CHAPTER 25
"Malachai," Joshua's voice thundered.
Bonnie froze and she saw her own fear reflected back in Kai's eyes. It would seem even Kai had enough sense to be afraid of Joshua.
"There's no time, just go."
"No, I have a better idea," Bonnie said as a half-baked crazy plan took form. "Run, Cassie. Get the hell out of here."
"Oh, I know what you're thinking," Kai smirked. "It might just work."
Before Bonnie could ask him what he was thinking, he gripped her wrists so tightly for a second, she thought he was siphoning her. Belatedly, she realized he was using the emergency magic in his Sanskrit rings. In the next instant, she was standing in his bedroom. All she could do was hope Cassie ran away when they told her to.
"This was not my plan. I was thinking I could knock you out," she hissed. "The spell -"
Kai's hand slid from around her wrist to her hands and he pulled her toward the bed. Bonnie had to admit as far as plans went it didn't entirely suck. It wasn't like Joshua didn't know they had a thing. The horny teenager routine might actually work. It was riskier than her plan, but with all of them tapped out of magic, she might not even get the chance to cast the spell. Let alone see if Joshua bought it.
Bonnie threw her sweater off and messed up her hair. Next to her Kai did the same thing. She sat down on Kai's lap and she kissed him. He pulled her under the covers and he threw his shirt and jeans to the side.
"Kai," she hissed even though this wasn't the first time she'd seen him in his boxers. "Don't get carried away."
"Says the girl, who stripped down to her bra."
Bonnie laughed in spite of herself. "Not a word to Kol, alright?"
"Relax, I'm great at secrets. They're hot," Kai's blue eyes burned with heat and she blushed.
Kai wrapped his arms around her. His lips brushed hers and she sucked on his lower lip. It elicited a moan from him and she smiled. She was actually enjoying herself and it was the opposite of what she should be doing. This wasn't for fun, she was trying to protect Kai.
If Joshua thought she had snuck in for a hookup then it was perfectly plausible Kai hadn't noticed someone breaking into the family vault.
She put her legs around his waist and he climbed on top of her. He was already hard and he pressed himself against her core. She moaned and ran her fingers through his hair tussling it. Kai's mouth covered hers in a hungry kiss that stole her breath away. Sparks shot through her and heat pooled low in her stomach.
For a brief moment she forgot everything.
Kai's hand ran along her stomach and squeezed her breast.
There was a banging sound in the distance. Some part of her brain was trying to tell her why it was important, but she couldn't remember. She was lost in Kai's touch. The feel of his warm body against hers and the touch of his lips was scorching.
She'd missed him. The realization was painful and it made her cling to his shoulders and clutch him closer.
"KAI!" Joshua's voice boomed.
A bolt of lightning flashed through the room in his fury. That snapped them out of it and Kai fell aside. Bonnie jumped up and pulled the covers up to cover her chest.
Joshua stood in the doorway. She reached out and found Kai's hand. He laced their fingers together, giving her hand a reassuring squeeze. It didn't do much to calm the panicked beating of her heart. Even though she had been expecting Joshua the sight of him still chilled her to the bone. His expression was furious and suddenly she flashbacked to the moment he had tried to trap her in Portland.
"Don't you knock?" Kai drawled. "I'm kind of in the middle of something."
"So you didn't happen to notice someone broke into our magical vault?"
"What?" Kai's eyes widened and Bonnie had to admit he feigned surprise well.
Her? Not so much.
She slunk further under the covers when Joshua's cold eyes swept over her. Kai's thumb stroked the back of her hand, telling her to stay calm.
"And here you are with Bonnie. One of the girls who plotted to kill Black John. It would seem she succeeded this time. Do you think me such a fool that I wouldn't why she is truly here?"
"Nah, I'm sure you're of average intelligence," Kai said with what he probably thought was a winning smile. "But here's the thing, I don't care about the magic vault. Supes sorry about your buddy though. But like I said, Bonnie and I are kind of in the middle of something so if you could just give us an hour to wrap things up."
"Oh my God, Kai like this is totally embarrassing," Bonnie agreed and hid her face behind Kai's shoulder. "Could you just not make it worse?"
"Nice try," Joshua snarled.
