Chapter 27: When Evelyn Protects Vykhor

Evelyn, driven by a fierce determination she never expected to feel so intensely, threw herself at Vykhor's attacker. Her frail but resolute arms wrapped around the rebel’s neck, squeezing with all the strength she had. Her heart was pounding wildly, but she refused to give in to fear. “Leave Vykhor alone!” she shouted, her voice trembling with a mix of desperate courage and terror.

She knew she didn’t have the raw strength to take down such a powerful opponent. But she had something else: her mind, her resourcefulness, and that protective bracelet Vykhor had developed specifically for her. Without hesitation, she activated the device, gathering all her willpower to trigger the electric discharge. The rebel, caught off guard by the unexpected attack, convulsed violently under the impact of the electricity before collapsing, unconscious, to the ground.

The scene was almost painfully ironic: Evelyn, a young woman usually more comfortable with complex algorithms and subtle strategies, had transformed into an improvised warrior. She had clung to the attacker’s back with the ferocity of a lioness, ready to do whatever it took to protect Vykhor. It was ridiculous, of course, but also incredibly brave.

Vykhor, who had just pushed back another opponent, turned just in time to see Evelyn hit the ground heavily, shaken by the backlash of the discharge. His heart clenched. She had held on until the very last moment, and now she was suffering the consequences of her heroic act. The sight of her slender body trembling slightly made an unfamiliar surge of worry rise within him. He rushed over, his features tense, his yellow eyes glowing with a concern he had never expected to feel for anyone.

“Evelyn!” he called, his voice rougher than usual. He knelt down beside her, searching her for injuries. His hands, normally so ruthless, were surprisingly gentle as they touched her face. “You took part of the discharge,” he murmured, his brows furrowed with worry.

Evelyn slowly sat up, a sheepish smile on her lips despite the numbness still coursing through her muscles. “I’m okay,” she assured him, even though she could still feel the residual shocks prickling under her skin. Her gaze met Vykhor's, and for a fleeting moment, she saw a tenderness he rarely allowed anyone to see. He was genuinely worried about her, and that thought made her blush despite the situation.

A stunned silence had fallen over the camp. All eyes were on Evelyn, this young woman no one had imagined capable of such bravery. The rebel lay unconscious at her feet, and Vykhor, standing protectively beside her, looked ready to defend her at any cost. Skye, watching from a distance, was stunned. The improbable alliance between these two, so different yet so strangely connected, had taken a new turn, and she didn’t miss it.

Vykhor helped Evelyn steady herself, but he couldn’t help but murmur with a mix of frustration and relief, “Don’t ever do that again,” his voice grave. But in his eyes shone a glimmer of admiration he couldn’t hide, and Evelyn, despite her clumsiness, felt her heart beat a little faster seeing him so close, so protective.

Colonel Voren, who had witnessed the scene, was the first to break the silence. His hardened face was marked with an expression of respect mingled with a certain sternness. He turned to his troops, his authoritative voice resonating through the camp. “What are you waiting for? Get back in formation!” he ordered. “This is no time to sow discord among us. The mercenaries are here to help, and they’ve proven it. Any attack on them is an attack on our cause!”

The rebels, still shaken by Evelyn’s actions, fell back in line, and the tension in the camp gradually eased under the Colonel’s orders. Evelyn, still trembling slightly, wiped her brow with a shaky hand, trying to catch her breath. Skye and Rax joined her quickly, their faces lit with amused and respectful smiles.

“Well, I have to say,” Skye laughed, “you’ve got guts, Evelyn. Jumping on a guy like that was absolute madness… but damn brave, too.”

Rax nodded, his smile more reserved but equally sincere. “You’ve got to be either totally reckless or incredibly determined to pull off what you did. But you proved you belong here. Nice work.”

Evelyn blushed slightly at the compliments, simply nodding, still too shaken to respond. A warmth spread through her chest, a mix of pride and relief.

After the day’s events, Kharok’s interrogation was postponed until the following morning, leaving the camp to settle into an uneasy calm. Vykhor, however, was adamant that Evelyn would not sleep anywhere but in his own tent. He had made his decision, and this time, there would be no debate.

“Vykhor, I can sleep just fine in another tent,” Evelyn protested, her voice tinged with slight embarrassment. But the Kael’tarien fixed her with his piercing yellow eyes, his expression unyielding, an authority that left no room for argument.

