. As for the venom, her bloodwork indicates it's cleared. You can stop worrying."
Jason stood straight by the floor-to-ceiling window, lashes lowered as he looked at the night outside, lost somewhere in thought.
Dr. Yan glanced at the nurse; she took the cue and slipped out.
Once the door clicked shut, Dr. Yan began, "What happened? All these years, and I never knew you had this kind of kink…"
He didn't finish. Jason's glance cut over, cold as a blade. Dr. Yan dropped the joking air at once and spoke properly: "Those snakes were highly venomous. Good thing you got her here in time. Five minutes later and she really would have been gone."
"I know." Jason's tightly pressed lips parted, his voice roughened at the edges.
He knew those beasts; he'd seen them when he was barely a teenager.
Dr. Yan frowned. "What exactly happened? This counts as attempted murder."
Jason's gaze shifted to the bed. His voice was level. "Finn locked her in a basement."
Dr. Yan's eyes flew wide. "Damn! Weren't they broken up? What is Finn doing—playing forced love?"
Jason didn't answer, but his expression turned visibly uglier by the second.
Dr. Yan barreled on as if he hadn't noticed. "You think Finn released the snakes? Even if she won't be with him, it's a stretch to sic venomous snakes on her…"
"Shut up." Jason snapped, eyes fixed anxiously on the bed.
Kristen's eyes were still closed tight, fists clenched, lips repeating the same words over and over: "Don't bite me. Go away… don't come near me… get away…"
( End of Chapter )