He raised his hand and there was a crack of thunder. Kai grabbed her by the waist and they went soaring through the air. She hit the ground and had all of the oxygen knocked out of her lungs. Kai landed on top of her and she groaned.
Lightning hit the bed where they had just been sitting. She screamed and reached for the closest thing. It turned out to be a grimoire flopped carelessly on the floor. She threw it in Joshua's general direction.
"Hold on, Bunny."
Kai wrapped his arms around her and the world spun as he teleported them away. She could feel her own magic being pulled out of her and the tingle of the magic from his Sanskrit rings.
Her head spun and she fell against Kai exhausted. She blinked and the only light present was the twinkle of fairy lights. There was a part of her that knew this place, but she couldn't think.
"Oh my God, what's wrong with me?"
This feeling was familiar too. Kai's fingers brushed her cheek and she felt an electric tingle go through her. She sighed and she felt stronger already as magic coursed through her.
"You were magically drained. Feels pretty crappy, huh?"
She closed her eyes. "How would you know?"
"Ouch," Kai chuckled. "But fair enough. As a siphoner I have sometimes stuck around long enough to see what happens to my victims."
"Where are we?" Bonnie sat up and looked around. Kai's treehouse came into focus and she grinned. "Never mind."
Realizing she was still shirtless, she covered her chest with her arms.
"Don't worry no one is getting in here, Bunny. Not even dear old dad."
Bonnie blushed when she saw Kai was wearing nothing except for his boxers.
"You're sure?"
"I'm totally sure."
"Alright, so maybe you have some clothes around here?"
Kai cracked a smile. He let his gaze trail heatedly along her figure and his eyes rested on her chest for a moment too long.
"Yes, I do."
Kai got up and dug through some drawers. He tossed an oversized T-shirt her way. She pulled it on and deliberately looked away when Kai pulled on a pair of black sweats. He moved slowly and was definitely putting on a show. With his broad shoulders and six-pack the last thing she needed was to catch a glimpse. Resisting Kai took enough effort as it was.
Bonnie checked for her phone and she grew cold when she discovered it was gone. It had been in her hoodie pocket.
"Oh my God, I don't have my phone. Do you have yours?"
"Yup," Kai pulled it out of his pocket. "Crap, the battery's dead."
"Oh, that's bad," Bonnie said wringing her hands. "We need to make sure Cassie got out of there alright."
"I'm sure she was fine. She had a head start and I'm sure she ran to hunker down with her coven."
"What about Kol and the others? They were supposed to distract Black John and Joshua. If Joshua is back already and without a scratch on him -"
"I'm sure they aren't dead. I mean, it would take quite a bit to kill an Original."
"We should go."
"Nope," Kai shook his head. "You wanna survive the night? We need to stay here until dad gives up the search."
"I don't think that will work," Bonnie said and eyed him. "Do that mirror thing to check in on the rest of them. Then once we know where Joshua is we can get out of here."
"Not unless you can cloak us," Kai retorted immediately. "I can promise you if we poke our heads out for as much as a second Joshua will swoop down on us like a vulture."
"Fine, but the mirror thing," Bonnie insisted and waved her hand at him.
Kai rolled his eyes. But he sat down in front of the mirror and chanted in Latin. Her Latin had improved a little since the last time he cast that spell, but still all she understood was secrets and reveal.
Reveal hidden secrets, Bonnie thought that was the correct translation.
The surface of the mirror shimmered. The image shifted and she saw Kol, Rebekah, Lucy and her Grams were back at Kol's apartment. Kol was pacing and checking his phone.
"Where's Bonnie?" he growled. "She should be back by now."
"I'm sure she's fine," Lucy said. "After all, the girl did take out Black John."
"Did you see how Black John broke into a thousand shards and simply exploded?" Rebekah asked with a shudder. "A millennia and I have yet to see anything that tops that."
"It would be the physical representation of what Bonnie did to his crystal skull," Lucy explained.
"I wouldn't be too sure about it," Sheila said wringing her hands. The sight made guilt pool in Bonnie's stomach. Sheila looked so small and frail. Normally, Bonnie forgot how old she was, but now she saw it. "Malachai doesn't strike me as a reliable sort of fellah."
Kai snorted. "I'm reliable."