“No,” he declared firmly. “You’re staying with me.” He wouldn’t allow her to be vulnerable anywhere else, even if this choice drew knowing looks and teasing smiles from the other mercenaries. Evelyn’s cheeks burned when she caught Skye’s winks and Rax’s muffled laughter. It felt like everyone knew something she hadn’t quite grasped yet. But what embarrassed her most wasn’t Vykhor’s protective nature—it was the warmth she felt knowing he cared for her, even in his own way.

They entered the tent, and Vykhor gave her a moment of privacy, turning away while she changed. Evelyn slipped into her nightwear, feeling like the fabric was somehow lighter, more revealing than she would have liked, and her heart raced even more. She couldn’t help but smile slightly, realizing she was accepting Vykhor for who he was, in all his complexity. He was dominant, protective, sometimes ruthless, but he knew how to be gentle and show humor, and it was all of that that fascinated her.

Vykhor, on his part, clenched his jaw to stay calm. He had seen Evelyn fight, seen her strength and vulnerability, and it had awakened in him a deep desire to protect her, to keep her close. When he turned back around, his eyes immediately locked onto hers, and he stepped forward slowly, his imposing frame closing the space between them.

“You need to understand, Evelyn,” he murmured, his voice deep and steady. “I am who I am, and I won’t change. But I want you by my side, and I’ll do whatever it takes to protect you.” He paused, searching for the right words with rare sincerity. “You’re part of my life now, and I won’t let anyone take you from me.”

Evelyn didn’t look away. She felt the weight of his words, but she wasn’t afraid. She knew Vykhor was complicated, but she accepted him. He wasn’t an easy man, but that’s what drew her to him—the blend of raw strength and tenderness he only showed her. A soft smile curved her lips. “I understand, Vykhor,” she replied calmly. “And I’m ready to accept that.”

A flicker of surprise crossed the Kael’tarien’s eyes before he allowed a rare, genuine smile to appear. He stepped even closer, his gaze softened by the strange bond between them. “Good,” he murmured, his deep voice carrying the weight of a promise. “Then stay close to me. We’ll face whatever comes together.”

And in the tent, enveloped by the night and this peculiar chemistry between them, Evelyn and Vykhor knew that despite the dangers surrounding them, they were there for each other.

Vykhor, after a moment of thought, moved Evelyn’s cot closer to his. The scraping of metal feet against the tent floor broke the silence, but Evelyn didn’t protest. Instead, she watched him with a gentle look in her eyes, accepting this gesture that was more than simple protection. It was a silent reminder that they were in this chaos together.

The night settled around them, and Evelyn slid into her cot, trying to calm her racing heart. The quiet was soothing, but she couldn’t ignore the reassuring presence of Vykhor nearby. The Kael’tarien lay on his own cot, but he didn’t seem content to leave that distance between them. Slowly, almost as if afraid of breaking something delicate, he turned to her and reached out an arm.

Evelyn felt a shiver run down her spine as he gently pulled her into his powerful embrace, holding her with an unexpected tenderness. She leaned into him, closing her eyes, her breathing matching the steady rhythm of his. Far from being oppressive, Vykhor’s touch was protective, almost comforting, like an armor of warmth and strength that made her feel safe.

And then the unexpected happened.

For the first time in what felt like forever, neither Evelyn nor Vykhor was haunted by the nightmares that usually plagued their nights. Their minds, typically tormented by memories of past trauma—Evelyn, of the cruel and painful experiments in the lab; Vykhor, of the betrayal and loss of his kingdom—found a rare peace that night. There were no visions of pain or terror, only the soothing silence of dreamless, deep, and healing sleep.

Evelyn snuggled closer to Vykhor, unconsciously seeking the warmth that enveloped her. For once, she felt safe without having to fight the shadows of her past. Vykhor, in turn, gently tightened his hold, his usually hardened heart softening, finally finding rest he hadn’t known in years.

The night passed, peaceful and gentle, a moment stolen from their tormented lives. When the sun rose, casting a golden light over the tent, they woke up, each with a strange, new feeling, as if something had changed within them. Evelyn opened her eyes, feeling surprisingly refreshed, and lifted her head to meet Vykhor’s gaze. They shared a moment of silent understanding, a certainty that this night had been special.

Vykhor, with a rare, gentle smile, murmured, “I guess we should sleep together more often.” Evelyn burst into laughter, a light and genuine sound that echoed the peace of the past night, and for a moment, they allowed themselves to forget the dangerous world around them.