"Totally," Bonnie said sarcastically. "Like how when your dad tried to trap me in Portland and your entire rescue mission consisted of sending a text!"
"If that failed, I would have lifted the spell the second I was coven leader," Kai said flashing a smile.
He slid closer to her and she pushed him back. Once again, she shot him a disgusted look.
"Do you even hear yourself when you talk?"
"Yes, and I'm awesome, charming and -"
Bonnie covered his mouth with her hand. He stared at her wide-eyed. "Would you shut up already? Cassie just ran into Kol's living room."
They both turned their attention back to the mirror. Kai threw his arm around her shoulder and she groaned. But let it stay there.
"Cassie," Sheila ran to her and grabbed her by the shoulders. "Are you hurt? Where's Bonnie?"
"We almost got caught and she stayed with Kai to make sure he got out of there alright."
"Kai?" Kol snarled. "Bloody hell, she's likely dead already -"
"I honestly don't think he would hurt her," Cassie said and then grimaced. "Well not tonight anyway. They're probably lying low. Bonnie can't teleport or anything because her magic was almost gone and she had to cast a last minute spell to -"
"Let me guess," Kol growled. "She was trying to protect Kai."
"Obviously," Lucy snorted. "Even I saw how the two of them worked as a team to get out of there last time."
"Well would you look at that, Bonster -" Kai crooned.
Bonnie groaned. "Don't -"
"You like me. Even your boyfriend knows it. And your cousin ships it."
"No way," Bonnie said and slapped his arm. "I don't like you, but I don't like to leave people behind. Even idiots like you."
"Words hurt, Bon. Speaking of are you hurt?"
"No, you?"
"I could fake an injury if you'll play nurse for me," he said and gave her a heated look.
Bonnie shoved him. "Ew. No way."
She tried to float one of the pillows and gave up. She touched her hand under her nose and checked for blood.
"You don't have a nosebleed, but like I said we're stuck here until your powers return."
Kai ran his hand along the mirror surface and cleared it.
Bonnie wrapped her arms around herself as she eyed the bed apprehensively.
XXX
Lucy calmed Sheila down and watched as Kol walked her out. He was taking her back to the hotel room she was staying in. Sheila had set up some impressive wards and Lucy knew Joshua would never be able to get in. Assuming he would even try. As far as Joshua knew Bonnie had gone rogue along with the New Englanders.
But now that Sheila was out of the way, Lucy didn't feel very calm. She paced the length of Rebekah's room as the other girl removed her makeup.
"Would you sit down already, love?" Rebekah complained. "You're driving me mad."
"Me?" Lucy snapped. "My cousin is missing and I can't find her."
"What happened to all of the reassurance you gave Sheila?"
"I lied so she didn't panic. But here's the thing I don't trust Kai and maybe Joshua has her locked up in his dungeon."
"Don't be dramatic. I'm certain the Geminis don't have an actual dungeon," Rebekah said as her fingers worked her hair into a braid.
"Actually according to Cassie they do."
Rebekah turned around and looked at her. Her green eyes danced with excitement.
"Truly? A coven with a dungeon? That sounds like my kind of decorating."
"Is that in any way helpful?" Lucy demanded.
Rebekah sighed. She took Lucy's hands and pulled her down on her lap. She brushed her hair aside and placed a chaste kiss to her lips.
"Bonnie will be fine. She's strong and she's clever. Clever enough to know it's best to lie low until morning. You heard Cassie, Bonnie has simply run out of magic. If I had to guess she is at Kai's treehouse or perhaps Joshua bought whatever trick they played."
"Maybe we should check for her?" Lucy chewed on her bottom lip.
"Let us presume Joshua is aware Kai and Bonnie aided the New Englanders, if he has half a brain he is simply waiting for us to lead him to them. Best to wait and see if they resurface on their own in the morning."
Lucy put her head on Rebekah's shoulder. "I hate waiting."
"I know, my darling," Rebekah stroked her back. "You're too headstrong to wait however, it's the best thing for Bonnie. In the meantime, perhaps I can distract you?"
Lucy smiled in spite of herself.
XXX
Kai flopped down on the bed. He crossed his legs and put his arms behind her head. To make matters worse, he grinned like the cat that ate the canary.
Man, she wanted to set him on fire. But unlike Kol, he wouldn't heal if she unleashed on him. Of course, her magic was drained so there wasn't much she could do anyway.
"What are you doing?"
"Me?" he pointed to himself, still smiling in a faux innocent way that she didn't buy. "I'm going to bed. What are you doing?"
"Wondering where I can sleep. Don't you have a couch or something?"
"Nope."
"Then you can act like the gentleman you most definitely aren't and take the floor."
Kai pretended to think about it. "Nope."
"Oh my God! Do you have any idea how totally frustrating and lame you are?"
Kai flashed another thousand-kilowatt second and patted the spot on the bed next to him.
"Hop in. I promise I won't bite, I'm not your vamp boyfriend you know."
"Fine, but try anything and I'll strangle you in your sleep."
"Music to my ears. You really know how to turn a guy on, Bunny."
"Total sicko," Bonnie muttered to herself.
Bonnie got under the covers and slipped off her pants. She tossed them carelessly aside on the floor. Her attempts to make herself comfortable didn't work. How could they when Kai was lying there next to her? The end result was that she lay there staring at the ceiling and thinking about how worried her Grams must be.
"You know they could do a locator spell," Kai mused.
"They could, but they know as well as we do they risk leading Joshua straight to us. How long do you think we need to hide out?"
"Only until he's dead."
"Yeah, I'm not staying here that long," Bonnie said with a snort.
Kai laughed. "You're kinda mean, Bonster. I dig it."
"You would," Bonnie said before they lapsed into silence. When it grew too pressing, she felt compelled to speak to break this tension that was building between them. She was all too aware of Kai's warmth. Even from across the bed she could sense it and she could feel his presence in the air. Kai's presence always filled the air with an electric static like the crackling of thunder. "Why does this place look exactly like your room?"
"Because it's what my room should be."
"Oh."
He meant safe and peaceful. A sanctuary the way her bedroom at her dad's and her Grams' had been when she was growing up. A place of solitude she could retreat to whenever the world became too much. When being the mediator between Elena and Caroline's constant arguments was exhausting. Which was at least once a week.
"Do you miss your friends?"
"The ones from Mystic Falls?"
"Yeah, duh. I don't mean those losers from Cassie's crew you hang with here. And do us both a favor and don't count the ancient bloodsucking fiends in your group of friends."
Bonnie rolled her eyes. Kai's hatred of the Originals was most of the time scary, but other times like now it was just petulant. He sounded so obviously jealous of Kol that any ounce of threat those words might have carried drifted away.
"Yeah, I do. Elena not so much we got in a fight, but Caroline and Matt? I really miss them."
"I didn't like Elena. She's boring. Now that Katherine's a hoot."
Bonnie grimaced. "And that right there is your entire problem."
"Somebody's jealous."
"You wish."
"I do," Kai said and reached out for her hand. His fingers brushed hers and she closed her eyes to block out the thrill that went through her. "What happened with Ellen?"
Bonnie once again ignored how he deliberately got everyone's name wrong. "I told her to stay away from vampires because she has a chance at a normal life. And she has no idea how lucky she is for it."
"Let me guess, she got pissy because you're shacking up with your very own vamp."
"Pretty much yeah," Bonnie said quietly. "I know it makes me a hypocrite, but -" she rolled over to face him. "I'm never going to be normal. My witchy family tree saw to that, but her -" she broke off because she didn't know how to finish that sentence without saying too much.
Kai turned to face her. His arm was under his head and he gave her a serious look. One that for a split second allowed her to believe he actually felt something real for her. But she wouldn't be fooled again. Nothing Kai felt was real and it didn't matter that it made her heart ache. That was exactly why she needed to stay away.
"She can have that. She can be normal unlike us."
"Exactly."
It was a little unnerving how well Kai seemed to know what she was thinking. But he'd always been like that.
"Sometimes, I think about it or I used to, but I would choose magic every time."
Bonnie smiled wanly. "Me too."
"And if she wants to spend her life chasing vampires, I say let her."
"You're just saying that because you don't have any friends and you don't want any."
The second the words were out of her lips, she regretted them. Kai was a jerk and a literal sociopath, but it wasn't his fault. Just like it wasn't his fault he didn't have many friends. If she'd grown up the way Kai had, would she have any friends?
Would she care?
"Low blow, but I can't say you're wrong. I don't have any friends and maybe I don't know anything about it. Still, I know vampires and I know getting in too deep never ends well for our kind. Vamps they like to subjugate witches, have them at their beck and call."
"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have said that. It's not true."
Kai rolled onto his side and she turned to face him.
"We were friends, weren't we?"
"Yeah," she whispered. "We were."
"Kol and me, we were sort of friends."
"That's because you're the only other person around as homicidal as him."
Kai's serious expression faded and he chuckled. "You might have a point there, Bonster."
"Do you really think you can do it? You know," she hesitated not sure if she actually wanted the truth or not. "Trap Joshua in one of those -"
"Alternate dimensions?" Kai looked thoughtful for a moment. "It's tricky and it'll take a lot of power including an eclipse, but yeah, it can be done."
Bonnie rolled onto her back. She stared at the ceiling and thought about it.
"That sounds like a powerful spell."
"One that will require you at full strength and me with all the magic I can take from Jo."
"We're casting it together?"
Up until now, Kai had been frustratingly tight-lipped about the spell casting. What she had managed to learn had been through Kol's collection of grimoires, which was extensive. But the Geminis guarded their secrets well and there hadn't been much beyond a few obscure references to it.
"Yeah, unless you want dear old dad to escape us."
"I was thinking," Bonnie said slowly. "There's a spell I've read about. It can be used to incapacitate vampires by burning their image and throwing the ashes at them, maybe we can tweak something like that to knock Joshua out for the time we need."
"I'd need to see your witch's cookbook, but yeah, we should be able to work that. You're wicked powerful and I'm wicked smart."
"Not sure about that last one, but yeah I am."
Kai laughed.
Bonnie turned onto her side and closed her eyes. Her head was pounding. It felt too full of thoughts and exhaustion still burned through her after the spell to destroy Black John's crystal skull.
It wasn't a surprise when Kai crossed the space between them. He wrapped his arms around her and snuggled close. Buried his face in the nape of her neck. And she knew she should push him away, tell him she was still with Kol, but she didn't. Because the horrible truth was that in spite of everything, she missed Kai. Missed how warm he was and the way her magic thrummed through her veins at his touch. Even now when she was dangerously exhausted from spellcasting she could feel a flicker of her power in answer to Kai's proximity.
"You smell nice," he murmured.
"Just shut up and go to sleep, would you?"
"Sure, just as soon as you admit you kinda like me too."
"Not sure I do so I can't answer that."
Kai chuckled. "You're feisty tonight. Admit it, tonight was a rush."
"Shut up already," Bonnie said with an eye roll.
The truth was, she hated the life and death crap they are were always doing. Absolutely loathed it, but it didn't seem to matter in the heat of the moment. When her blood was soaring with heat and magic. It was a rush in a way she could never explain or even imagine.
Kai squeezed her tighter and she sighed. But at least he had stopped talking so that was something. She closed her eyes and tried fall asleep. But her head was too full of thoughts, feelings and fears. She was literally hiding out from Joshua. The only thing standing between her and Kai's death was the hope that his cloaking spell on his tree house was powerful. Powerful enough to keep out a powerful Gemini coven leader.
It reminded her of the early days when she was hiding from Damon. Back before she truly knew what it meant to be a witch or what a vampire was.
The idea of a vampire like Damon threatening her now was laughable. It was comforting to think if Damon came for her now, she would destroy him with one look. But since he was trapped in Emily's vampire tomb that wasn't happening.
Kai's hand trailed along her side and warmth shot through her. He pulled her closer and she sighed. His fingers caressed her lightly and she was struck by the difference in his personality and his touch. He was always so forceful and even a little scary at times, but his touch was always gentle.
It occurred to her Kai never touched her unless it was calculated. A deliberate part of a sexual advance. He never touched her casually in passing. Their shoulders never brushed by accident. No, when Kai touched her it was because he wanted to and he wanted her to notice him.
"You feel tense," Kai murmured.
"It's been a weird day."
Kai pressed his palm firmly against her and she mewled when an electric crackle touched her skin. She squirmed when he siphoned magic back inside of her and she felt herself grow too hot in response to his touch. Her head fell on his shoulder and he brought her closer. His lips grazed her ear.
"I love the noises you make," he said in a rough voice that turned her insides to jelly.
"Kai, don't. We should stop."
She squirmed in his arms and Kai stopped. The electric feeling from his siphoning underneath her skin stopped. He pulled her closer and his warmth started to lull her to sleep. Through her clothes she could feel Kai's warmth and his strong muscles. She could smell his cologne, it was sharp and fresh. Tonight, he smelled a little of sweat and it was comforting in a weird way. Everything about Kai was like that and she hated that he wasn't the guy she had first thought he was.
XXX
Kai watched Bonnie sleep and stroked her hair. When he had first told her, he missed her it hadn't been an easy thing to admit. He hadn't known he could feel anything remotely like attachment to another person. Even with Jo everything he felt was superficial and had more to do with what she could do for him.
With Bonnie it wasn't like that. He just liked seeing her smile. And yes, he wanted her. A lot and he didn't ever want her with anyone else. It was why he kept trying to kill Kol. But that had turned out to be a lot harder than he first thought mainly because Bonnie kept interfering.
Bonnie rolled over in his arms and nuzzled closer. He wrapped his arms more tightly around her. She sighed and a small smile graced her lips. Knowing he was risking electrocution, but unable to resist, he pressed his lips to her forehead. She moaned and pressed herself closer.
"Kai."
Instantly, his mind was filled with images of the things they could do that would make her moan his name like that again. He saw her sprawled out underneath him as he thrust into her. Or her on top of him and her little hand around his neck as she rode him. There were other images as well like Bonnie on her knees as she blew him or her sitting on his face.
He hardened and it only got worse when she squirmed into him. He felt every curve of her body and he had to take a deep breath to calm down.
"Never going to fucking sleep now," he muttered.
"Kai?" she blinked and looked up at him. "What did you say?"
"Nothing," he touched his forehead to hers and stroked her cheek. "When are you going to admit you want me as much as I want you?"
"Kai come on, I'm still with Kol."
"For how long?"
Kai could see the confliction in her eyes. Her green eyes sparkled then hardened. Her jaw tensed and she gave him a hard look.
"At least until this deal is done and you're coven leader. You saw to that, remember?"
Ouch, Kai winced and Bonnie shoved him aside. She sat up against the headboard and gave him a dirty look.
"Are you seriously mad about that? How long did you think this thing with Kol is gonna last anyway? He is going to live forever and witches can live a long time, but not that long," Kai stopped talking and gave her a dark look as he felt possessive rage boil up inside of him. "Wait - is he going to turn you?"
He saw the shock written all over her face.
"What? Are you insane?"
"Why not? You're all cozy with the Original vamps."
"You're insane," Bonnie snarled. "For the record, I don't ever want to transition and even if I did it is none of your business."
Kai held his hands up. "Fine boundary crossed. I can't help it, emotions, boundaries with the whole personal questions -" he shrugged. "It's all just confusing."
"Right, sociopath. Is this what you woke me for?"
"I didn't wake you," Kai said and eyed her. "But since you're awake, you wanna make out?"
"Oh my God," Bonnie rolled her eyes.
Kai watched a little amused as she grabbed the blanket and pulled it over her.
XXX
There was someone warm in bed next to Bonnie. Kol wasn't exactly warm or cold. It was more like he was constantly room temperature. Sometimes, when he had recently fed he was warm. But this didn't feel like Kol and her powers responded to the presence of another witch.
"Kai?" she mumbled.
It couldn't be anyone else. The air crackled with electricity like before a storm. Just as it always did when he was nearby. Kol's aura was different, older and more deafening. It was like constantly having death nearby. At least how she imagined death, but over time she had become so used to it she hardly noticed.
Kai's arms encircled her. He drew her into his arms and she desperately wanted to ignore the way his touch affected hers. She felt that same electric current from the air seep into her. Her whole body felt alive and like it was on fire.
His hands slid down her back to caress her bum. She blushed and put her hands on his chest. She turned her face up to his and blinked the sleep from her eyes.
"You'd better move that hand before I set you on fire."
Kai chuckled. "You're hot when you give death threats. Anyone ever tell you that, Bunny?"
Furious, Bonnie made good on her threats. She put her hands on his chest, gripping his T-shirt firmly. Taking her time, she looked him in the eyes. Kai's eyes were an intense shade of deep blue. A teasing smile played at the corner of his lips.
And Bonnie flashed an evil smile before zapping him with a dose of her magic. She felt it thrum through her whole body as every single one of her senses came to life. It shot out from her core and through her fingertips. The spell was electric and she hit Kai with a voltage just below dangerous.
His body spasmed and his arms tightened around her. His eyes drifted closed as a content smile passed his lips. A groan escaped him and she let go, realizing he was enjoying it.
"You know how to make it hurt in all the best places, babe," Kai said in a moan.
Bonnie jerked aside. "What is wrong with you?"
"We've been over this. You know what's wrong with me. The bigger question is, what's wrong with you? Because from where I'm sitting you have a type, Bunny. It's evil and dangerous."
"Ugh, you're like the worst."
Bonnie shoved him aside and got out of the bed. She didn't bother changing, she just cast the same mirror spell Kai had cast yesterday to check if the coast was clear.
Much to her annoyance, Kai wolf whistled. He walked up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist.
"Pretty impressive, Bonster."
"Shut up and let go of me."
"Don't tell me you're still twitchy because you think I might siphon you."
"That's not the problem. You're an ass."
She grabbed his arms and tossed them aside. She caught a glimpse of Kai rolling his eyes. She elbowed him for good measure.
"Ouch."
"The coast looks clear and my magic is back so what do you say I teleport us back to Kol's?"
"Sure, Bunny. Let's go running back to your vampire boyfriend."
"Do you have a better plan?"
"Well I don't know about you, but I'm staying here," he flashed a heated smile. "Wanna stay with me? Mi casa es su casa."
"Oh my God, listen you 90's reject, I'll see you at school."
"Wait," Kai caught her wrist. His touch was light and she hesitated. "I don't want you to go back."
"I'll be fine."
"I miss you," he said and his finger stroked the inside of her wrist. A shiver ran through her. "And the thought of you with Kol makes me insane."
"You're always insane."
Bonnie was aware it was cruel, but she didn't flinch. Instead, she met Kai's gaze with a hard look of her own.
"Fair point," Kai said with an evil smirk. "But I guess it makes me crazier."
"That sounds like a you problem. And I have to go," Bonnie checked the time on her phone. "School starts now."
"You sure that's a good idea?"
"Why not? Wait – dumb question, but I don't think Joshua is going to attack the school. Especially not with two Original vampires and half the coven against him roaming the hallways. You Geminis are big on secrecy, right?"
"Valid point. Whatever my old man is going to do next it will be big and well planned. And probably super private."
"Exactly, so I'm going. And if he does attack? Well I can handle Joshua now that Black John is out of the picture."
"Let's talk at school. All of us, we need to come up with a plan to trap Joshua."
"Which means we need to lure him out into the open," Bonnie said following his train of thoughts. "Then I think we should have every witch and warlock we can find throw their weight against him. When he is incapacitated we can cast the spell to create a lunar eclipse and send him to his very own prison world."
"I love the way your mind works, so twisted," Kai said with a grin and a crazy eye roll. She shot him a dirty look and he winked at her. "But you can count me in, Bunny. As for how to lure him out? Give me a couple of hours to scheme and I'll have a plan."
"Good," Bonnie grinned. "Because we are going to need everyone on this."
"I know," Kai said. "And it's not like I have a choice. I've burned that bridge."
"No choice there either. Joshua has been scheming to kill you. Scheming is a big thing with you Geminis, huh?"
"The biggest," Kai agreed. "But you should hop along, Bunny. I'm sure your vamp boyfriend is worried."
Bonnie ignored the jab and teleported back to Kol's apartment. The world spun and her body felt alive with magic. Slowly, the room came into focus. She was in the living room. She had aimed for the bedroom she shared with Kol, but her teleportation still needed some work. Her breathing was labored and when she touched her fingers underneath her nose, they came away with blood on them. But she was fine and she would be better once she rested. No wonder many witches preferred covens, the few times she had channeled others like her she had been stronger, could cast more spells before she was pushed to the brink.
Kol was on the couch. Rebekah and Lucy were there as well. They were snuggling on the couch, but they stopped the second she appeared. Lucy rose to her feet and flashed a wicked smile.
"Thank God, cuz. I was starting to worry."
"Our magic was tapped out and I needed to lie low after the attack. Joshua was hot on our heels."
"Where did you go?" it was Kol, he was looking at her with a mixture of relief and suspicion.
"Kai's treehouse. Place must have some serious magic around it because they never showed."
"I'm gonna call Sheila, she's going to be so relieved."
Kol stood up and in the blink of an eye, he was in front of her. He pulled her into a hug. She returned it and she knew she would have to tell him, how she and Kai had escaped. What they had done to trick Joshua.
"Where are the details?" Rebekah demanded in a huff.
And honestly, Bonnie didn't blame her. She was being deliberately vague and Rebekah wasn't stupid. Of course, she would notice.
Bonnie gave them a watered down version. That she and Kai had tried to distract Joshua, but not about the kiss. Or that they had snuggled. Kol looked absolutely murderous whereas Rebekah looked as if she couldn't decide if she was shocked or amused. Kol growled low in his throat and she knew that meant he had read between the lines.
"It didn't mean anything," Bonnie said quickly.
Kol's eyes hardened and his gaze turned black. "If it didn't mean anything then why must you always protect Kai?"
"Because we need him once we take out Joshua. Unless you're still alright with killing all of the Geminis? Or maybe just leaving them leaderless until the twins come of age? Because that's cruel and unnecessary."
"Fine by me."
"Kol!" Bonnie snapped. "There are innocent coven members -"
"You have to admit they likely have already suffered plenty under Joshua's reign," Rebekah interjected.
"Fine," Kol growled. "Kai is off-limits I get it. Unless Jo can be convinced to take his place."
"You and I both know she won't survive the merge. So you can't kill him before or after."
"What about that alternative solution to the merge the two of you were working on?"
"I think maybe I found something, but it's not the point," Bonnie said and shook her head. "I chose you, Kol. And you have to trust me."
Bonnie heard her own words as if they were coming from someone else. At this point, she was straight-up lying to Kol and he didn't deserve that. He was far from perfect, but he had been good to her, which should count for something. And she did care about him yet not the same way she had cared about Kai.
If Kai wasn't a sociopath would she be with him now?
The answer was frightening in its simplicity, yes.
Yes, she would be with Kai.
But what did that make Kol? The consolation prize?
No, Kol was more than that. But things were complicated and doomed to end with them in a way things wouldn't have been if he was still a warlock. But she did care about him and the thought of losing Kol made her frantic. It was then something occurred to her, something so painfully obvious she should have realized it a long time ago.
"I love you," Bonnie blurted without thinking.
Kol's eyes widened and he looked at her in amazement. He held her to him and she put her head on his chest, eyes closing as she inhaled his familiar scent.
"I love you too, little witch."
"Well this is positively vomit inducing," Rebekah drawled.
Bonnie blushed and a cold feeling settled in the pit of her stomach. If only Kol were the only boy she loved.
Thank you so much to everyone, who has stayed with this fic. You're all the best! We're nearing the last 1/3 of the fic. And I am so excited to see what you make of the next few chapters. Anyway, about this chapter, yes, Black John is officially dead. Bonnie offed him last chapter, but we didn't found out until this one. And what do you make of the revelation that Bonnie loves both Kai and Kol? I'm fireismyelement97 on tumblr, I still take requests for bonkai and kennett. I know it's been a lot of calbrina lately, but the caos fandom is shipping calbrina as hard as I am, lol.
- Izzy
I just finished the Escape and I don't know how else to contact the guest reviewers so I'm just going to be posting my replies to them here along with replies to the guest reviewers to this fic. I'll also post them to my other kennett updates just in the hopes they see them.
The escape responses:
To the guest who loved the ending and wants an epilogue of Bonnie as a badass crime lady, don't give me ideas! Thank you so much for reviewing, you really made my day!
Guest: Aww back at you! Thank you!
Guest: Thank you so much! And thank you for telling me to keep writing, that's so sweet! I definitely will!
To the guest reviewer who's read the escape multiple times, omg I am over the moon! Thank you for reading and thank you for reviewing! I'm so happy to hear you enjoyed it!
